Shower perch

[roxynoodle]

I'm making a shower perch for my birds out of CVPC plumbing. You could use PVC as well since it won't actually be used as plumbing. CVPC is generally available in 1/2" and 3/4" diameters and PVC in 1" plus. It will hang over the top of the shower and rest against the side. I'm going to give it a front and 2 side perches so the bird can move around. I need to investigate what I'm going to wrap the pipe in for the perch area, but will probably use vet wrap. It's cheap enough that if it needs replaced periodically, I won't mind.

I will post a pic once I"m finished. Anyone can make one since putting together plastic plumbing is like playing with Tinker Toys!

I just can't hold an amazon and take a shower, too, lol! So I've been showering, then going to get him and giving him his. This will save us time and hot water

 

[beckybird]

The perch sounds like it will be really cool!! My friend Mia has 6 birds-she is really handy and makes bird toys/snuggly cage tents herself...so I can't wait to tell her about this!

 

[lene1949]

Can't wait for the pic... I have a store bought one, and Max showers with me at least twice a week... He loves it...

 

[roxynoodle]

I used to have a store bought one years ago but it broke. My conures always took their own baths just fine in their water bowls. I gave the amazon a large dog sized bowl, but he is using it only as a step stool to grab onto his hanging ladder. He's a dusty boy, too, let me tell you! And he seems to want to rely on me for showering.

I'm picking up the vet wrap today and then I'll post pics and instructions.

 

[roxynoodle]

Sorry, I didn't manage to get the vetwrap with all the Christmas things that needed done. I'll be getting it this afternoon.

I can give some instructions in the meantime. I used 3/4" CVPC as I figured the diameter would be even wider once I add the vet wrap. I also wanted him to be able to hold on tightly. I was able to make the entire thing out of one 10' piece. You will also need cement for it, which you can buy in the same area of the store as the pipe. I didn't bother with the pipe cleaner or primer as it's not actually being used as plumbing. You will want a light grade sandpaper like 220 grit to sand the ends that are being glued together. To cut it you will need either a pipe cutter made for plastic or you can use a power miter saw. Chances are one of your neighbors have these things if you don't. A hand held plastic cutter can be bought for a few dollars though. It will also be in the plumbing section.

I first cut 2 2' long pieces for the long sides. I then cut a 1' cross piece to add stability, then a 1' piece for the main front perch. The 2 side perches are 7" long each. To reach over the top of my shower wall, I needed 2 3" pieces. The remainder of the pipe I cut in half to be the pieces that go down the back of the shower wall to hold it all in place. They are probably longer than they needed to be at around 14" each, but stability is good, right?

To make one like mine you will need 8 90 degree elbows plus 2 3 way joints to add the cross bar.

I next cut my 2 2' long pieces about 8" down to add the cross bar. Now don't forget to sand all the ends that will be glued.

Now it's time for gluing them all together. Put down a garbage bag or something to protect your floor or table or wherever you are putting this together. You will drip cement and it's nasty stuff. You will want to work fairly quickly. Put it all together in a dry run first if you want to practice. The glue can be moved for a short time while you are working if pieces are not quite in the exact place and need a bit of adjustment.

I first glued in the 3 way joints on my 2 2' sides. Then I added the cross bar, first to one and then to the other. I checked it for flatness. Next I added the 7" side perches to the bottoms of those 2 long sides. Then I added the 12" front perch that connects it. Here is where you want to work quickly to make sure that is all nice and square and fits together well. Next I added the 2 3" pieces at the top that will allow it to go over my shower wall. Last I put the 2 14" back pieces on the ends of the 3" pieces.

I would then let it dry for a full 24 hours. You will need to prop it up against something while it dries, with the garbage bag under it in case of errant drips.

I would wear some disposable gloves while you are gluing it all together. If you don't, hot soapy water will go a long way toward loosening the glue blobs on your hands and then you can peel it off. No matter how neat you are, you will get glue on your hands, lol! I've done a lot of plumbing and I always do.

Once I get the vet wrap on this afternoon, I will post some pics of this for everyone. Vet wrap can be bought anywhere that sells supplies for horses. I will be getting mine at TSC. It comes in a variety of colors, only sticks to itself and is easy to stretch and put on neatly. It is about $3 a roll. I don't think my bird will have time in the shower to be picking it off, but once it gets icky down the road, it will be easy to unwrap and put on new stuff. Besides wrapping a wound on a horse, it works well on humans and other animals as well. You can use it to hold bandages in place without it pulling off hair. I used it to wrap up the kid down the road when he fell off his little motorcycle and had some nasty road rash on his arm, lol! With horses it is a necessity to keep around, but I'm almost out.

I have been told my bird does not like red. From what I've observed, he really likes purple so I'm hoping I'll find some that is purple. If not, I'll get whatever color I can that isn't red, lol!

 

[triordan]

here is the one I made for Remington

 

[Mamanda]

Can't wait to see final product!

Sorry, I didn't manage to get the vetwrap with all the Christmas things that needed done. I'll be getting it this afternoon.

