Suggestions and opinions about tree stand

[mona]

I wanted to get a tree stand for my birds. However, nothing is available online similar to that at my place. I looked up diy tree stands. We went on a long drive out of the city to collect the safe non city tree branches on Sunday.🥰 I have disinfected and peeled all branches and this is just a prototype. I haven't yet assembled it yet, have to let it sun dry yet. I know there should be balance between horizontal and slant branches. Any suggestions before I assemble it together? Thank you 🤗






I will have a natural base stand beneath these assembled branches. Planning to make it 5 feet high..that would be my height. Should the tree stand have a food bowl too or that should be inside the cage only?

Where should I place the cuttlefish bone, mineral block and black/pink salt? All that should be inside the cage or at both places or just the food, few branches and few toys should be inside the cage? Water outside and inside cage both.. and bath bowls shallow ones outside the cage. Could someone please help with the ideal arrangement of everything inside vs outside the cage. Tree is supposed to have some different swings. Not sure about which kind of chew toys - few places list paper not good for chewing as they might swallow it while shredding.. wood small branches for shredding should be peeled off too?

Please bear with my naive and so many queries 🙈

[tweetiepiesmom]

Hopefully more experienced people will come along with help. From my understanding, if the branches are from a budgie safe tree, you don't need to remove the bark. Most budgies enjoy chewing off the bark. On the question about providing food and water outside as well as inside the cage, I think its up to you. I only have food and water inside the cage. They come and go in and out of the cage all the time. Sometimes I'll pin grass or an herb on the outside for them to nibble. I have a couple perches on the outside of their cage and a toy beside it. They do play with that.

[Hezz]

Going back to your other question about perch thicknesses, the tree branches could all be much thicker, and a pity you pulled all the bark off. But done now, and you can plan another road trip for the new improved version once you've finished fiddling this one into place.

For the time being, until birds are more settled and trusting, keep food and water in the cage. Mineral block and cuttlebone stay in the cage always. The tree is there as a play area and resting spot. Swings are good, paper toys for shredding are fine. If making them yourself don't use shiny paper, but any newspaper is okay, craft paper, anything food-grade such as cupcake holders etc. Balsa wood, a ladder or two, cork, yukka etc are all good for chewing as well.

[mona]

Thank you Hezz and tweetiepiesmom

Points noted about the tree bark peel off 🤦‍♀️ and the width. W.r.t disinfection, I have read about using vinegar or bleach (reluctant about bleach since it's chemical). Could you please throw some light on the right way of disinfection too please? Pesticide free, away from the city, no visible mold growth etc is all I know.

I used to make paper toys using plain A4 size paper, with seeds hidden inside. They loved it, but many online articles then confused me 🙈

I don't trust the online or shop purchases for toys and perches. No one mentions the material used 🤦‍♀️ Being an art and craft enthusiast, I would love to have handmade items for them.. Hope they will like it (in their own sweet time ❤)

[blue48]

I use F10 vetinary disinfectant as recommended to me on here. I dilute it in a spray bottle and spray it on a toothbrush to scrub the poop off the perches, clean the cage etc.

[tweetiepiesmom]

I also clean/disinfect like blue48. I've read other people give tree limbs that they collect a good scrub and bake at low temperature in the oven - sorry, I don't recall the temperature and time. Maybe they'll chime in. I read somewhere concerning cleaning kitchen counters that wiping with bleach and then vinegar (white distilled) gets rid of all the germs.

[Hezz]

I don't go in for the harsh chemicals at all, mona. Hot water, a bit of dishwashing liquid and a scrubbing brush, then a rinse off with a dilute (about 1:10) vinegar solution and dry in the sun. That's all I do; that's all I've ever done and never had a problem. I think we can run the risk of being too clean. F10 is a veterinarian-grade disinfectant, meaning that it kills everything! I don't want my birds to not be exposed to any germs. That doesn't make for a healthy immune system. Likewise with cage, perch and toy cleaning. F10 only comes into play if there is a know infection or an at-risk bird.

[mona]

Finally, I have been able to put the tree stand together! The only thing left is to cover the jute rope at the joint with maybe a paper, if they are afraid of that. Is it too congested or would that keep them busy?!

Can't say that they would like this one and can't expect them to be used to it for another couple of months, based on their history with toys! I might end up removing or changing things there, based on their response. But, here it is, the best I could do, as of now..
I have wrapped some branches with jute of various textures and thickness, others with wooden beads. Being the super skeptical person I am, I have tried and covered all perch ends with a bead or jute rope, to avoid them scratching their pin feathers ever on any pointed like surface!












At my home, I had a pretty huge art desk, which was very beautiful. Now, here I don't have a proper desk allocated for it. But, I love the clutter of all artsy things on my sewing machine table! Birdies brought back the joy of craft work to me.. 🥰

[tweetiepiesmom]

It looks great to me! I use vet wrap on any joints that I don't like. My guys so far have not been picking at the vet wrap. You have two lucky birds, I think they're going to enjoy it.

[mona]

Nov 10, 2020 21:08:31 GMT tweetiepiesmom said:

It looks great to me! I use vet wrap on any joints that I don't like. My guys so far have not been picking at the vet wrap. You have two lucky birds, I think they're going to enjoy it.

Thank you. At this point of time, I cannot find vet wrap. Amazon shows them unavailable too! Added a notification for that when it's available. I recall your suggestion about vet wrap for the window railings.

I hope they enjoy it..! Keeping my expectations real low! Right now, I'm just thinking how not to freak them out with this giant 5 feet tree stand! 🤦‍♀️ I'm anxious thinking about how anxious they would be at the sight of this tree stand!

[willowsmum]

It looks like so much fun mona. There's plenty of interesting things to tempt them so hopefully their curiosity will get the better of them and they'll be exploring before you know it!

[mona]

willowsmum I really hope so. Fingers crossed! 🥰 I just hope they don't fly back to the fan! 😅 These days fan is hardly used for their perching!