Toy-making/Family Bonding Time

So yesterday I got around to doing a remodel of the Eclectic Duo's tree stands and decided to make a family project of it with my sons Aidan and Ryan. And as Chris had asked in another thread about my tree stand layout, well, here goes...





This section here was one of the biggest changes to Maya's tree stand. The addition of this net was originally intended for more toy surface area potential, but the additional climbing area it provides won out. I'm also excited to see how she reacts to the sounds of the rattle in the upper right hand corner.


Then there's Jolly's tree, which was a darn sight tougher to work out. Partially because it is so much smaller, and partially because limb placement makes poop free zones a lot harder to find. (I think I'm going to invest in another.) Also, where they like to walk and climb has to be considered as well. And Jolly's all over the place! Lol! This one is still a work in progress, (though they both will be once the birds get to tear into them, today) but here it is thus far.





I'll make sure to post "After" pics as well.

And here are a few pics of the toys we've made to be hung up in their cages:

My Designs (Fortunately, it's been long enough since Terry posted any pics of her amazing toy creations for mine to suffer too terribly in the comparison):


Aidan's (My 10 year old)


And Ryan's (My 7 year old)

The master hath spoken! I love what you’ve done here my friend . Question though. With so much dangling under the branches, isnt this a bit of a poop magnet?

Thanks, Chris!

No, actually, but only because I've studied their favorite target areas exhaustively. (Sad, but true. But I know all parronts will understand in a way so many others wouldn't.) Take Maya's tree stand, for instance. The entire net is safe because of the fact that it has been horizontally draped across those two branches. She never does anything on a surface that close to her if there is another choice. And if you check out the slender branch that holds the leather toy on the left, that one is safe as well since it goes up at a steep enough angle that it just isn't a place she would want to perch long enough to engage in such activity. And as for the wooden blocks on the right hand side, they could've been a problem... except that she only stands on the branch above them with her tail facing the left side of the stand, believe it or not. Only time she turns in such a way where her tail is facing the other way and thus is able to hit the blocks is if I'm there engaging with her. So in short, that would be a potential poop magnet for Jolly, but not for her. (I know. Weird, but true. Lol!)

Only real risk on her stand is the string of wooden blocks on the right. In that case, I noted the two areas where she goes the most and set it dead center between them. Hopefully she'll stay true to form. But if not, I'll have some cleaning to do. Funny enough, my younger son Ryan wasn't too happy about that one. He was a little grossed out by the potential risk. But I was just impressed that my 7 year old was so quick to catch the danger of friendly fire. I'll make a parront out of him yet!

Oh! And if she decides she likes perching on the top of the netting, then the spherical boing thing might be in danger, too! That one literally just occurred to me. Crossing fingers!

Jolly's stand was far easier to set up, as he is really dogmatic about where he goes. Top middle of the upper branch on the outside, and the bare section of the branch pointing outward at the camera. A creature of habit he is.

Lol! Just looking back at how many lines of answer I devoted to defecatory lines of fire, but you know me. I always go all in. Hahaha!

AWESOMENESS!! :smile049:

I buy Levi baby toys all the time ...

Anansi, what do you use in the base of the tree stand, cat litter?

Stephen, you and the boys did an amazing job! I love every single one, and the boys are quite the toy makers! I am so not competing against y'all, those are all unbeatable
Jolly & Maya are so going to enjoy them, I am looking forward to the after pictures.
Their stands are a work of art, I love your set up.

What an incredible playground you have created, my friend!

Tami2 said:

AWESOMENESS!! :smile049:

I buy Levi baby toys all the time ...

Click to expand...

Thanks, Tami! Oh yeah, I definitely buy baby toys whenever I can. Makes a HUGE difference in price.

Tami2 said:

Anansi, what do you use in the base of the tree stand, cat litter?

Click to expand...

A very guarded "yes" to that question. Lol! Most cat litter is VERY dangerous to birds. This type works, however, because it is green, all natural litter made from recycled paper and nothing else. No fragrances, no special clumping formulas. Just straight paper. I was overjoyed when I discovered they made stuff like this. Jolly is so fast he used to send the newspaper lining I used to use flying all over the place every time he took off! (Which is basically every few minutes on some days. Lol!)

Terry57 said:

Stephen, you and the boys did an amazing job! I love every single one, and the boys are quite the toy makers! I am so not competing against y'all, those are all unbeatable
Jolly & Maya are so going to enjoy them, I am looking forward to the after pictures.
Their stands are a work of art, I love your set up.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Terry Blossom! Much appreciated. (My stuff isn't in your league, but sweet of you to imply so. Lol!)

And as for Jolly and Maya enjoying them... Hmph! They just stayed staring at me and acting like nothing was different. Not even one stinkin' nibble! Grrrr!





