Tree Stands

[GWGordy]

ok, we keep pricing tree's for our little man and can't seem to find a big enough one for under 500, Does anyone know what kind of wood we can use to build our own? We have a Green wing that's about 5wks old, so we have atleast 9wks and don't mind the work to build one at all but truly wanna make him a tree that's his and one of a kind!

 

[MacawGuy]

have y try to think about pvc stands u can make..

SAFE WOOD YOU CAN USE

ACACIA - Silk Tree would be in this group
APPLE -
(Insecticide residue likely cause
for periodic issues)
AILANTHUS - Tree of Heaven
ALDER - white alder -
(See paragraph about
Alder / Buckthorn)
ALMOND
ARALIA - Fatsia japonica
ASH - Fraxinus
ASPEN - Populus
BAMBOO
BARBERRY- Berberis
BIRCH - see paragraph
BEECH - Fagus
BOIS D'ARC - horse apple tree
BOTTLE BRUSH
BUTTERFLY BUSH
CAMELLIA
CITRUS -
(lime, kumquat, grapefruit, orange, lemon)
CORK -
(not wood from cork oak, but cork)
CORN PLANTS
COTTONWOOD - Populus
CRABAPPLE - Malus
CRAPE MYRTLE -
(not the same as myrtle)
DATE
DOGWOOD - Cornus
DOUGLAS FIR - Pseudotsuga
DRACAENA
ELM - Ulmus
ESCALLONIA
EUCALYPTUS
FIG
FIR - genus Abies
GINKGO
GRAPE VINES
GRAPE PALM
GUAVA
HACKBERRY
HAWTHORN - Crataegus
HIBISCUS
HICKORY
IRONWOOD - apparently toxic leaves
JADE PLANT
KALANCHOE
LARCH - Larix
LILAC - Syringa
MADRONA / MADRONE - Arbutus
MAGNOLIA
MAPLE - Acer - see Maple Paragraph
MANZANITA - Arctostaphylos
MESQUITE - remove sharp parts
MIMOSA
MOUNTAIN ASH - Sorbus
MULBERRY - Morus
NANDINA -common name is heavenly bamboo
NORFOLK ISLAND PINE - Araucaria
NUT TREES - exclude chestnut
ORANGE - several sources lean toward safe
OREGON GRAPE - Mahonia
PALM
PAPAYA
PEAR
PECAN
PINE - Pinus: see Pine paragraph below
PHOTINIA see Photinia paragraph below
POPLAR - Populus
***** WILLOW - Salix
RAPHIOLEPSIS - Indian Hawthorn
RIBBONWOOD
ROSE - Rosa
RUBBER PLANT - Ficus elastica - Weeping Fig in bad column
RUSSIAN OLIVE
SASSAFRAS
SILK TREE
SPIRAEA
SPRUCE - Picea
STAGHORN SUMAC - see Sumac paragraph
STRAWBERRY TREE - Arbutus like Madrone
SWEET GUM
SYCAMORE
THURLOW
TREE FERN
VIBURNUM
VINE MAPLE - Acer
WEEPING WILLOW - Salix - see Willow paragraph
WIEGELA
YUCCA

 

[TakRail]

I bought one just like this from this guy about a year ago. It's is great.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AFGRAY-Sand...151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2903e807

**EDITED**
Not sure why the link above is not working but go to EBAY and put the item number "120947206151" (Without the quotes) in the search.

 

[dishgal1]

I would get grapewood.....I have one made from it.. You can find them here, you never know how they will be shaped but you could tell them what you want it for and maybe they could pick a good one.
I am adding a pic of the one we made. We added it to a cart on. wheelsView attachment 4371
Grapewood Branch 12", 18", 24", 36" [Buy Grapewood Wholesale] : Wholesale Wedding Supplies, Discount Wedding Favors, Party Favors, and Bulk Event Supplies

 

[MissyMe83]

Those are great looking stands! Thanks for sharing.

 

[TakRail]

Also, if you look at his other auctions he has one on there for $350.

 

[TakRail]

Here is my current play area setup. Also, Lucy, the Macaw is full grown; so you can see how big the tree is.

Can't wait for the new house... my wife only rule is to not go overboard with the size, LOL.

 

[luvmytooo]

Definitely stayawayfrom the Java trees. I bought two huge ones , they are gorgeous to look at but are so slippery for the birds , the poor things can't get enough grip on them.
I have used a rasp to make it have more grip to it and it has worked .
They weren't too expensive , I know the smaller one was under five ......I think.

