Quick and Easy Play Trees

[Red-Raven]

:wave: I keep two 'trees' for my birds to climb and forage. My budgies, lovebirds, tiels and small conures love climbing and foraging for treats in a 3' artificial Christmas tree kept up year round. It's 'decorated' with popcorn strands, millet sprays, pinecones stuffed with peanut butter, bells, bird toys, etc. NO LIGHTS! Don't use the fiber optic trees, just the plain ones. Pick one up at a yard sale! Got lots of room? Use a bigger tree!

Also, when pruning bird safe trees and properly disinfecting, I cut large multi-branch limbs and secure in a bucket of sand, gravel, etc. I strip the leaves. The birds love chewing the wood!

The great thing about these types of play areas is when they get soiled just throuw them out! No scrubbing the wooden or painted dowels.
:D

[LMKT_budgies]

that is cool...I have a natural wood tree branch that I sqrewed on to a pice of wood...my birds love to climb around on it...good idea about the christmas tree!!!

[atvchick95]

I'd love to see a pic of your birdie tree

my only question is - since they play on a xmas tree, and when it's xmas time and you put up a tree ( if you do) do they ever go to the other one? or are they content with thiers?

I'd be afraid mine would be like hey that looks like our toy but it's sparkley and before i know it be on the xmas tree not intended for them ( but that's just how my luck would go - since if it wasn't for bad luck i'd have no luck at all lol)

[LMKT_budgies]

Is it true that real Christmas trees are poisonous to Budgies????? I think I heard that somewhere...and I wonder if it is true????

[Red-Raven]

I'll answer both questions here:

Since most real or live Christmas trees are sprayed with insecticides they would NOT be suitable for our parrots.

My decorated Christmas tree is in another room not frequented by the parrots! Although I occasionally will have a photo session with the birds on the decorated tree.

[atvchick95]

awww I can imagine how cute those photos come out :-)


I asked on another forum a few days ago about Real christmas trees and I was told they were fine to have with birds

I asked because I hate real xmas trees but my b/f loves them and I wanted to ask before I forgot and then him and my kids go get a tree and end up not bieng able to have it in the house

I was thinking more of the strong scent of real pine, since they've got such sensitive noses, I fiqured no scented candles, air freshners etc.. then it would be a no go on a real x mas tree

i know the scent of live trees make me gag because the smell of pine is so strong

but I was told they were perfectly safe, and when your done with the tree while your dragging it outside you can even cut a few branches off take the needles off disinfect it and use them as natrual perches

[Red-Raven]

Pine is a perfectly safe wood for parrots as long as the wood is disenfected with a mild bleach solution, rinsed and dried before use. Commercial pine Christmas trees, on the other hand, have probably been sprayed with insecticides and I would not chance using them even if disenfected. Over the years I've planted trees in my yard for the purpose of shade, fruit and perch use. I never spray any chemicals even though it costs me fruit at times. I'm at work now but when I get home I'll share the list of safe wood for parrots.

By the way, pine is not so strongly scented.....are you confusing it with cedar? CEDAR is NOT a safe wood anyway.

[Red-Raven]

Here's a great source for learning about the safe woods for our birds.

http://birdtoyoutlet.com/bird-safety/safe-woods-for-birds.htm

[LMKT_budgies]

Thanks so much for that link...I often wonder what wood is safe for birds...to make perches out of...thanks!!!!

[Sparrow]

That link is great! But I wonder why they didnt include eucalyptus?

[Budgietom]

Could you post a picture of your tree? It sounds amazing!

[Red-Raven]

It will be a little while before new pics are taken....I'm redoing the play trees. Right now I've cut a 7' multi-limb branch and secured it in a Christmas tree stand. It's still out under the carport waiting for me to do some rearranging in the birdroom!

[Budgietom]

The birds must love what you're doing for them.