Christmas Tree Question

Hello,
So this is going to be a great Christmas for family Bogomolov because Mom is getting back tomorrow or the next day and Papa and Peter will get back on the 26th and they are bringing my great uncle Sasha from Russia to live with us. But in the meantime, I have a problem. I got a great deal on a live Christmas tree last night. So I have the tree in the house and later today a friend and I are going to get it in the tree stand. We don't decorate until New Year's eve because it is really a yolka. It's a new year's tree cause we don't celebrate Christmas itself until later in January and that isn't really a tree thing but more a church thing. (Except for my mom we are all Russian Orthodox.) But here is the problem. Gem is DETERMINED to get into the tree! Sam stays on my shoulder and Merry and Teechka the keets are okay with staying on me too. But Gem wants to be in the tree and explore. I know it isn't a Juniper or a scotch pine but I don't really know what it actually is. It doesn't have berries on it or anything else bad but I can't reach mom to ask if I should just keep Gem caged or what? Gem can fly and no matter where I am, Gem tries to get back to the tree. She even hitched a ride on Harvey the Rottweiler a minute ago which is okay cause he is nice to the birds but again Gem ENDED UP IN THE TREE. She doesn't appear to be trying to eat it but I know she could. Do I cage her til mom gets home. That could be day after tomorrow if she can't get out of a meeting in Copenhagen.
Kat

Ohhh....can you imagine her excitement at seeing a lush green tree to explore! And it smells so good! Pine trees are safe for parrots so unless it's been sprayed with a pesticide or something, it should be safe for your fids to play in. Would it be possible to maybe take it outside and spray it off with a hose?

The only other problem I can think of is when you actually put decorations on it. You wouldn't want them to swallow any glass or metal or anything. If you're just going to give up and let her at it, make sure the decation are birdy safe.

Did it come from a Christmas tree "farm"...they're usualy sprayed, I think...

Thanks both of you! I tried to call the Boy Scout tree lot place and I couldn't get a number so I went by there and the tree came from a local grower. It is like really close to where I live, much closer than the tree lot where I got it lol so I asked about pesticides and they didn't know. So I drove by the farm a minute ago and there were lots of other trees still there and some people were actually cutting their own trees down. So I asked and the people there and they said no the trees are organic. I don't really know what an organic tree is but she said that only the roots are treated and they aren't treated with pesticide. I told her why I was worried and she says she has a tiel named George Handel who plays in her tree all the time. So okay, I think I am good which I am glad because Adam and I are putting it up now and Gem is trying to get in it even while we are trying to get it straight and now Sam wants to get in it too. Maybe I will let the whole bunch in it and take a picture! Thanks everyone for advice.

lol, that's funny. Cody is terrified of our tree and won't go anywhere near it! You'd think it was some horrible, mutant monster! I'm with everyone else, just make sure when it's decorated Gem stays safe!

Bogo2 said:

Maybe I will let the whole bunch in it and take a picture!

Click to expand...

That would be a perfect Christmas picture!

My fids are indifferent about our tree. We put ours next to a window and every year there is a cardinal that tries to fly into it! We think he is trying to get into the tree.

I was going to take a picture but I can't find the camera so I think papa and peter have it in Russia which makes sense, I think. But we won't decorate until new years eve so maybe they will all get tired of it by then or mom is going to have to keep Gem away for sure. Turns out it really is a Scotch Pine. I am not a tree person! But all the birds were in it for a while and they had a great time, even Teechka who is kinda scared of everything new. Gem and Sam climbed all over it and I had to use grapes to get Gem to come down lol. So thanks everyone for advice. Oh and I got an email from mom and she says, Merry Christmas to all and thanks for helping me!

i think the tree would be fine to playin and nibble on, though if you have a bucket or a tree holder under the tree with water in it that the tree is siting in i wouldnt let them drink it.
i remember when i was 8 my cats drinking it and they stumbled around and fell asleep. it was funny though i think the water acted like alcohol to them.
i dont think your bird would handle it as good as my cats did

Danaan

Thanks for the advice! I didn't think about the water. I will cover that with a towel. I can't use the drape thing for around the tree as I think the duo would eat it. There are little shiny things all over it lol. That would be too much for Gem, I think, and what Gem does, Sam does and what Sam does Merry does and well you see what I mean. So no one is getting home today. Mom is stranded in Illinois (at least she is back in the country!) and Peter and Papa are in Frankfurt. And now it is snowing lots here. Mom won't be able to get to the house even if she gets to the state of Missouri. Oh well. I have lots of food for me, my Baba and the critters. Good thing we don't celebrate Christmas until January around here lol!!! So Веселого Рождества (Merry Christmas) from Kat, Baba Rita, Gem, Merry, Sam, Teechka, Reegh, Sulinka, Twister, Mac, Harvey, Jed, Nick and Alek Bogomolov!