New Cage Idea

[softie]

Good afternoon,

I was thinking lately of changing my budgies cage around into a natural habitat-looking type. I was thinking of replacing the perches with branches they sell at stores. Also, replacing toys with chewable wood and rope.

As for the colorful plastic toys, I was thinking of using them for when they are outside of the cage.

Does this sound like a good idea or does it even matter?
Will changing the cage from colorful to just brown and dull effect them?

[A-n-M]

Good afternoon to you too, :D

In my opinion I actually think it doesn't matter to the budgie what's so ever as long as it's not boring to them. I think it's a really great idea and I actually think it would look better if it's setting is more natural. I would also add silk/fake plants to make it look natural, but they would have to be safe. I actually wanted to try it but I can't find the branches in my Petland Discounts or other local pet stores. If you do decide to change it I hope it comes out spectacular and please show us pic of how it comes out. :)

Oh, and maybe changing the food cups to the garden type ones by sorry forgot which pet supply manufacturer might make it more naturally beautiful.

[softie]

I was just at the store two nights ago and I was looking at all the branches and wood toys they had. I was very tempted to get one but I didn't know if it was a good idea or not.

Now, I can't wait to start my next project :)

As for the colorful toys I have, I guess I'll make a "theme park" for the budgies :)

[A-n-M]

Good luck with it :). Keep us posted on how it turns out.

[Neely]

I think they would love that!
Especiall the "theme park"

[redgirl]

That does sound lovely, I myself bought a wood effect toy and swing with rope and a bell on and Willow adores this so much and Skyla loves chewing the swing, I also think it looks more natural to them and looks better, cant wait to see pics hun xxx :)

[softie]

I doubt I'll be ready to set up their new cage enclosure soon. I don't think my parents are willing to give me money so I'm gonna have to save up. =\

I think that the natural wood and branch setting would make the budgies even more vibrant and they'll really stand out.

I have already made my list of what I'll need considering the size of the cage.

-2 large branches with little branches sticking out
-A single bell attached to a wood toy
-lots of chewable wood
-lots of rope and twine
-and maybe I'll buy them a honeystick treat things.

I can't wait, I'm really looking forward to it :)

[Meghanxx4]

yea i think that is a good idea, because remember you want it to be an inviroment not a cage to them. Make sure you have plenty of money with you if you are going buy all that stuff, im not sure how much the natural perches and stuff are where youa re, but where i buy mine they are quite expensive. You should get an assortment of different kinds of natural perches.. like cactus, and i forget the rest pof the kinds. I think your birds will quite enjoy ,balsa wood(the soft wood) if they havent already tried it. I realize you want an inviroment sort of natural look in your budgies cage but i think its still important to keep like a soft perch and sand/conditioning perch... you could get a sand/conditioning perch that is like dark green or brown colour so it sort of blends in with the habitat look.. and for the softperch you could just get small one... or aniother idea instead of the soft perch you could get platform ting and put a tea towel or something soft on it, they like to sleep on platforms too.

[softie]

Thats great advice xbudgieluvax thank you :)

I will be sure to add those items to my list :)

How much do the branches and wood toys sell for over there? Here it's between $4-$7

[idlewild]

I make all of my branches and perches. We have two apple trees and one day I went out and cut off this huge dead branch, hacked it up and made tons of perches. Right now I've got two cages outfitted and with extra to spare.

I made a trip to the hardware store and picked up with wing-nuts, washers, and the treaded/screw thingy that goes into the end of the wood. Took the drill and drilled a hole in the end of the branch, then screwed in the rod, added a few washers and a wing-nut and tada! Insta-perch. Of course I also took a knife and took all the bark off (the bark was old and dead and was only going to make a mess and soak up moisture in the cage) and sanded it a little.

For the branches that span from one cage side to the other, I just cut a little grove on the side of the branch, wraped some heavy duty wire around it, then I simply wire the branch into the cage.

And the budgies love them! I have one three pronged branch in with Dizzy and Sunny and they love to jump from branch to branch and up and down and back again. And they love to chew on them, some of the little nobbies on the branchs also make great places to scratch their heads on (of course I've sanded those down)!

And they are cheep, I think I was able to make 4 perches with the wing-nut and washer set up for less than $1 a piece.

[softie]

Wow, that's very cool idlewind :)

We have a few trees but I'm a little bit paranoid about bringing wild organic material near my pets. I think it's because when I was really little, I placed in two peices of branches for my pet frog and fungus grew like mad and unfortunately killed my frog :(

That gives me ideas though, I will have to ask my dad. Thank you :)

[softie]

Here are some items I plan on putting inside the cage:

Perches:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/6199703042B.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/6199703040B.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/lrg_9744_48ec3.jpg

= $18

Toys:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/2027933761B.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/701079200932C.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/lrg_9745_48ec5.jpg

= $25

Misc:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/lg_7666_5c0cf.jpg

= $4

I also plan on putting some stuff in that I already have:

Swing
2 perches for support
rope
twine

So the most I will spend is: $50 ($47)

I'm sure I'm not going to buy everything on here, but this is the list I have for now, give and take a few.

