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Post by Hezz on Aug 6, 2020 20:00:19 GMT
Hezz I thought I remembered you using something like that. Awesome idea! I've done something similar with Mango's swing to make it easier for her to use. The arms of the swing I've wrapped with paper rope and the inner strut I've wrapped with sisal rope - she holds this with her beak while struggling to get her gimpy leg under her, and she does sometimes sit in there as well.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 7, 2020 10:55:10 GMT
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Jul 30, 2020 13:49:13 GMT
Ellie
Normal Violet
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Post by Ellie on Aug 7, 2020 15:05:55 GMT
Hezz the leather flowers I bought as more of a filler/holder for others parts. I'll have to post what I made to show you what I mean. It's 3 bamboo finger traps, tied together with the thin hemp string. Then I tied a paper rope knot on to another piece of hemp string, thread it though the flower, and again through the traps. Added a little millet and fun paper, and figure I can tie it on the side of the cage. I could have done a neater job, but the bird probably won't mind. Look safe enough? The ice cream spoon popsicle sticks can be tricky to drill! I sometimes find when drilling thinner wood, that sometimes it works to start with a smaller drill piece first, then move up. There are other tricks as well, I think I'll just have to play around with it. Yep, the bell chain links alone would be large enough for little toes to get stuck in. Seems this was the smallest bell available. I figure the most important part is that if it is covered, I have to make sure that there is no wiggle room to move the attached items apart to make room for any kind of mishap. And I know what you mean about the store bought toys - There are some that my mother has had for her birds that I've removed from the cage. I'm actually hoping that maybe I can make some toys to bring to her for them, since they don't have many. One bird is like a little t-rex and demolishes everything from toys, to perches and ladders. All within record time. birdguhl that's a good idea too... I'll have to see if I can track some down.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 8, 2020 0:56:19 GMT
Very pretty. Hope Birdy thinks the same, and yes, it does look safe.
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Apr 24, 2024 10:23:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2020 6:30:49 GMT
Hezz What’s your choice of material for tying parts of toys together? If I wanted to string balsa blocks together (although I could use the veggie skewer for that) or if I wanted to attach a bead or two where I’d removed a bell from a toy.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 8, 2020 9:50:44 GMT
Hezz What’s your choice of material for tying parts of toys together? If I wanted to string balsa blocks together (although I could use the veggie skewer for that) or if I wanted to attach a bead or two where I’d removed a bell from a toy. Do you mean threading things together or linking? For linking bits to toys I use stainless steel keyrings. All my bells are on these and if needed I can take them off one toy to be put onto another. I've found that some of the thinner ones do rust, so you do need to stay vigilant. The stronger ones that I use also seem to be more resistant to rusting, but that is probably something that you will work out for yourself over time - just do a check every time you change toys over. I change toys over every two weeks so I can feel reasonably confident that any rust that might appear hasn't been there for too long. For threading beads etc I really do like leather string/thongs/strips but you need to know what they have been cured with if one of the birds is a chewer. How much of an issue that really is, I really don't know, but how do you decide where to compromise?? Otherwise you can use strips of any of the natural fibres - I think birdguhl mentioned rafia (I've not used this as I haven't found it easily available), seagrass, sisal or paper rope which comes in many differing thicknesses. I've bought seagrass mats and taken pieces off them. These seem to be quite strong while being able to be kept reasonably thin, good for threading acrylic beads etc onto.
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Apr 24, 2024 10:23:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2020 10:51:01 GMT
Hezz Thank you! It was more for threading. I removed the pesky bells that are likely to rust from everything before I gave them, because when Munchy used to play with toys once the bells had to come off he was less interested. I shall have a look around for something safe. On a random aside, I was halfway through sending a message to you last night asking for advice about cleaning the en suite bathroom because Yuki and Indie aren’t tame enough to easily transfer to the travel cage, and then I remembered that when we moved Indie upstairs we just carried the intact Hamberley up with him in it so I could just carry the cage down again.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 8, 2020 22:06:05 GMT
Bells seem to be a real problem to get hold of, particularly ones small enough for budgies. I can usually get some from one of two places here in Aus that (usually) have them but I did ask if they would post O/S, the reply was that the postage was too ridiculous and not worth their while. The enclosed bells are often the size of a large budgie - I could see a little bud being knocked flat from a beak-bopped bell coming back at him!
Does the bathroom not have a door? If you have a door, closing the door and opening any windows for the short time should suffice. Depends on what you want to use, I suppose. For light cleaning vinegar/water with a bit of lemon juice works well. For scrubbing I use something like Jif or Gumption ... those cream cleansers without any problems. Our bathroom is quite large though with a lot of open window space so probably a different space entirely to your ensuite. Loki follows me almost everywhere and often ends up in the bathroom with me when I'm cleaning. I have a "spray and wipe" that I don't use if he is there.
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Apr 24, 2024 10:23:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2020 22:16:11 GMT
Bells are a challenge! I remember Munchy getting hit in the face by a ball on a cord, so I can imagine that with a bell! Yikes!
We’re in the middle of a terrace and the bathrooms are in the middle of the house, so no windows. However, I do have an extractor fan in there, so I was thinking that on, door shut, bedroom windows and door open for good ventilation.
I usually just use a cream cleaner for the surfaces, and a liquid toilet cleaner for the toilet bowl. So really it’s just me being concerned about whether the smell carries any harmful fumes. I think we have some spray called... something like ‘zeflora’... which is a surface cleaner safe for most animals, but I think that’s from a licking the surface point of view rather than the scent.
If I’m in any doubt I’ll just move them. They’ll cope with different surroundings for a couple of hours. It’ll be stimulating.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 8, 2020 23:26:18 GMT
With the extraction fan running while you clean and for a little time after, my guess is that you would have to be safe, and with the door closed as well. Aww, poor Munchy; I hope that wasn't his favourite Kevin? Does he have Kevins in his new home, or has he given up Kevins for a Kara?
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Apr 24, 2024 10:23:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2020 23:47:57 GMT
Thanks Hezz! It was at the time! Think they had a falling out after that! All his toys went with him, but it sounds like he's all about his lady now. I miss him. The other night I couldn't sleep because of it and went around hunting down all the photos I could find of him. And the adorable videos of Peri bathing! Edit: NaturalBirdCo sells vegetable tanned leather that looks thin enough for threading a few beads onto things. I have one toy that was a bell above a rattling wheel, so the overhang that used to hold the bell looks a touch odd.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 9, 2020 8:14:43 GMT
Any chance of a visual update on Munchy, Peri and the respective families?
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Apr 24, 2024 10:23:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2020 9:05:20 GMT
I’m not sure. I can try asking if the lady can send me some pictures.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 9, 2020 10:17:36 GMT
That would be nice, and I'm sure you would love to see Munchy and his little family. I know I would.
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Apr 24, 2024 10:23:43 GMT
Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2020 14:12:12 GMT
Apparently both clutches were infertile, which is a shame but these things happen.
Peri's currently hanging out with the young mixed sex flock.
Munchy's still with the white hen he mated with because they've formed a very strong bond.
Alas, no photos. I would love to see him, if only to see that he's doing well.
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