A swing?

I'm a reporter and today I covered a group of summer camp kids visiting our local zoo, which boasts, among other critters, a blue and gold macaw. As a crazy bird lady, I of course had to spend some time visiting the macaw, who can talk when he feels like it but didn't today. He has a swing, which I never noticed because this zoo takes pains to create enclosures that are as natural a habitat as possible. It includes lots of trees and vines and branches and such and the swing is up near the top among some leafy branches. This macaw seemed to enjoy playing with his swing a lot, and it occurred to me that maybe Rocky would enjoy a swing. Most of my birds hate swings (with the exception of my starling) so I've become accustomed to not buying swings for birds. A swing sturdy enough for a 'too would be substantial and probably expensive, so before I do that, I want to know if other people's 'toos like swings. If most don't, he probably won't, either.

Not sure about cockatoos, but my parents amazons hate swings and won't go near them at all. Kiwi, on the other hand, LOVES swings. It really depends on the individual bird. This is Kiwi's "small" swing, which he likes to sleep on (and ring the bells on)- [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Toys-Stainless-12-Inch-15-Inch/dp/B001OE19NS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434737882&sr=8-1&keywords=stainless+bird+swing"]Amazon.com : Paradise Toys Large Stainless Steel Swing, 12-Inch W by 15-Inch L : Pet Toys : Pet Supplies[/ame]

and this is his "big" swing (which takes a while to ship from overseas, but is well worth the wait for the all-stainless construction)- 2014 High quality portable Stainless Steel Parrot bird Stand holder /stop rack/stand frame/shelf SIZE S 320*250*600mm-in Carriers from Home & Garden on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group We hung it on one of those birdcage stands for canary/parakeet cages and he loves it!

Either swing is under $40, so it's not *that* big of an investment if he absolutely hates it, and the bigger swing can be used as a portable, stationary perch.

The zoo macaw's swing looked homemade to me, a substantial piece of dowel and two chains used to attach it to the ceiling of his habitat. I was thinking of making one after I looked around online and discovered nearly all the commercial products are for smaller birds.

Just be sure you use all stainless chain and hardware. Other metals can be toxic.

Siobhan said:

The zoo macaw's swing looked homemade to me, a substantial piece of dowel and two chains used to attach it to the ceiling of his habitat. I was thinking of making one after I looked around online and discovered nearly all the commercial products are for smaller birds.

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Easy do it yourself swing. Drill holes at either end of a thick manzanita or similar perch. Put sissal rope through the holes. tie a knot at the end. Make a loop with it. Put the other end of the loop through the other hole and tie another knot. Put a quick link on the center of the loop you just made.

Presto instant swing that didn't cost fifty bucks!

Wanna make it fancy? Drill holes some wood blocks, string them evenly on either side of the quick link. Now you have a swing AND a chew toy...

Now it doesn't matter if he didn't like it so much. You're out a wood stick, about ten cents worth of rope, and about ten minutes of your time... and maybe some wooden blocks.

Hubby already has some of that rope because he made Rocky some chew toys out of pine 2x4, so all we need is the perch part and some more 2x4 to put blocks on both sides.

Siobhan said:

Hubby already has some of that rope because he made Rocky some chew toys out of pine 2x4, so all we need is the perch part and some more 2x4 to put blocks on both sides.

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Yep. As good or better than anything you could buy and just as interesting.

For next to nothing.

I've been doing stuff like this for years for mine...

You know what works really good for this, and it sounds kinda stupid but it works...

If you've seen those really thick rawhide chew bones for dogs? Get one the correct perch diameter, and there you go.

I've also put those peanut butter flavored rawhide chews in between the wood blocks, and that's worked really well...

He does like dog toys. He stole a couple of our dog Jack's toys at first, so I bought him a couple of dog toys of his own (poor Jack, he wanted his toys back but he's a little afraid to insist, LOL). I thought maybe dog chews would be a good idea but I want to get something that's safe for Jack, too, because when Rocky rejects a toy or treat, he throws it on the floor and Jack is always alert for that now, and zooms right over to scoop up whatever it is. I'm a little hesitant about rawhide (for Jack; Rocky wouldn't eat it, he'd throw it after he destroyed it) after a scary incident with a previous dog.

Poppy thinks Rocky would like a swing!

My departed CAG loved his swing. Chiqui won't go near it.

I think you never know until you try.

i am thinking of getting a swing for justine today when I bring her to omars birds after work. I was so busy last weekend that I did not take her to the store like I usually do every saturday. What would a normal swing run? $50+?

I gave Rocky a large swing that the small parrots rejected. He liked to chew on it when it was just lying around, but he has been ignoring it now that it's hung in his cage. My plan is to get Hubby to make him a swing this weekend. A large dowel and two pieces of rope and voila.