Robin got something also...

[RavensGryf]

When I ordered Raven's cage, I had some credit to use at King's cages, so I decided to get something I've had my eye on for a while. I tried forever to find one retail, but couldn't, so it was perfect.

The STAND is what I'm talking about . I had the jolly ball, but haven't used it much since I found that Raven and Griffin really like the swing and coconuts on their ceiling hangers instead. So I gave the jolly ball to Robin, but he's afraid of the large purple thing! He's okay with it by his cage, so I'm sure he'll look at it and get used to it for a while before using it, like he did with his atom and boing at first.

Here's Robin's set up with Raven's old cage to the left taking up too much space in this room!

 

[Allee]

Very nice set up, especially the adorable owner in the doorway, he's darling! The stand looks great. I hope Robin investigates his new toy and decides he likes it.

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks Allee, I think that is a terrible pic of Robin lol! Here's a much better one

 

[RavensGryf]

I can also switch the ball out to a swing... Or, I could hang the atom/boing on it and something else on the ceiling

 

[SoCalWendy]

Awwww he is so handsome. I have been wondering. I have seen more and more cages with no bottom grate. And now I see this again with your cage. Is this s preference, or is is more sanitary or what?

 

[RavensGryf]

Awwww he is so handsome. I have been wondering. I have seen more and more cages with no bottom grate. And now I see this again with your cage. Is this s preference, or is is more sanitary or what?

Thanks . That cage is 20 years old Wendy lol. I WISH I had the grate. Back then I thought it would be easier to not have to clean the grate. I think it was an option, but I didn't take it. Stupid.

Now, I spot clean the other grates all the time, so there's not even any build up, and it's very easy. In fact, it's much more of a pain NOT to have a grate because the bottom paper gets so gross that I have to change it twice a day, because sometimes he goes down there. It's actually LESS sanitary without a grate! I wish I didn't have to deal with it. His next cage will for sure have a grate!

 

[Kiwibird]

That's an awesome 'hangout spot' for Robin (seeing as he doesn't like to party at Raven's place). If *I* were a parrot, I would definitely love a big purple ball with holes to go in!!! I'm sure once he realizes how cool it is, you won't be able to get him out And those stands are awesome! If Robin needs some reassurance, he can ask Kiwi about how much he loves his stand setup Do you find the 3 legs pretty stable? Kiwi's stand has 4 legs and has a minimal sway to it (he could never tip it though).

Robin looks very sweet in that second pic BTW, like you'd just want to give him a big hug and kiss. Is he typically pretty friendly to you?

 

[Kiwibird]

Awwww he is so handsome. I have been wondering. I have seen more and more cages with no bottom grate. And now I see this again with your cage. Is this s preference, or is is more sanitary or what?

If your cage has a grate, keep it! They are a pain to clean, but imagine how your bird will feel stepping in his/her own poo on the bottom (which they don't think to look out for). Kiwi's first cage also had no grate (lost to time I guess? we were lent the cage), and more than once he stepped in poo or dragged his tail through it walking around down on the bottom, the poor little guy.

 

[Terry57]

Julie, that looks awesome! And Robin is quite the charmer
We actually removed some of our grates in the cages where the birds never go to the bottom of the cage, and it is fantastic...I find it just as sanitary since they are never at the bottom.
Now with some of the birds, they are constantly on the bottom so I can definitely see how that would be unsanitary. Ekko LOVES the bottom of the cage.

 

[RavensGryf]

That's an awesome 'hangout spot' for Robin (seeing as he doesn't like to party at Raven's place). If *I* were a parrot, I would definitely love a big purple ball with holes to go in!!! I'm sure once he realizes how cool it is, you won't be able to get him out And those stands are awesome! If Robin needs some reassurance, he can ask Kiwi about how much he loves his stand setup Do you find the 3 legs pretty stable? Kiwi's stand has 4 legs and has a minimal sway to it (he could never tip it though).

Robin looks very sweet in that second pic BTW, like you'd just want to give him a big hug and kiss. Is he typically pretty friendly to you?

The 'tripod' design seems stable enough for a guy Robin's size. Although that jolly ball is much heavier than it looks. The stand will be near the cage and the wall as in the pic, so it should be safe.

Oh, and Robin does want to know what Kiwi has to say about his similar stand... What does he have on it, does he like playing on it, etc...

