Play Perch Stand

missylynn · Mar 2, 2011

I want to make a play-gym perch, but am wondering a few things. First off, anyone know what kind of wood the dowels at Michael's are made out of? I know pressure treated wood is bad, but the dowels have a grain so I don't think they're pressure treated (plus, most cages out there come with dowel perches). Just trying to figure out if that would be a good bet for making a stand before I go out hunting for decent trees.

Also, though, my little guy has a difficult time balancing on the dowel-type-perch that his cage came with for the open top because there's nothing for his feet to grip onto. Any suggestions for a grip I could wrap around the dowels to make them less slippery?

wildheart · Mar 2, 2011

You can make grooves in the dowels with a chisel and hammer.

If he has a problem holding on then I will replace all the dowels with natural branches. It is good for their feet when you have a variety of thickness.

triordan · Mar 2, 2011

go to lowes or home depot much cheaper~

vedwed · Mar 2, 2011

Michaels is incredibly cheap for those dowels, they are made from untreated pine, as are most of their beads and popsicle sticks.
Home Depot/Lowes is great if you are going to buy wood in bulk stock and cut it down yourself.

I have seen slip on perch covers that have calcium, some like sandpaper for better grip, and all that fancy stuff, but from experience they are prone to collecting moisture in between the sheath and the perch itself, causing mold and other nasty crap to breed in there, I wouldnt recommend them unless you are very diligent about changing them out on a very regular basis. As mentioned natural wood (while a bit more expensive) is a better product, as it really does help the health of your birds feet.

Boo · Mar 2, 2011

Oh Home Depot wood is safe? I don't know that much about wood, and when you first said that pressure treated wood was bad, I second guessed going to Home Depot lol

. But then Vedwed read my mind and said it' okay right?

Also, don't use sandpaper because it can give birds bumblefoot. At least it does for budgies.. I think it would apply for larger birds too. I have a ton of sisal, so I would use sisal (I'm making a T stand myself lol

).

missylynn · Mar 2, 2011

Thanks for the suggestions. I've got some sisal rope as well for making toys and such . . . it's pretty dang thick though. I'll have to look around and see if I can find some that's the thickness of yarn. Back to Michael's I suppose! Lol.

Boo · Mar 3, 2011

missylynn said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I've got some sisal rope as well for making toys and such . . . it's pretty dang thick though. I'll have to look around and see if I can find some that's the thickness of yarn. Back to Michael's I suppose! Lol.

I got mine, about the thickness of yarn, from Home Depot! I think it was like $15 for a BIG spool. Michael's is pretty expensive in my opinion

.

PreciousAngelJS25 · Apr 28, 2011

Sisal rope is awesome! You can also wrap it with "[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Horse-Vet-Wrap/dp/B0002V47L0"]vet wrap[/ame]" - you can get it from most tractor stores

HRH Di · Apr 28, 2011

Boo, I just read your "location". That's pretty funny.

vedwed · Apr 28, 2011

Boo said:
missylynn said:

Thanks for the suggestions. I've got some sisal rope as well for making toys and such . . . it's pretty dang thick though. I'll have to look around and see if I can find some that's the thickness of yarn. Back to Michael's I suppose! Lol.

Click to expand...

I got mine, about the thickness of yarn, from Home Depot! I think it was like $15 for a BIG spool. Michael's is pretty expensive in my opinion .

Yes! the sisal at michaels is rather expensive

Home Depot is great for that, long as you get the untreated sisal twine/rope. Some of the sisal sold at home depot is treated with kerosene, and you can smell it bad on the twine, I dont suggest that kind for birds, I haven't tried it, but if it smells that strong it probably isnt good.

Play Perch Stand

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Unsafe Leather Cord?

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