Do you get wood from outside your house for your parrots?

Question

I have considered it. But I have read that the wood has to be soaked for a while then allowed to dry. I am paranoid I guess that something will kill them so I haven't done it. Anyone do this? And if so could you tell me how you did it? And please tell if your parrot was harmed from it? Any advice is much appreciated.

Answer 1

Yes, I did it. I actually made an indoor treehouse for them. My parents house got hit by a tornado last year, so there were a lot of trees down all over the place. I found a few maples that were mid size that had to be cut down and then I trimmed off what was too little to hold their weight (I have macaws) and then just anchored them to the walls and floor. I washed mine, made sure there were no bugs in there by pouring boiling water all over the branches, but other than that, I didn't do anything special to the wood. They chew on it, love it, and like having the freedom of a big open room to use, instead of always being confined to a cage.

I wouldn't use a bleach mixture (some people are cool with it, I just won't take a chance of using chemicals like that with my fids) for it, but boiling water sterilized as it hits the surface anyway.

Just watch out for bugs...you don't want to bring an outdoor problem indoors for your birds to deal with...

Answer 2

Some appropriate chewing material should be provided in the parrot's enclosure. For many birds, fresh, non-toxic branches can make appropriate chewing toys. Fruit woods like apple, willow trees, and eucalyptus trees can all provide fine branches for these purposes. Many parrots will also chew on the leaves if they are left on the branches. Just be sure that any woods you obtain outdoors have not been exposed to chemicals like pesticides. Many chew sticks are also commercially sold.

I wash the branches with a bleach solution and put in oven on low heat to dry.
SAFE WOODS
* Fruit Trees (except for Cherry)
* Willow
* Maple
* Hazelnut
* Oak


UNSAFE WOODS

* Birch (especially Sweet or Black birch)
* Horsechestnut
* Pine (especially the sap)

Answer 3

I do it all the time. I have a pear tree and a grapevine right outside my front door, they've never been treated with anything. I just break off a stick, bring it in, wash it with plain old water in the kitchen sink and give it to my grey. Some folks put them in the oven or micro but I know she likes the green inside so I just give it a thorough washing, figuring that in the wild it would not even get that. Bleach, soap, and ovens aren't used by wild parrots, I try to keep things as natural as possible for her. She's never been sick and is quite healthy.

Answer 4

For my Goffin Too, I use Magnolia or store bought perches, mainly because the only other tree besides magnolia in my yard is pine, and that's not safe.

Answer 5

no is a time lost