I can give some instructions in the meantime. I used 3/4" CVPC as I figured the diameter would be even wider once I add the vet wrap. I also wanted him to be able to hold on tightly. I was able to make the entire thing out of one 10' piece. You will also need cement for it, which you can buy in the same area of the store as the pipe. I didn't bother with the pipe cleaner or primer as it's not actually being used as plumbing. You will want a light grade sandpaper like 220 grit to sand the ends that are being glued together. To cut it you will need either a pipe cutter made for plastic or you can use a power miter saw. Chances are one of your neighbors have these things if you don't. A hand held plastic cutter can be bought for a few dollars though. It will also be in the plumbing section.

I first cut 2 2' long pieces for the long sides. I then cut a 1' cross piece to add stability, then a 1' piece for the main front perch. The 2 side perches are 7" long each. To reach over the top of my shower wall, I needed 2 3" pieces. The remainder of the pipe I cut in half to be the pieces that go down the back of the shower wall to hold it all in place. They are probably longer than they needed to be at around 14" each, but stability is good, right?

To make one like mine you will need 8 90 degree elbows plus 2 3 way joints to add the cross bar.

I next cut my 2 2' long pieces about 8" down to add the cross bar. Now don't forget to sand all the ends that will be glued.

Now it's time for gluing them all together. Put down a garbage bag or something to protect your floor or table or wherever you are putting this together. You will drip cement and it's nasty stuff. You will want to work fairly quickly. Put it all together in a dry run first if you want to practice. The glue can be moved for a short time while you are working if pieces are not quite in the exact place and need a bit of adjustment.

I first glued in the 3 way joints on my 2 2' sides. Then I added the cross bar, first to one and then to the other. I checked it for flatness. Next I added the 7" side perches to the bottoms of those 2 long sides. Then I added the 12" front perch that connects it. Here is where you want to work quickly to make sure that is all nice and square and fits together well. Next I added the 2 3" pieces at the top that will allow it to go over my shower wall. Last I put the 2 14" back pieces on the ends of the 3" pieces.

I would then let it dry for a full 24 hours. You will need to prop it up against something while it dries, with the garbage bag under it in case of errant drips.

I would wear some disposable gloves while you are gluing it all together. If you don't, hot soapy water will go a long way toward loosening the glue blobs on your hands and then you can peel it off. No matter how neat you are, you will get glue on your hands, lol! I've done a lot of plumbing and I always do.

Once I get the vet wrap on this afternoon, I will post some pics of this for everyone. Vet wrap can be bought anywhere that sells supplies for horses. I will be getting mine at TSC. It comes in a variety of colors, only sticks to itself and is easy to stretch and put on neatly. It is about $3 a roll. I don't think my bird will have time in the shower to be picking it off, but once it gets icky down the road, it will be easy to unwrap and put on new stuff. Besides wrapping a wound on a horse, it works well on humans and other animals as well. You can use it to hold bandages in place without it pulling off hair. I used it to wrap up the kid down the road when he fell off his little motorcycle and had some nasty road rash on his arm, lol! With horses it is a necessity to keep around, but I'm almost out.

I have been told my bird does not like red. From what I've observed, he really likes purple so I'm hoping I'll find some that is purple. If not, I'll get whatever color I can that isn't red, lol!

 

[Tammy]

I am Mr. Precious' shower perch. He does tend to hog the hot water though!

 

[roxynoodle]

Sorry it took me so long. For whatever reason this forum can't upload pics directly from my computer. And I'm having trouble getting them to post from photobucket. So, sorry you have to click on these links, but it seems to be the only way I can show the photos.

I have one showing the supplies you need, one showing the completed perch and one after the vet wrap was put on. Hopefully from my directions and from the photos you can make one for yourself if you'd like. I must say, please try to ignore the fact that my well has sulfur and my shower has awful stains that nothing can remove. The water also eats anything metal so I have to replace fixtures and drains fairly often. If you've never experienced this type of water you may be a bit horrified, lol! I'm kind of embarrassed to post the pics but I wanted to show how it hung in there. Should we ever actually get city water here, replacing my shower and toilet will be a top priority! But, for now, all I can do is clean it, disinfect it, replace plumbing a lot and live with it.

showerperch002.jpg picture by roxynoodle - Photobucket

showerperch005.jpg picture by roxynoodle - Photobucket

showerperch006.jpg picture by roxynoodle - Photobucket

BTW, in case you are concerned, I do have the well tested every year and it has always tested safe. I don't drink the water or use it for cooking because I don't like the taste. And the birds and cat drink bottled water as well. I did have a new well put in last fall, and the water is better quality as far as stains go, but it's still nasty. I can't afford to put in a large pond though so I'm stuck with it. And it seems the water conditioner doesn't do as much as I would like.

 

[roxynoodle]

Oh, and wouldn't you know, the one color of vet wrap they were out of was purple! He doesn't seem to mind the green though. I figured he would be ok with green since he is mostly green.

 

[Tikazoo]

Hey Roxynoodle !!!
I just did this too - had leftover PVC from rebuilding a laundry sorter. It's super easy and fun to modify. We are using ours with the shower and then didn't glue it so we can make tiny adjustment and it's a table perch. I've been sitting her with the boys while they do homework - hoping she'll come around to them. Can't wait to see your pics!!!
Oh and PS did chat with Henpecked about Tika. He's so nice and set me straight Tikas having a good pellet eating day - amazing.

 

[roxynoodle]

If you click on those 3 links I posted on the previous page, you should see the pics. I can't seem to post pics straight from my computer without getting an error message, and every time I try straight from photobucket, they don't work I can post to other forums, but not here.