Question about Happy Hut

[Skittys_Daddy]

@rosembers Is there any chance you have a link to those chubes? I may buy one just to try it out. To see if he will take to it. Naturally, if there is a better alternative I'd go with that. In the meantime, I bought him two new cuddle huts today. I've always checked them in the morning and at night and since he is out for 99% of the day, he doesn't really get much of a chance to chew it - except at night.

I put him to bed around 8p and I go to bed around 3a. I always check on Peaches and Skittles before I go to bed. I know they don't like it, but it helps me sleep better.

Nevermind about the chubes. I found them on Amazon. Unfortunately, I don't think that would work for Skittles. He is a MAJOR chewer/destroyer and one of those I'd be lucky if it lasted a whole night.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Sorry, I'm not rosembers, but here you go:
BTL Bagel Tunnel Large - BIRDIE BAGELS

Should be a snap to make one out of this.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Thanks JerseyWendy. I forgive you, but just this once. Let's not make it a habit. hehe

I'm not sure though how effective those would be for chewers like Skittles. I wish they weren't so expensive or at least came in a case. But considering I'd likely have to replace that at least once a week I'm not sure it would be a wise investment.

Maybe they are more durable than they look? They just look like something that could be easily destroyed.

I'm actually thinking about (and I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before) making him a wooden cuddle box. Then I could put like large round pillars attached to each corner to make it harder for him to chew on them. Then just put tissues or some other paper item inside it. I could also put hooks on the top and hang it in his cage.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I just took a more thorough look at the new cuddle huts I got Skittles for Christmas and I noticed just now that it is not the same quality as the one I normally get him. Looks much cheaper and comes apart too easily. I checked the label and they are made of polyester, not fleece.

I then looked at the front label and right in the right hand corner is a warning that says this: "Caution: Due to their chewing nature, this product should not be used with Conures".

How did I miss that? Luckily, I caught it now so I can return it.

I think that tomorrow (or Tues) I'm gonna go to Home Depot and buy some un-treated wood. I got an idea of what woods are safe from my vet. I'm thinking of going with Pine or oak. I know pine is softwood while oak is hardwood. But I live in the "Pine Tree State" so I'm not sure what to do. LOL.

Now I'm just waiting to find out what types of adhesive are safe for holding the wood together. The vet has not yet gotten back to me on that.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could use to hold the wood together that would be safe to use?

I'm gonna make him a wooden cuddle hut and put unscented tissue paper for bedding (like the vet suggested). He just tears it anyways. He doesn't ingest it.

You should see my carpet. It has little white balls of fabric all over the place from Skittle chewing on my shirt while I am in my chair watching tv. He also loves to rub his beak against my chest hair and face hair. It's kind of curly so I think he likes that.

When I get the new hut finished, I'll post a picture of it and explain how I did it.

 

[MikeyTN]

Wouldn't nailing it together be a better option??? From what I've posted long ago is using hot glue gun to glue things together, but it should be used away from your bird as it does create fumes. Elmer's glue is safe to use as you can use it to glue cracked bird eggs. How well they would hold, I have no idea....I know with Elmer's glue, if you get it wet they fall apart.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I was considering nails or screws but I wasn't sure about the 'metallic' component. I've read a lot about 'zinc poisoning' so I was curious about that.

To be honest, I don't really trust glue. Especially if I decide to hang it. If I did use glue, it would be wood glue or gorilla glue which I presume both are not safe for birds.

I put a cardboard box in his cage tonight layered with tissue paper but he wouldn't go in, when I tried to put him in it, he took off out of the cage and landed on my shoulder.

 

[JerseyWendy]

.....I think that tomorrow (or Tues) I'm gonna go to Home Depot and buy some un-treated wood. I got an idea of what woods are safe from my vet. I'm thinking of going with Pine or oak. I know pine is softwood while oak is hardwood. But I live in the "Pine Tree State" so I'm not sure what to do. LOL.