Might be the freakish appetite increase they're going through at the moment that's distracting them. Guess we'll see if tomorrow is any better.

Scott said:

What an incredible playground you have created, my friend!

Click to expand...

Thanks, Scott! I hope they eventually come to appreciate the renovations as well. Ungrateful varmints! Lol!

The Duo can't let their servants know they did something right...they will wait a suitable amount of time before accepting your offerings

Wow all these look amazing Anansi. Not hard to see how much you love your birds. Ive set Xanders cage up after studying his poop spots too, its worth the effort isnt it. He poops in a certain bowl regular so i leave it empty and praise, reward when he poops in it. He has started saying good boy when he does it now lol so hopefully that will become his toilet then i can move it to the bottom of the cage. I so want a tree stand after seing these Your birds are very lucky indeed x

Terry57 said:

The Duo can't let their servants know they did something right...they will wait a suitable amount of time before accepting your offerings

Click to expand...

Hahahaha! Ain't that the truth! They just don't know how to act!

Carl_Power said:

Wow all these look amazing Anansi. Not hard to see how much you love your birds. Ive set Xanders cage up after studying his poop spots too, its worth the effort isnt it. He poops in a certain bowl regular so i leave it empty and praise, reward when he poops in it. He has started saying good boy when he does it now lol so hopefully that will become his toilet then i can move it to the bottom of the cage. I so want a tree stand after seing these Your birds are very lucky indeed x

Click to expand...

Thanks, Carl! Yup, only other parronts can understand the serious science and physics behind the prediction of poop line trajectories. Hahaha!

And Xander has actually adopted his own toilet bowl?!? How impressive is that! I love it!

amazing play stands! I'd like to get one of those for a future fid

It's strange how you notice the quirks quickly. I quickly notice ol' Rio disliked the coconut hut I got him, even if his treats were hidden within he disliked going in but he loved pushing himself through the steps of the rope ladder leading up to the hut. So the ladder was removed and hung in the cage as its own toy for him.

It's like how people with other animals notice their quirks. No different really, I refuse to believe there are people who don't see their pets likes and dislikes

Thank you!

Oh yeah, we definitely get a sense of our pets' likes and dislikes... or at least we should, so long as we're paying attention to them the way that we should. You just spend enough time with them and there are things you can't help but notice. And to a certain extent, it works the other way around as well. Jolly and Maya have certainly picked up on some of my little quirks and such as well.

These are AMAZING!! I regretted buying Jasper the wooden playgym almost immediately after getting it. The java wood ones are just a million times nicer. Maybe one day!

Thanks, Katie! The smaller one actually came with Maya when she was rehomed to me, and the bigger one was sold to me at a good price by one of the members of this forum. Those things are VERY expensive, otherwise, so I definitely understand getting another type. But keep an eye on the Accessories for Sale sub-forum. The one I got there is far from the only great deal I've seen there over the years.

Disneyland on a perch!

And Xander has actually adopted his own toilet bowl?!? How impressive is that! I love it![/QUOTE]

Kind of. He poops often in it so i figured id try positive reinforcement to potty train him to use that bowl only. He knows its good now so ill keep at it. Best outcome being him always just pooping in the bowl. The reward is an Anansi tree stand if he gets this down x

Tami2 said:

Anansi, what do you use in the base of the tree stand, cat litter?

Click to expand...

Anansi said:

A very guarded "yes" to that question. Lol! Most cat litter is VERY dangerous to birds. This type works, however, because it is green, all natural litter made from recycled paper and nothing else. No fragrances, no special clumping formulas. Just straight paper. I was overjoyed when I discovered they made stuff like this. Jolly is so fast he used to send the newspaper lining I used to use flying all over the place every time he took off! (Which is basically every few minutes on some days. Lol!)

Click to expand...

That's great, what brand and where can I get it?
thx

GaleriaGila said:

Disneyland on a perch!

Click to expand...

Hahahahaha! Thanks, Sunshine!

Carl_Power said:

Kind of. He poops often in it so i figured id try positive reinforcement to potty train him to use that bowl only. He knows its good now so ill keep at it. Best outcome being him always just pooping in the bowl. The reward is an Anansi tree stand if he gets this down x

Click to expand...

A happy accident? Sweet! Something tells me Xander will be earning his tree stand in short order!

Tami2 said:

Anansi, what do you use in the base of the tree stand, cat litter?


That's great, what brand and where can I get it?
thx

Click to expand...

I'll have to get back to you on that. The last of it was used and someone threw out the bag without checking for the name. (Okay. I'm the someone in question. But in my defense, I'm fairly sure I'll know the bag when I see it... I think...) Anyhow, once I find out the name, I'll definitely post it here for you.