I think I adopted a termite

[ParkersMom]

So charlie is a woodaholic...she chews almost non stop..anyone know of where I can get replacement wood pieces other than MSBS... I am saving right now to get a bandsaw so I can start making my own but until then I need other options...she is a hoot...loves her wood but won't touch hardly anything else...

 

[melibelly]

Try an unshelled nut like Walnuts or Brazil nuts its a forging activity and can be hard like wood

 

[BillsBirds]

Also cheap wooden things like wooden spoons from dollar store, baby alphabet blocks, undyed popsicle sticks from craft store, things like that. Look around while shopping.

 

[Gizmomania]

Hey! Is your parrot eating the A frame holding up my garage??? LOL! All I can envision is a green termite with feathered wings simply munching away on any wood products that stands in his way!:32:

 

[forbey]

Skittles hasn't played with any of his toys ... UNTIL I bought one with wooden blocks. He destroyed it. I'm looking at buying scraps from a local hardwood store and cabinet maker. I already have the tools if I chose to cut my own shapes.

I think I have modified a "recipe" for block paint. JerseyWendy put some links out there. One has edible paint using alcohol to thin it. I'm concerned with the type of alcohol, making sure that any residual chemicals would not be harmful to the bird. I figure if I mix food coloring with a cheap vodka and then allowing several days (to weeks) time for them to dry and cure. THere should be no residual chemicals as compared to using standard denatured alcohol. (the denaturing is supposed to render it non-palatable. Depending on what they use to denature it, you might have a residual problem.)

Forbey

 

[paulvan]

all i have used to dye wood and my birds love it is cool aid and i soak my wood in it for a few day and hang till it is dry just don't add sugar to it

 

[henpecked]

Hey Parkers Mom, it could be a faze? Male zons get pretty "chewy" when hormonal. Maybe the chewing is helping to stimulate himself into more hormomes,more chewing. A cycle you might help to break by removing the objects to be chewed. Maybe try a week or two with out chew toys and see if it doesn't help "curb" his appetite. Try some foot toys , mine like the cat balls with a bell inside, or the little soccer balls with a bell. Amazons are cavity nest, that means they nest in hollow tree cavities . They don't carry nesting materials to the nest and use wood shavings thay chew from inside the cavity or the entrance hole. This activity in it self stimulates them to breed and nest. If this is a new behavior it could be just a case of the hormones. If you don't encourage/ stimulate the hormonal behavior it usually passes quick (shorter duration ). Does he also shred paper ? Does he seem a bit more bitey? get excited alot?

 

[forbey]

all i have used to dye wood and my birds love it is cool aid and i soak my wood in it for a few day and hang till it is dry just don't add sugar to it

KOOL! Thanks for sharing!

 

[henpecked]

Hey Paul, how you been? How is the BFA doing?

 

[ParkersMom]

HP I am under the impression that Charlie is a girl

 

[henpecked]

Sorry , "he" could be , male/female it doesn't matter. My advice and comments are still the same. Change he to she, LOL

 

[ParkersMom]

thanks, I wasn't sure if your statements were gender specific...once I get her in better health I am gonna get all her blood work done and dna sexing so I will know for sure

 

[ParkersMom]

as far as behavior goes I have had her less than a month so I don't know what is normal for her but I do know that she only seems to like the wooden stuff as opposed to acrylic or anything else...I can tell you that she only seems to like the smaller pieces though...I still can't handle her but she doesn't seem aggressive..she will bite if I get too close, like trying to touch her...the vet thinks she is between 15 and 20 so i'm not sure if that makes a difference either. she was imported through Florida so most likely wild caught and the lady I got her from never handled her. She had her for about 1 1/2 years

 

[henpecked]

She could very well be a termite, i thought it could be hormonal , and though maybe doing with out for a couple of weeks might change things.Does she eat well ? Could it be a vit/ mineral lacking in her diet that makes her crave chewing wood?

 

[ParkersMom]

She eats rowdybush in the morning and veggies at night with nuts and treats during the day...when I got her she was on a seed diet...

 

[henpecked]

Congrats on the conversion, glad to hear she's eating well. Did you ever find a saw to cut wooden blocks?

 

[ParkersMom]

Not yet...I think im gonna get a bandsaw unless someone has a better idea...I want something I can use without needing help that will cut smaller sections

 

[henpecked]

I use a "chop Saw" with a fine tooth blade. A band saw would be nice but they're kind of pricey. Of course i also have a table saw i use to rip wood to the right size and then the chop saw to cut to length.

 

[ParkersMom]

I don't know what a chop saw is but they have a basic band saw at home depot for 129 and considering that I just spent 60 on toys for her I think it is worth it...LOL

 

[ParkersMom]

I bought a miter saw today and a 3"x3"x3' piece of poplar wood...is that bird safe...if so the toy making will begin this week