safe wood to use for base

Hi there,

im hoping all you guys can help. i want to make a new stand for my parrot, but i am getting conflicting answers on google for safe wood to use for the base of the stand. i have even looked at bird stands for sale and still see conflicting things. What type of wood would you guys suggest using?

I also want it to be easy to clean but safe. i have seen so many unsafe things like i see all these stands with paint, stain, or what really made me shake my head is vinyl glued topped boards from hardware stores as bases. What is the best for a cover for it, or should i just leave the wood bare?

the stand i have now is dated and has no base hence why i would love something with a base to catch droppings etc now.

thanks for any tips guys.

A lot of hardware stores will sell solid wood boards in assorted sheet sizes that are untreated. I think that'd be a good bet so long as you confirm the type of wood that was used is safe.

Someone feel free to correct me but I don't see any harm using a low VOC paint to paint the base so long as your bird isn't going to be on the floor chewing on it; it makes it much, much easier to clean. Natural wood would just stain horribly and be hard to clean, I'd think.

i just used an endtable for my playgym. but it is covered by a plastic tray that catches the poop. so cooper cant even reach it. plus even without it i dont think it would matter becuase on his playgym he is always supervised. on his t-stand i acually used plywood, which i know is bad, but it is covered by tiles(to catch poop) and again is always supervised.

Welcome to the forums Bob.....

Both Half & MrGoogls, but you can also use a water based stain & a water based urethane to get a shiny, easily cleanable finish, that won't leave the same surface dimension that paint will & will not tend to flake off like paint might.....

Just another idea in the mix.....

Good luck.....




Sorry, forgot to answer your question.....untreated pine, oak, poplar, ash are all available at virtually all lumber vendors & are all safe woods...I mention these because you can generally get them in 2" (actually closer to 1.5") thicknesses.....oak & fir plywoods would be safe also, if those interested you.....

I go to the restaurant supply places and buy large pans/cookie sheets. They usually have them in both SS and aluminum. Large plastic trays also work well and are very cheap.

My son and I are doing this right now. He is adamant about making some toys and such for his sister and the bird she will be getting for her sweet sixteen. What we are doing is using some heavier boards for the base, I have access to rough cut lumber, the gentleman collects and cuts the wood, many times he cuts the wood right in front of me. He knows his trees. We are using a few inches of oak to anchor the tree, then the top plank will be untreated pine which is safe. The framing around the bottom will also be pine, so any questionable wood will be deep within a two inch pocket. The tree portion is made from dogwood, it is coming along nicely.
Plain plaster Paris with no additives is also safe from what I have read. Doing something as simple as putting it in mold and pouring the plaster into it will work, this method may require a few long screws to be placed horizontally in the bottom of the tree, this acts as an anchor to hold the plaster around the base so the tree does not slide out, it will be buried in the plaster.

Zazoo, it sounds like you & your son have a real good plan going on for a nice tree stand.....

Good luck on your other toy making ventures.....

thanks for all the tips guys, much much appreciated