Now I'm just waiting to find out what types of adhesive are safe for holding the wood together. The vet has not yet gotten back to me on that.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could use to hold the wood together that would be safe to use?

.....

Either oak or pine will be fine, and yes, oak is MUCH harder than pine (also a little more expensive).

I have an idea of what you could use to 'fuse' the pieces together. You could drill small holes in the pieces of wood, and use zip ties to fasten and hold them together. Perfectly safe.

Here is an example of how you can use zip ties with wood (sorry, not bird related, just to give you an idea)
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ufySM4Ms8"]DIY Zip Tie Pallet Wood Doormat! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Anansi]

Great idea, Wendy! I'd never considered that!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@JerseyWendy

Are you familiar with the term Tannins? Some places online say that is present in Oak and Red Oak and are toxic to birds if they chew on it?

I know pine is safe. The vet mentioned that a while back, but I never asked about Oak. We have no shortage of pine trees around here, LOL.

I just want to make sure the wood is 100% safe. The wood I got today is untreated oak and I got some dowels for the corners that are red oak.

Your thoughts?

PS, never thought of that zip tie option. Funny thing is, that's what I used to hold the bottom of Skittles old cage to the top part! LOL

 

[MikeyTN]

I didn't mention the zip ties when you said he was a chewer. But you know lowes sells stainless steel screws or nuts and bolts. I use those on my cages.

 

[rosembers]

Skittys Daddy - your idea of making a wooden box sounds awesome! If it turns out that it's too much work or too difficult to get safe materials you're comfortable with, I just wanted to say that the Critter's Choice Chubes are wonderful! I am so happy with ours! They are very strong, more than they look. Our GCC has had hers for about a year and has chewed the edges a little, but not enough that it even needs to be replaced yet. It's very strong. I could squeeze it very hard with my hands and it won't even bend Some people get really creative with theirs and attach toys to their chubes to give their birds something to chew on. Here is a link in case you're interested: Safe happy hut

Not to sound like a broken record, but I LOVE our Chube. I was nervous and skeptical at first after a scare with a happy hut one of our birds had, but now I am a customer forever! Our GCC absolutely loves her Chube too. We get them on Amazon.

Please post a pic if you make a wood hut, I would love to see it!!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@rosembers Not sure if you saw the other thread or not, but I found a 'condo hut' I'm going with. I got the greenlight from my vet on those.

I did manage to get a response from the vet about the chubes. She couldn't recommend them because she didn't have enough information on the materials (concern about dyes and all that).

Have you been able to get any information on that?

I do still plan on making Skittles a wooden hut of some sort. But I'm thinking more of making it as a 'daytime hideaway' more than anything else. Even if just for aesthetics.

 

[rosembers]

That's a great question - I know they are made of 100% natural biodegradable vegetable parchment and even the label is printed with natural vegetable dyes. Oh - and they are made with the intention for small animals to gnaw and chew them. The lady that I learned about them from is EXTREMELY into parrot safety and she's super critical about toys, food, huts, etc. She has referenced that she has contacted the manufacturer and is confident in what these are made with and I really trust this gal. I've also researched and seen that these are making a huge hit in the parrot world. They are made in the UK and are advertised as 100% safe (BTW we've had ours for about a year and no issues at all) I do wonder though, if there is a place I could mail a snippet to and have it tested for any harsh metals (like lead/zinc in the glue)...but I feel very confident in these.

I must have missed the post about the "condo hut." Those are really awesome too! Way safer than the traditional polyester or even fleece. Our avian vet actually recommended those as a safer option because they are cotton which is a natural more digestible fiber and doesn't fray and snag like the others. That's awesome! I hope you can post a pic of Skittles in his new digs when you get it!!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@rosembers I posted about it in the thread "Could use some encouragement".

I'll keep those in mind. I do know that Skittles loves those "shredders". They too are made with natural parchment and vegetable dyes.