what kind of wood

[djdancer]

I read in another thread that you can make your own toys and buy the wood from a hardware store. My question is: What kind of wood to buy? I know that birds can't be around cedar trees so not sure what kind of wood is safe.

BTW, I have cedar trees all throughout my neighborhood that are full of birds.

Thanks!!

 

[MarciaLove]

ceder has some toxic chemicals in it and is very bad for respiratory systems. I use wood from my yard after I have cleaned it. like Birch, Bamboo, Crepe Myrtle, Sweet Gum, Dogwood, Rose of Sharon and some others.

 

[djdancer]

I have a neighbor with an apple tree who is always asking if I want some branches for my birds. I'm not sure how to clean them so they are safe for my birds. Can my birds have the leaves too?

 

[aliray]

The applewood is fine unless they spray insecticides or use systemic insecticides, in which case it would not be safe. A lot of people spray apple trees a few times a year to keep bugs and diseases form hurting the applecrop. I don't know if they would eat the leaves but the branch would have to be cleaned first.

 

[djdancer]

How do you clean the branch? I just ordered some Eucalyptus branches with leaves. I got the idea from this post: http://www.parrotforums.com/do-yourself/27941-post-your-homemade-toys.html. I'm very happy with the branches. I also got some seeds (for free) to start my own tree's.

 

[aliray]

I would think the euccalyptus branches if they are grown for birds would be fine as is. The applewood you could mix a very dilute bleach mix like one part bleach to 10 parts water. scrub with a brush then rinse several times with a hose and dry in the sun for a few days. And that is the branches after you take off the leaves then scrub rinse and dry.

 

[MarciaLove]

apple wood is fine and so is euccalyptus I clean my wood with eco friendly dish soap and water scrubbing the wood and spraying the leaves then rinsing all the soap off. of course I only have used my own branches and wood of my trees and they arent sprayed with anything.