 

[WharfRat]

built my own, all the wood was driftwood in saltwater, then sun dried then scrubbed down with vinegar & water and sun dried again (2-3 weeks) cost was time & screws

plus toys of course

 

[Echo]

Made my own. I have lots of them in my yard and it is about 11 feet tall. I am waiting for summer to be over and tree sap to recede so I can make a second one, smaller this time.

 

[Alisana]

I'd avoid apple wood... I've heard conflicting stories about it, so would be easier to avoid than risk.

In Australia, I've seen a lot of perches made from local trees such as bottlebrush and Eucalyptus trees. I'm going to try my hand at building one myself sometime, but the drying issue is what's got me stumped. I've always been told to heat them in an oven, but I don't think I can fit a full branch in our oven.

I might try what WharfRat did though.

 

[Echo]

I'd avoid apple wood... I've heard conflicting stories about it, so would be easier to avoid than risk.

In Australia, I've seen a lot of perches made from local trees such as bottlebrush and Eucalyptus trees. I'm going to try my hand at building one myself sometime, but the drying issue is what's got me stumped. I've always been told to heat them in an oven, but I don't think I can fit a full branch in our oven.

I might try what WharfRat did though.

Yes, dry in full sun is fine too. Also if you cut the tree in the winter when the tree is dead, you don't have so much issues as far as sap, bugs etc....I cut mine in February.

 

[ConureCrazy]

I made my own too. The cost was just the wood for the base, which was I think $7: The flat square thet the branches would be drilled onto, and the four planks fo wood around it actin as a border, which was actually only one peice that we cut in four. It honestly took only two days to sand, cut, and drill. I don't have any pics but I'll post them as soon as I get some.

Echo: That is amazing! Your fids must love it. I like the Jolly Ball too.

I second luvmy too about the java trees. They are pretty slippery, unless you can wrap some sort of cloth around it for better grip. But macaws may be able to bite throught that. :11:

 

[Echo]

Echo: That is amazing! Your fids must love it. I like the Jolly Ball too.

Thank you! Yes they love it so I need another one so they don't have to argue about whose turn it is to be on it!

 

[ConureCrazy]

Echo: That is amazing! Your fids must love it. I like the Jolly Ball too.

Thank you! Yes they love it so I need another one so they don't have to argue about whose turn it is to be on it!

Oh my gosh, ALL THE TIME! I'm not sure if your talking about the stand or the Jolly Ball, but I think it's the stand. I was going to make another playgym next week so that my guys won't fight over it, but my gardener cut down the good branches (which were blocking the window/front door) I was going to use. I need to grow a new tree, lol.

 

[Echo]

Sorry I was talking about the stand. Only the Conures and Caiques like the Jolly ball. The Grey and Pionus don't.

 

[Alisana]

I'd avoid apple wood... I've heard conflicting stories about it, so would be easier to avoid than risk.

In Australia, I've seen a lot of perches made from local trees such as bottlebrush and Eucalyptus trees. I'm going to try my hand at building one myself sometime, but the drying issue is what's got me stumped. I've always been told to heat them in an oven, but I don't think I can fit a full branch in our oven.

I might try what WharfRat did though.

Yes, dry in full sun is fine too. Also if you cut the tree in the winter when the tree is dead, you don't have so much issues as far as sap, bugs etc....I cut mine in February.

hehe... we don't exactly have "winter" here; lol. (Temp ranges from 9C at night only, hits about 15-18 in the day; and goes up to 35C in summer - no snow, and it's not really cold enough to make a tree dead Sadly; I like snow.)

I'll go hunting before/after cyclone season. We get heaps of downed trees and cuttings from the council. During pre-cyclone clearing and post-cyclone clear up.

Just got to wait for the rain to stop and I can try this

 

[GWGordy]

what about dog ear treated wood? from lowes?!?!

Shop Woodshades 1/2-in x 5-in x 69-in Redwood Dog-Ear Composite Fence Picket at Lowes.com

 

[MaraWentz]

DO not use driftwood- you never know what type of wood it could be

 

[WharfRat]

No offense Mara, but I got all my wood from my Breeder friend, she assured me the process I employed was fine. She has OVER 200 birds (quite a few rescues as well), she has a degree from Cornell Univ. in avian biology & more AVA certs than I can count including disease control. I trust her implicitly.