Safe plants to put inside parrot cage

[BoomBoom]

Hello! A few weeks ago, someone posted this really cool video of a parrot cage with natural wood and growing plants inside. I wanted to simulate that a bit with my sun conure's cage by adding natural safe plants which I am sure can add to his enrichment activities.

I was browsing for cat grass from a big pet chain store but it was expensive (5 bucks a pot) plus it supposedly dies after 3 weeks. I thought that kind of sucked. So I was wondering if anyone could recommend to me a cheaper, more long term alternative. What are safe plants I could use?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

wheat grass, and organic lawn grass(you can grow your own) are both fine. Just be aware that the dirt can be a awesome place for mold to grow, which brings on the risk of asper.

 

[BoomBoom]

I didn't think about the mold from the dirt!

Hmmm thanks for that info, Copper. That is kind of a deal breaker for me and makes it not worth it. I'm not messing around with aspergillosis. I'll stick to hanging Kale and Brocolli in his cage. They can give off that 'I'm in the wilds' vibe sort of. Haha!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I didn't think about the mold from the dirt!

Hmmm thanks for that info, Copper. That is kind of a deal breaker for me and not worth it. I'll stick to hanging Kale and Brocolli in his cage. They can give that 'I'm in the wilds' vibe sort of. Haha!

On occasion I buy wheat grass(picking out the longest one), chop off the top, rinse it really well and tie a piece of sasil string around the middle and hang it in Rosie's cage for an hour or two before tossing it out.. She loves it and it makes it much more sterile.

I just though, maybe after chopping off the top the grass would regrow D: Next time I'm going to try planting it in the garden to see what happens.

 

[BoomBoom]

Where do you buy the wheat grass from?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I buy it from petco, petsmart, pet club. Most pet stores will carry it too. It's often advertised for cats but some say small animals and avian on the pot too. You can also grow it yourself, here's organic wheat grass seeds. Here's a kit, it probably isn't too hard to grow on your own though.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I just found a fantastic video on growing wheat grass. At the end it says grass in hot or humid locations is prone to fungus growth so it's not just the dirt. But they say if you use less seeds so the blades are more spread out it greatly reduces fungus and can even eliminate it.

[ame="http://youtu.be/gS8Xch0G0jM"]How to Grow Wheatgrass - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Kiwibird]

I saw that same post! I had to wonder how long that plant lasted after they put it in there. I don't know about other peoples birds, but I think if Kiwi got a plant in his cage he would be shredding it up like a toy, and it would stand no chance of surviving. Plus, most parrots will eat dirt any chance they get, and commercial potting soil contains chemical fertilizers that are toxic to birds. I would personally not put any live plant, safe or not, in Kiwis cage for the potential of him eating the toxic dirt and the fact he would kill the plant in no time.

I did really like the idea of him being able to look at some nice plants, so I made him a planter with beautiful fake plants (with unlimited varieties of what I could choose, since they were silk and not toxic no matter what real plant they resembled). Here are the results- http://www.parrotforums.com/attachm...6-kiwi-s-new-mini-jungle-t-perch-dscf1652.jpg http://www.parrotforums.com/attachm...7-kiwi-s-new-mini-jungle-t-perch-dscf1644.jpg . He seems to be enjoying looking at them, and while they're just out of his reach, he is sure trying to get down there and rip them up And if you do feel your bird is better behaved than ours, here is a really good list of what is and isn't safe plant-wise- Plants For Your Bird Aviary

 

[aliray]

Very nice . he has got all kinds of neat things to look at

 

[BoomBoom]

I didn't think about the toxins in commercial potting soil mix. Yeah I'm throwing out that idea. Glad I decided to post here first.

I might hang plastic plants above his cage. Encircling the spectrum bulb hanging shade fixture. I think it might have a nice illuminated effect I'm just not looking forward to dusting those things :/

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I didn't think about the toxins in commercial potting soil mix. Yeah I'm throwing out that idea. Glad I decided to post here first.

I might hang plastic plants above his cage. Encircling the spectrum bulb hanging shade fixture. I think it might have a nice illuminated effect I'm just not looking forward to dusting those things :/

Most wheat grass sold at the pet store is organic, meaning no fertilizer. but still, better safe than sorry

 

[Kiwibird]

I actually have quite a few silk plants around besides the new planter I made up. They honestly aren't that hard to keep clean. I don't even try to dust them when they start looking dingy. I just gently rinse them off in the sink, let them dry and they're good as new. If you buy the quality kind to begin with, they will last forever. I have a bouquet of tropical-type flowers that still look like-new, and they've been on my night stand for probably 10+ years now. I think you could probably get a very attractive hanging plant display going on without all the hassle of watering, pruning, repotting ect...that comes with real plants.