Making Your Own Perches for Macaws

I like "natural" type perches for my birds, ones that are made out of limb-like branches, varying is size/shpe from one end to the next. Both of my Macaws need their main perches replaced. They run 40"-48" in length, so not exactly small by any means.

Does anyone have any experiece or ideas on how to make your own?

I've researched which wood is bird safe and not bird safe. Just not 100% confident in this project.

Any tips would be greatly appreicated.

Are you concerned about bringing in bugs on the branches, or choosing safe wood, or how to affix the branches to the cage? What exactly?

Hose off the branch and let it dry. Cut to length. Buy hanger bolts that are screws on one end and threads on the other. You'll need to drill a hole in both ends of the branch and screw a hanger bolt in each one. Then put a fender washer on each end and put the branch across the cage. From the outside place another fender washer then tighten with a nut. Do this on each end.

You can also use 2x2s and 2x4s from the lumber yard. These are great for large birds for perches because they encourage chewing. There are brackets sold for these at Drs Foster & Smith and other places but they run more than 20 bucks and a hanger bolt and fender washers will work here also, although you may want to use two on a 2x4.

sodakat said:

Are you concerned about bringing in bugs on the branches, or choosing safe wood, or how to affix the branches to the cage? What exactly?

Click to expand...

More so on where and how to collect/find the right branch and once you do then what ...... ???

Smaller branches I've "baked" in our oven at 200-degrees F for an hour or two, but a 4-foot long branch isn't going to fit in a normal house hold oven.

So what do you do to "sterilize" it?

How about the bark??? Leave it on or strip it off?

Some websites suggest baking the branches in the oven at 200-250 degrees for 10-15minutes (for some reason they dont catch on fire?? I'd watch them to make sure they dont ignite/the saps dont catch on fire)

I've also read that a bleach dilute sprayed on, soaked in, washed off, then air dried (this would be probably the most efficient at killing germs)

Also, grapeseed extract I've heard about, and thats supposed to be really good and non toxic, but I am not sure on the germ/pathogen killing properties of this.

I'd also say give the branches a light sanding perhaps to remove possible bugs/grubs and wild bird poop from the outside?

Let me know how you end up working it out! I have some fantastic dead trees I want to make into a bird stand for my bird too, and will have a project similar to what you're doing too. I can't stick a whole tree in my oven, so that options out for me.

I wonder how other people clean branches from the wild?

I would thoroughly check the bark, some people like to leave it on for the bird to strip off, a great form of entertainment . You could take it off too, so it's your choice

As long as the tree bark is not toxic leave it on its fun. Certain bark is toxic but the wood isn't(werid i know). So just be sure to get bird safe wood. I'd say since you cant bake it like you normal should be able to to do the clorox dilution spray then let sit for 24 hours so the clorox completely evaporates. Hang them with how sodakat stated this is what i do for my perches as well.

I always leave the bark on and just rinse the branch. I'm not a worry wart though so do what you feel comfortable with. A few bugs don't bother me and when my birds are outside in the aviary they encounter bugs so they aren't going to bother them.

Leave the bark on. They will peel it off eventually.

WeimerHeimer's right...bake them for around an hour at 200.
The 15 minute recipe I stated earlier is for polymer clay lol

I have a few bottle brush tree in my yard.. When I trim I save the bigger branches... I place then in the oven and bake them.. Sometimes they hang out 10" or 12" but but if strap a meat thermometer to the outside part you will see it rise.. (You will probably see moisture sizzle out of the end outside the oven)..Im pretty sure if you get and keep the temp over 150* f for 30minutes you will kill anything living in it...

I also would recommend Bottle brush limbs as they are soft on the outside and very hard on the inside....

Good luck