Muscadine grape Vine?

[denaz101]

Hello folks, I have noticed a few of you have said grape wood is preferred when making perches stands, etc... I have a ton of Muscadine vines/wood in my back yard I am thinking about making a stand/perch with, would that be ok?

I am pretty sure it has never been sprayed with pesticides or treated with anything.

Should I clean the wood before I use it?

Thanks!!

 

[Christinenc2000]

I would clean anything before using it. So in my opinion yes .

 

[EAI]

Cleaning the wood is almost necessary because it could have picked up bacteria/germs, insects, and bird fecal matters from the time being.

Make sure that the wood is dry before you use it. I let my DIY branches sit out in a week (or longer, it depends how fast they dry out) after I power wash them. After they're dried i power wash them again and let them sit out for a day or two before sanding the bark. I then give them a scrub with lightly diluted bleach and vinegar solution then let them out to dry again. Finally, I rinse them and bring them inside to be used. My process is a bit longer because I can't use the stove unless it's for food (LOL).

 

[denaz101]

Cleaning the wood is almost necessary because it could have picked up bacteria/germs, insects, and bird fecal matters from the time being.

Make sure that the wood is dry before you use it. I let my DIY branches sit out in a week (or longer, it depends how fast they dry out) after I power wash them. After they're dried i power wash them again and let them sit out for a day or two before sanding the bark. I then give them a scrub with lightly diluted bleach and vinegar solution then let them out to dry again. Finally, I rinse them and bring them inside to be used. My process is a bit longer because I can't use the stove unless it's for food (LOL).

Thanks EAI, that's what I thought!! I also noticed on other posts that people use sisal rope that is untreated, starting to get the hang of this, and I also understand the food only stove requirements!!

 

[jlockhart29]

Like you I have wild muskiedine vines all in the woods behind my house. Just cut them off and wipe them down with vinegar then let set in sun away from other birds for several weeks, rewipe with vinegar and dry good. I leave bark on so my BE can peal it off. I'm not overly worried about disease in her case as I made a decision when I got her to let her be bird to a certain point and let her dig and scratch on the ground or climb in trees with harness on so she comes in constant contact with germs and bacteria anyway.
I also have wild bamboo growing which I have found is her favorite thing to destroy. A hand full of bamboo branches with leafs will keep her busy for hrs and cheap!! I don't do anything special to it but you could bake it to kill anything and it doesn't fall off like sweet gum leafs do when baked. Sweet gum also makes great chews.