Apr 17, 2024 20:26:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2020 13:12:55 GMT
My partner and I would like to put something for the budgies to perch on on the opposite side of the room from the cage, but the only option of a piece of furniture to move to place it on is a tall and narrow set of shelves. And depending on how it was positioned, two sides would be against the wall if it went into the corner, or one if I moved it a bit further out. This is the top of the unit in question. (It’s not fitted to the wall. For some reason my housemate just attached the bit that you’re meant to bolt to the wall and I can’t remember why.) I think if we could put something on it that wasn’t too tall and had a secured base, perhaps fitting over the top, then we could possibly have perches sticking out. Alternatively my housemate and I might be able to drill holes into the side to fit some perches into, most likely not ones with fittings as the fittings are usually too short. Any ideas? On a related note, I’m looking for somewhere to get some branches of different thicknesses to make full perches out of. I don’t think there’s anything suitable in my grandparents’ garden, although I will pop over and ask to have a look as there might as least be something I could use with the shelving unit. Anyone know anywhere that sells wood? Sadly the Natural Bird Company seems to not be an option for the foreseeable future, and everywhere else seems to send me perches that are all thick, have dubious or rusty looking metal parts, or sells sanded perches, etc. Or have no longer perch options for anything as small as a budgie.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Aug 20, 2020 17:17:55 GMT
You might get ideas by looking at "play gym for birds" on Amazon or just google it. I've seen some on the internet that people have made using PVC pipe if you're handy with cutting the pipe and putting it together. Good luck!
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Apr 17, 2024 20:26:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2020 17:20:13 GMT
Thanks, Tweetiepiesmom. We might be able to find something we can D.I.Y. together.
At least one of the perches currently in the cage has a fitting that will reach through the side to bolt on.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Aug 20, 2020 17:33:19 GMT
Do you have a countersink bit for your drill? You might be able to attach one of the perches that has a fitting that is too short.
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Apr 17, 2024 20:26:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2020 19:16:59 GMT
Possibly. I'd have to ask my housemate. I feel like that rings a bell.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 20, 2020 19:57:51 GMT
I wouldn't use PVC pipe unless you were going to wrap it in vet wrap, and then you have the problem of them chewing on that. Have you looked at aquarium/terrarium pieces of wood? You can use driftwood as well if you can take the time to de-salt it. If you can't find anything in the short term, you could do a bit of hardware shopping - a piece of ply or similar (base), a piece of 4"x4" or 2"x2" (upright), a few corner brackets to fix upright to base, and a few lengths of different diameter dowel as perches put through holes drilled through the upright. If you wanted a bit more texture, wrap the perches in sisal or seagrass rope. Not perfect but would give them somewhere to perch while you find the bits and pieces to make a bespoke perching tree.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Aug 20, 2020 20:14:57 GMT
Hezz I wondered if the PVC pipe would be too slick for them. I like the idea of aquarium wood - many pet stores have that. I wouldn't have thought about the salt but it makes sense if that wood has been collected at the shore.
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Apr 17, 2024 20:26:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2020 21:01:58 GMT
I did wonder about driftwood, Hezz. I'll see what can be done. Would be nice for them to have another place to play. Although even the wardrobe top is out of favour at the moment. At least for internal cage perches there is someone in the UK on Etsy I can likely buy branches off of.
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Post by birdguhl on Aug 20, 2020 22:59:20 GMT
What about a couple of java perches fixed onto a piece of wood? When buying online (I’ve got them from Scarletts) I ask to see photos of all the small ones they have so I can choose the best shapes.
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Jul 30, 2020 13:49:13 GMT
Ellie
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Post by Ellie on Aug 21, 2020 0:57:10 GMT
I think it you use pvc, it also has to be a certain type of pvc. I don't think they are all created equal. Although that being said, instead of vet wrap, I'm wondering if wrapping it with something like untreated sisal would work as an alternative? +1 to wood from the aquarium shop. I was considering this as an option myself, since most the natural perches I've seen in the shop here, are single branch (and I want a multi branch for variety). Sometimes they have things like manzanita and java branches. Hezz do you think items from the aquarium shop would need similar prep to branches from outside? I seem to remember that a friend of mine would soak then bake any new wood going into his aquarium that came from the shop. I'm not sure if this was to avoid contamination, or more to prevent his tank from turning brown from darker pieces (then baking to set the wood)
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Apr 17, 2024 20:26:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2020 1:34:29 GMT
What about a couple of java perches fixed onto a piece of wood? When buying online (I’ve got them from Scarletts) I ask to see photos of all the small ones they have so I can choose the best shapes. I've bought a few things from there but never thought about asking to see the shapes. Could be a good idea. Thanks, Birdguhl.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 21, 2020 8:32:27 GMT
I think it you use pvc, it also has to be a certain type of pvc. I don't think they are all created equal. Although that being said, instead of vet wrap, I'm wondering if wrapping it with something like untreated sisal would work as an alternative? +1 to wood from the aquarium shop. I was considering this as an option myself, since most the natural perches I've seen in the shop here, are single branch (and I want a multi branch for variety). Sometimes they have things like manzanita and java branches. Hezz do you think items from the aquarium shop would need similar prep to branches from outside? I seem to remember that a friend of mine would soak then bake any new wood going into his aquarium that came from the shop. I'm not sure if this was to avoid contamination, or more to prevent his tank from turning brown from darker pieces (then baking to set the wood) I wouldn't use PVC simply because of it gives nothing for claws to grip. You could use something ropey to wrap around it but you would have to glue it somewhere to stop it from slipping around, and also wrap it very tightly. Regarding wood for terrariums/aquariums, I would assume that these had already been treated to be ready to use in the appropriate places. Maybe he was just super-careful about what went into his aquarium; I've not had any of any sophistication so I'm guessing. I don't give any branches that I source from outside any particular treatment - a hot soapy water scrub, rinse off in dilute vinegar solution and dry in the sun. That's it.
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Apr 17, 2024 20:26:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2020 13:52:29 GMT
I did always wonder about anything made of smooth plastic, Hezz. Usually I avoid anything that isn't wood with bark on it these days. My dream is to one day have a house where I can set up the living room with perching areas at each end of it. I feel like I never have enough surfaces for things to go on. In my grandparents' there was only the windowsill, and here I have the top of the cage, the wardrobe, the top of the desk shelving and part of one windowsill/curtain rail, but they're all quite close together. The other curtain rail is above my bed, and the tiny shelf may not get used. I have got the attic 'door' in my ceiling so I'm wondering if I can hang a hook from there to hang something off of. If I can find a suitable hanging-mabob. Oh to have a variety of surfaces at different heights. Thank you for your cleaning tips, Hezz! I'm going to message the shop I saw on Etsy to see if they're willing to find safe wood branches of the right dimensions for me, so the cleaning advice will be useful if they say yes.
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Post by Hezz on Aug 22, 2020 1:19:03 GMT
You could use the attic door handle or whatever to hang something similar to what I was describing, just without the base but with a ring/eye screw through the top and using something like a "D" link to attach the two. You could use a length of plastic chain it bring it down to whatever level you wanted.
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Apr 17, 2024 20:26:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2020 6:23:04 GMT
Hezz I've wedged a spare stainless steel over-door hook in the lip of the attic door (it can't fall) so I can look for something to hang from it now. They used to hang out on my light shade until Yuki started chewing at it.
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