Holiday Decorations

A little back ground before what I feel may be a novel...I've been very lacking in holiday spirit the past few years, due to work stress. Since I still don't have a job and, oddly, the stress of being unemployed is much less that I the stress at my old job, I'm feeling the first stirrings of holiday spirit more or less on time.

Since this is our first year with flighted birds, I'm trying to think of what we're going to do for an Xmas tree? I'm in the process of making crocheted snowflake ornaments - which are 100% cotton and stiffened with a non-toxic "starch" - so I'm confident those will be safe and I won't be heartbroken if they get "examined" by the girls and Max.

I've been thinking of making a "tree" using sisel rope. I was going to attach several lengths to an eye-hook in the corner of the ceiling then run them down in a tree pattern. We could then decorate the "tree" with the snowflake ornaments. Obviously there won't be any ligths or tinsel, but I think we can use bird-safe raffia or something to add color.

Any thoughts? What does everyone else do?

I have my traditional tree...My flighted birds leave it alone, as they tend to avoid anything new. Fred and Levi(clipped) will not be near the tree. Levi got lost in it last year during a photo shoot...LOL! Fred, I'm sure, will be terrified of it, and by the time he's getting used to it, it'll be coming down.

Sounds very creative young lady. It sounds like a bird safe tree that you could sell to others!! String cranberries, cherrios and other things you could get a needle through. We want pics!!

I wish I have creative mind, thank goodness the decorating is left in the hands of the professionals........

that would be awesome, a bird safe tree, i'd buy one!!

ooooh! Cranberries! I love those bitter little red things! And so does Max. Haven't tried them with the girls yet. I have a dehydrator so I might add some dried oranges and other citrus, maybe a few apple rings too.

Sharon - I can just picture Levi getting lost in the tree. That's so funny. Unfortunatley, our birds aren't afraid of anything except the vacuum cleaner. I can't even begin to think of what sort of mess Jade would make of a tree.

I suggest having your own tree but you could also also still make a special bird tree full of birdie decorations
I think supervision is the main thing here as it always is with birds

Good luck and you've definatly given others something to think about

That's a fabulous idea! Wow!

I have to say, I'm a bit "bah humbug" when it comes to decorations!!!

We have a house and a shop combo so go "all out" in the shop and have just the cards in the house!!! I feel quite lucky in that respect because with our "zoo", I can see the dogs with tinselly poop(they've never had access to any decorations but it would happen!!), the cat used to love to climb the tree (ommm....), the rabbit used to hoard the wooden decorations.....with Cal in the mix? I expect it would mean Mummy spend Christmas Day (our only day off in the year!!!) in the hospital!

oh gosh i never thought about the Christmas decorations this is going to be interesting with baby and sunny haha

think of the tinsel!!!! aaaaaaarrgghhhh!

Is there any danger in letting our birds play with a small bit of tinsel ?

I know of some that is cotton instead of wire in the middle
as long as it's supervised and they only ripping
it off and not eating it would it be ok ????

Pheonix Rising said:

Is there any danger in letting our birds play with a small bit of tinsel ?

I know of some that is cotton instead of wire in the middle
as long as it's supervised and they only ripping
it off and not eating it would it be ok ????

Click to expand...

I think I'd make paper/rope/wood decorations just to be on the safe side.
After hearing how ill Linky's Sterijjie was after metal poisoning, I just wouldn't risk it with my girl. Tinsel hides the wire so you couldn't see any teeny breaks in it. Even with a cotton centre, what is tinsel actually made of? What colours it? I have no idea so I wouldn't risk it.

I read in one of my books that it's not even wise to wrap a present for your fids to tear open at christmas unless it's with plain paper as normal paper is so high in colourants. Not only that, but cheap colourants for the mass producing. There was a big no no about that foil paper too but I can't remember what exactly....I will look it up and report back lol.

That leads me back to tinsel....is it made of a similar foil....?

I have read about the foil!

Nothing of much surprise with it. Just says it is very attractive to our little darlings and even the smallest piece can cause an intestinal blockage.

There we go!

Thanks a bunch von I knew some wise member here would have advise

Your the best