My budgies's playgym is starting to be in need of massive repairs. There's that big pole that is rickety, and I can't screw it back correctly.I need to have it changed before it goes TIMBER and freaks out the birdies. I also thought about maybe re-designing it into something craaaaaaaazyyyy. I just need to figure out what and look around for ideas. But first I wanna ask you guys a couple questions...

 

That gym... I bought it off some guy. He sold me a cage with it, which I sold back to my best friend since it was a cage for Cockatiels. Now she uses it for her rats. The gym is custom made for the guy's deceased cockatiel, and seems to be made out of regular round sticks you buy at any hardware shop. The thing is assembled with hot glue at some parts... And metal mesh to make a swing.

 

So what I wonder is, is hot glue a bad idea? And can I buy round wood at the hardware shop without questioning myself about the type of tree that was in there?

I personally would not buy wood at a store unless it was marked "bird safe" or made for birds because you don't know what type of treatment or pesticides were used in the wood even if it is safe, I have found that getting my own wood from my backyard is best but if you can't do that then buying only "bird safe" wood is best. Hot gluing is okay, I don't believe that "glue" us toxic but we will see if anyone else as experience in this area.

Where would you find "bird safe" wood? I'm not quite sure I could find that at a hardware store...

Most likely not, you would have to go to a pet shop or bird pet shop that specalizes which can be pricey but you know is safe.

There are great designs out there I am in the mist of creating mine

HERE ARE A FEW PICS

Why no get some straight sticks from trees to use instead of dowel, that way it is better for their feet and it's free as well!

Sounds like a great plan. When I make things for my avairy, I buy my wood from a local hardware shop. It is all 'untreated pine' I have never had a problem with any of it. I always sand it slightly, and wipe down. I also use natural branches. Here is a list of Safe wood/plants. I personally wouldn't use any type of glue... but that is just me. I'm not sure of its safety value etc... Draw yourself up some plans to get some good ideas. You'll also need to post us some pictures when you're done

Sounds like a great plan. When I make things for my avairy, I buy my wood from a local hardware shop. It is all 'untreated pine' I have never had a problem with any of it. I always sand it slightly, and wipe down. I also use natural branches. Here is a list of Safe wood/plants. I personally wouldn't use any type of glue... but that is just me. I'm not sure of its safety value etc... Draw yourself up some plans to get some good ideas. You'll also need to post us some pictures when you're done

Untreated pine? I'm sure I could find that anywhere! That sounds like a plan.

 

As for going out in the woods and getting my own... Lots of woods around here, there's a big satisfying one behind my house and all around the mountain but I have a couple problems with that. First, I'm pretty bad at IDing trees. I see a tree and I either call it a maple or a fir. ._. And most of the time they probably aren't. Second, I have a feeling that most of them are just pine, oak and maple trees. And I'll be darned if I can even tell them apart or guess what VARIANT they are! I have a big tree in my backyard... It's a maple tree, but what kind I have no idea...

 

So if I wanna pick from the woods I'll have to learn how to know what tree is which from the safe wood list! (Oh, I think I have a stick of some nature around my house. I had bought it for the birds at the pet store. I'll be sure to add it up in the design. )

 

 

Oh and @Neat... NEAT designs in the Google. I'll have fun!

the maple you have in your yard will be fine, we have small maple tree that I made Merlin's perches from, you want to make sure that you are picking branches from woods that are not bieng treated by pesticides or no ones else is treating their yards near by.

the maple you have in your yard will be fine, we have small maple tree that I made Merlin's perches from, you want to make sure that you are picking branches from woods that are not bieng treated by pesticides or no ones else is treating their yards near by.

Well, I see a "red maple" listed in the list of possible toxic stuff. And I have no idea what a safe "vine maple" is...

 

....Mind you... The type of tree isn't the problem here. My maple tree has nothing of a "small maple tree" I'd state a size but I am no good at giving approximative heights. I'll just say... It's HIGH!!! HUGE! 50 to a hundred years old at least, it's a respectable gigantic tree (And I'd like to know if it's a SUGAR maple tree someday. Yum.). It's lowest branch is 8 feet up, and that's a gigantic one. I'd have to climb waaayyyy higher up to get one of a budgie size!

 

the only other tree I have in my back yard is a fir. That one is smaller, about 10 feet tall, since I planted it myself in third grade. But there's a variety of smaller trees in the woods behind my house, but well... Them I'm not sure about the quality of the soil or if there's stuff in there (beyond decaying mattresses that is.). Well, can't be THAT bad.

I took my branches from a small japanese maple (I think), it has red leaves, then I baked them on 200F in the oven for 20mins, as suggested to kill any yucky stuff, of course I watched it carefully. I let it cool and then waited 1 day and put in Merlin's cage, I have never had an issue, Pretty loved to strip the bark off the branches. You can take the leaves to a garden shop by you and they should be able to identify what you have in your backyard.

XD I'll maybe do that. Well, with ANOTHER Tree that is cuz like I said, therE's no way I can reach my maple's branches (without possibly breaking my neck that is.)

 

Thanks for all the info everyone!

Edited May 28, 200817 yr by Michelle

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