[A-n-M]

Those items look very nice, can't wait to see the final product.

Are you getting these items from Petco?

[softie]

Petco and Petsmart. Their prices are fairly the same though.

[Ruta<3]

Wow, thats a good idea. I plan on giving some theme to my budgie's cage when he will readily come OUT of the cage so I can do it.


Pictures are a must when you finish it!

[redgirl]

Softie I have those ladders on my play gym, and the second toy I have too, but mine ahs a bell underneath xxx :)

[zarrion101]

The stuff looks great Softie. :) You will have to post some pics of the finishing results. I think having a natural cage for your budgies would be well suited and comfortable for them to live in. So cosy for them. :D

[Meghanxx4]

Thats great advice xbudgieluvax thank you

I will be sure to add those items to my list

How much do the branches and wood toys sell for over there? Here it's between $4-$7

The natural perches are between 10-50 dollars depending on how big and what kind. The toys like that are like between 5-40 dollars again dpending on size and kind. The big parrot toys and perches are really expensive, im kind of glad i didnt buy a pionus.

[BUUZBEE]

my thoughts!
(added to your pics!)

love this!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/6199703042B.jpg
dont care for these, a little too twiggy
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/6199703040B.jpg
LOVE LOVE LOVE these
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/lrg_9744_48ec3.jpg
a fun toy
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/2027933761B.jpg
this will be gone in no time! i LOVE them! i had one that went horizontal they hollowed it out and tried to nest in it!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/701079200932C.jpg
i like for my conrues... off to petco! lol
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/lrg_9745_48ec5.jpg
mine dont seem to like any ladders!
Misc:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m118/sirenjanine/NEW%20CAGE/lg_7666_5c0cf.jpg

[pipp4]

thats a very good idea!

[softie]

Thank you everyone :) I'm very excited :)

Anna, thanks for your thoughts on all the toys! That was very helpful for me :) I agree that the second branch does look twiggy which is why I'm considering of buying two or three of the first branch.

My budgies like stepping off and on the ladder on their playgym so I figured I might as well add it to their cage. The ladder in the picture doubles as a light beak and nail trimmer. The steps are made with crushed shells and calcium.

I'm still planning on buying a sand perch just in case, now just to find a brown colored one :rolleyes:

[BUUZBEE]

you might like the 2nd one, i just find when im cleaning the cage, im always getting caught on the darn thing! i ended up taking it out! lol

[BUUZBEE]

i also want to sugest even though you have a natural cage, keep colorfull foot toys for them, they enjoy the eye stimulation!

[softie]

I was thinking that too :)

Shiloh and Grace's favorite toy is the one with the balls lines down in a string with a bell in each one of them. I was thinking I could put that in there since they like it so much.

I asked my dad if he could make a bigger playgym for them and so that I can hang all their toys from the perches.

One thing that I always thought was strange...

Whenever I go into a store to buy seed or anything else, I always think, "I have enough money for a toy, I should get one."

And when I go in, theres a huge selection of toys I see and whenever I look at a toy, I think, "Oh, they won't like this one." And I always come out of the store empty handed.

I don't know why, but I always get excited to buy the budgies something new and then later, refuse all of them. Strange. :rolleyes:

[BUUZBEE]

are the balls the ones with the bells inside? if so, i pull mine off the string and let them play with them as foot toys!

[softie]

Hmm, I have wondered where the single ones were sold. You've given me a good idea :)

I was just looking into Shiloh and Grace's cage and Shiloh stuck his head through the toy with all the connected rings trying to pick at the bell. I was a little worried that he might get caught up in it. Silly budgie :P

[BUUZBEE]

:eek: uh oh, can he hurt himself? i've read god awfull stories of them hanging themselves on toys! :eek:

[softie]

Oh, woops forgot to say I took it out!

I was a little worried that he might get caught up in it so I took it out*

:o

[BUUZBEE]

:D gotcha :D

[Meghanxx4]

buuzbee, do you secure your ladders? so that there on like tight i geuss then word will be so that they dont like jiggle or feel loose to the birds? if they feel its unsafe(like if its really loose and wabbly) then birds wont use it. My budgies never used ladders either. However now that i have tiels the cage came with 2 ladders and i was told buy the store owner that birds wont use ladders if they feel there unsafe(basicly the same as what i said above) i put a ladder in my teils cage for the heck of it and secured it with zap straps(as she recomended to use) and they use it all the time now. If the ladders didnt come with the cage i probabl;y wouldnt of baught them either.

[BUUZBEE]

kates birds have 2 ladders one on the play gym and one inside the cage. the one inside is on the bottom leaning up to the first horizontal wires. I will have to see how "secure" they are. maybe thats the problem. thanks!