Robin often does look that sweet and soft, and I DO pick him up (hand over his back) and give him big smooches He's hard to resist. He has his moments of course, like every parrot, but in general he's VERY cuddly with me.
He was always really go-with-the-flow which you know is fairly unusual for parrots, but I think if you 'raise' an already independent species to accept everything from the beginning, it works. Poi's and Pi's (who are young and not already set in their ways or spoiled) are easy to raise as "easy parrots" IMO. At least it was with my 2 Poi's and 2 Pi's I've had. I've always been too busy or independent myself to overly baby a bird or have a fussy or demanding species, and these guys work well.

Awwww he is so handsome. I have been wondering. I have seen more and more cages with no bottom grate. And now I see this again with your cage. Is this s preference, or is is more sanitary or what?

If your cage has a grate, keep it! They are a pain to clean, but imagine how your bird will feel stepping in his/her own poo on the bottom (which they don't think to look out for). Kiwi's first cage also had no grate (lost to time I guess? we were lent the cage), and more than once he stepped in poo or dragged his tail through it walking around down on the bottom, the poor little guy.

Unfortunately, back when I purchased the cage I left the grate behind (on purpose) UGH! Not a smart move.

Julie, that looks awesome! And Robin is quite the charmer
We actually removed some of our grates in the cages where the birds never go to the bottom of the cage, and it is fantastic...I find it just as sanitary since they are never at the bottom.
Now with some of the birds, they are constantly on the bottom so I can definitely see how that would be unsanitary. Ekko LOVES the bottom of the cage.

All of my birds go on the bottom. They like to play with toys down there, or just walk around. I check for poop spots and use my sanitizer several times a day, so the grate never gets "dirty".

 

[Kiwibird]

Kiwi wanted to tell Robin not to fear the swing stand and they are VERY fun! He has his big stainless swing, which always has a variety of very fun little foot toys in the dishes and is within reach of his cage (which is very important for him since he can't fly). He can climb on the top of the stand too, so he can make his rainforest-peircing morning/evening vocalizations from "the highest point in the canopy" and let the whole flock know he is alive and well. He also wanted to tell Robin that he should feel very lucky to be able to play in that *totally awesome* jolly ball, and that if he (Kiwi) tried to play in it (which he totally would), he would become lodged in one of the holes as he is a rather 'hefty' As a svelte and petite POI, however, little Robin could have a total blast and even pretend it's a REAL tree hollow!

 

[Scott]

Thanks Allee, I think that is a terrible pic of Robin lol! Here's a much better one

Great pic of Robin; his personality is written on his face! I've had similar domed food and water dishes; does Robin stand with his head inside and talk/chatter? The semi-enclosure tends to humorously distort and amplify the voice.

That is a terrific stand, will have to look for something similar!

 

[RavensGryf]

Scott, I HAD TO get those hooded crocks. Robin would sit backwards on the bowls and use them like a toilet . It still happens, but not as often. They're harder to wipe out to clean, and after all these years using them, I still hate them. Robin is due for a new cage, so whenever he gets it, these might not fit.

Now, Griffin ALWAYS sits backwards on the pellet dish (in his AND Raven's house). At least it's only the pellet dish, not water. The small size Harrison's just absorbs and clumps neatly like cat litter so I could just scoop out the little lump :52: and the rest of it is still good and untouched lol.

Yes, Robin does like to hear his voice echo in the bowl hood LOL! :18: he usually laughs in there!
Griffin doesn't talk (at least yet) but he loves to stick his head and as much of his body that will fit into the foraging coconut and make noises in there haha!!

 

[Scott]

Scott, I HAD TO get those hooded crocks. Robin would sit backwards on the bowls and use them like a toilet . It still happens, but not as often. They're harder to wipe out to clean, and after all these years using them, I still hate them. Robin is due for a new cage, so whenever he gets it, these might not fit.

Now, Griffin ALWAYS sits backwards on the pellet dish (in his AND Raven's house). At least it's only the pellet dish, not water. The small size Harrison's just absorbs and clumps neatly like cat litter so I could just scoop out the little lump :52: and the rest of it is still good and untouched lol.

Yes, Robin does like to hear his voice echo in the bowl hood LOL! :18: he usually laughs in there!
Griffin doesn't talk (at least yet) but he loves to stick his head and as much of his body that will fit into the foraging coconut and make noises in there haha!!

