Java Tree Lifespans?

[kendrafitz]

My one year old Greenwing Rosie started taking an interest in chewing on her favorite branch on her java tree. I didn't think twice about it at first. However yesterday she went to town and ended up chewing through the branch, which ended up on the floor. She was not standing on it, so she was fine.

Now she has one less branch to stand on. Which got me thinking, how long do java tree stands usually last? Most of her branches are pretty thick, but the one she chewed through wasn't tiny. Just wondering if it is something I should be saving for on a yearly basis?

Thanks!

 

[weco]

There is no 'lifespan' per-Se, but since your GWM chewed through hers, I might hazzard a guess that java-trees at your house will be more short lived than in previous times, giving rise to the thought that you might want to consider making your own from oak, maple or ash.....

 

[Merlee]

No wooden play stand is birdproof. I suggest that you look for replacement branches to doctor up your play stand to extend its life. I have a stand made of manzanita and have only had to replace one piece in 12 years. I guess I have been lucky.

 

[Grinder]

My GW also tends to chew a little at the end of some of the branches. I try to direct her attention to the three toys hanging from the tree though and that has worked pretty well. Do you have a toy hanging from the tree that is pretty hard? I always have one soft-ish toy, one toy with soft wood and plastic pieces and lastly a toy that is made of very hard wood. This way she has a variety to choose from that hopefully satisfies the level of destructiveness she is in

 

[JerseyWendy]

I giggled pretty hard when I read what Rosie's been doing, Kendra.

My Java trees have taken quite the beating in the 5 months that Ripley has been with me. I stopped counting the branches that have been chewed and demolished when Niko realized he can chew them, too.

What I have done is I bought several long, thick Java branches WITH bark still attached, and attached them to my Java trees. It hasn't stopped them from going to town on the tree branches, but it has definitely slowed down the demolishing quite a bit.

 

[Merlee]

I am not familiar with java wood so forgive my ignorance with my next question. What are the benefits of java wood? I thought manzanita wood was the hardest.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I am not familiar with java wood so forgive my ignorance with my next question. What are the benefits of java wood? I thought manzanita wood was the hardest.

Oh I can't think of any benefits of Java wood over Manzanita. I do know that Java trees are easily available here in New Jersey. QUITE expensive, but available.

 

[weco]

Merlee, Java wood is actually coffee trees, or parts thereof, that are pruned or removed for fresh plantings.....

As to hardness, consulting the Janka Hardness Scale, Mesquite ranks at 2345, while Coffee/Java trees rank 1390, Maple 1450, White Oak 1360 and Ash 1320...Pine is rated at 380.....both the Java/Coffee & Mesquite are favored for their shapes.....

For those interested in further information, there are charts on the web.....



A major part of the cost of Jave trees is the overseas shipping costs.....

 

[kendrafitz]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the replies.

Rosie has java toys, a swing with wood toys and soft toys on her tree. She comes to "cuddle" quite a bit during the day, when she uses me as a foot toy.

I am attaching a pic of her tree before the branch came off. There was actually a toy hanging from the branch she chewed off, the one with the blue rope on it in the back.

Wendy, I am glad I am not the only one with this issue. I was beginning to think Rosie decided she was a beaver. Although Im sorry that Niko picked up the habit!! Can I as where you got the branches? I have a feeling she is going to keep going through her tree.

 

[MikeyTN]

I just recently replaced Willie's Manzanita perch after he's been using it for 8 years? It got smaller and smaller from him grinding his beak on it. But he never chew through like with his other perches that last maybe a week....I went with Dragon wood this time and so far he's doing pretty good on it. You can get dragon wood pretty cheap. I see them every time I go to the local bird fair.