Priceless! I had two hooded crocks many years ago in a cage for reasons long forgotten. They aren't as sanitary, but sometime you've gotta do what you gotta do!! I do remember how they alter vocalizations.

 

[RavensGryf]

I tried to video Griffin in the coconut, but he'd stop everytime I went over there. It would've been a great video, so funny!

Scott, I HAD TO get those hooded crocks. Robin would sit backwards on the bowls and use them like a toilet . It still happens, but not as often. They're harder to wipe out to clean, and after all these years using them, I still hate them. Robin is due for a new cage, so whenever he gets it, these might not fit.

Now, Griffin ALWAYS sits backwards on the pellet dish (in his AND Raven's house). At least it's only the pellet dish, not water. The small size Harrison's just absorbs and clumps neatly like cat litter so I could just scoop out the little lump :52: and the rest of it is still good and untouched lol.

Yes, Robin does like to hear his voice echo in the bowl hood LOL! :18: he usually laughs in there!
Griffin doesn't talk (at least yet) but he loves to stick his head and as much of his body that will fit into the foraging coconut and make noises in there haha!!

Priceless! I had two hooded crocks many years ago in a cage for reasons long forgotten. They aren't as sanitary, but sometime you've gotta do what you gotta do!! I do remember how they alter vocalizations.

 

[RavensGryf]

April, they have bigger Jolly Balls you know... They come in 4.5", 6", 10", and 14".
I think Mr. Kiwi would like a 14". The one I have is a 10". Hopefully Robin will stop being afraid of it soon enough.

 

[thekarens]

Robin is so cute! Hopefully he'll start enjoying his ball soon.

 

[Kiwibird]

April, they have bigger Jolly Balls you know... They come in 4.5", 6", 10", and 14".
I think Mr. Kiwi would like a 14". The one I have is a 10". Hopefully Robin will stop being afraid of it soon enough.

Lol. The 14" ones have a 5" hole, which might be a tad tight for big butt--->:54: He's actually about 14.5" from head to tip of tail, he's a big boy! I mean, what would I do if Kiwi got stuck in a ball?! *Visions of carrying ball into AV's office with back portion of Kiwi hanging out and very pissed off parrot inside*

But when Robin starts exploring his, I'd love to see some pics of it! Seems like these are much better suited to birds of his size

 

[RavensGryf]

Lol. The 14" ones have a 5" hole, which might be a tad tight for big butt--->:54: He's actually about 14.5" from head to tip of tail, he's a big boy! I mean, what would I do if Kiwi got stuck in a ball?! *Visions of carrying ball into AV's office with back portion of Kiwi hanging out and very pissed off parrot inside*
But when Robin starts exploring his, I'd love to see some pics of it! Seems like these are much better suited to birds of his size

LOL! Funny April, but I know you'd never let that happen! I've been curious, how much does Kiwi weigh?

On the MSBS site they sell the balls, and I had to laugh... It says in underlined red letters to be sure not to purchase a jolly ball too small for your bird to avoid your bird becoming lodged in it!!! "Uhh... had to take the parrot to the vet to get him cut out of the ball" (didn't need a carrier). :18:

Like you said earlier, it's like a tree hollow , but better for smaller birds. I think Robin will be comfortable in a 10".... I can't imagine the 4.5", that even seems small for a Parrotlet!

 

[Kiwibird]

LOL! Funny April, but I know you'd never let that happen! I've been curious, how much does Kiwi weigh?

On the MSBS site they sell the balls, and I had to laugh... It says in underlined red letters to be sure not to purchase a jolly ball too small for your bird to avoid your bird becoming lodged in it!!! "Uhh... had to take the parrot to the vet to get him cut out of the ball" (didn't need a carrier). :18:

Like you said earlier, it's like a tree hollow , but better for smaller birds. I think Robin will be comfortable in a 10".... I can't imagine the 4.5", that even seems small for a Parrotlet!

He weighs about 420 grams, sometimes he puts on a couple grams over the winter though I'm totally OCD with portioning Kiwi's food so he stays at a healthy weight and eats his fruits and veggies or else he would totally pig out on 'junk' and get fat!

4.5" does seem pretty small. Sounds more like a foot toy for a large bird than something even an XS parrot could go inside!