When you make your own stand/perch

[Pookamama]

What do you use to hold the branches together? Do you nail them? Screw them?

Oh, and do you take the bark off or leave that for the bird to demolish?

 

[WharfRat]

Assuming all the wood is "bird safe" I recommend using screws, I would also recommend drilling pilot holes beforehand, it makes it MUCH easier to assemble. Yes leave the bark on (also be prepared to clean the bark off the floor ). Try to dry fit the pieces beforehand as well, makes it much easier to complete. I have some pics on here of some stuff I've made, I think under the DIY section.

 

[mrgoogls]

hi! i plan to screw mine together! except if they ar to small, then i am using zipstrips. i left the bark on except 1 branch because the bark was kinda nasty but the brach was good. otherwise you can leave it on or take it off your choice. but i know that on a few trees(not many) like RED maple you have to take athe bark off because it can harbor fungus

 

[WharfRat]

FYI, zipstrips last about 30 seconds around here, steel wire not much longer (45secs.??) Not sure what birds you have but GW's can pretty much destroy almost anything.

 

[Pookamama]

I plan on getting a Timneh grey.
I have an apple tree that lost half of itself in a big storm we had last year. The tree has never been sprayed when we've been here and from the dilapidated look of it I doubted the house's previous occupants even knew it was there. There are lots of good sized branches of various sizes I plan on using for perches and a stand.
Oh, and chop up smaller ones to use for toys.
I heard of some people baking branches in an oven to kill any possible bug life in them-i may do that for the branches that fit in the oven.

Wharf rat, what does dry fit mean? Just plan it all out before I start nailing stuff together?

 

[WharfRat]

Wharf rat, what does dry fit mean? Just plan it all out before I start nailing stuff together?

well, build your base & hold a branch up where you "think" you want to put it, see if the screws are long enough (not nails, it will NOT last) and go from there, hold the branch in place if it fits & drill the pilot holes then screw the branch into place. It's a pretty much common sense thing. I guarantee you, if you use nails, pull on the branch after you nail it, see how quick it comes apart.

 

[azdesertrhino]

We use stainless hardware, screws or bolt & nuts, depending on the application.

Make sure not to use Zinc plated anything. Zinc is bad for birds.

Like WharfRat mentioned, zip ties won't last very long.

1/8" stainless piano wire works pretty good also.

 

[WharfRat]

1/8" stainless piano wire works pretty good also

with the GW's, won't last over 1-2 days, depends on what it's keeping them from

 

[headfeathermistress]

I just slip the branches in the cage and let them shred them leaves, bark and all. Just make sure you choose bird safe wood

 

[mrgoogls]

FYI, zipstrips last about 30 seconds around here, steel wire not much longer (45secs.??) Not sure what birds you have but GW's can pretty much destroy almost anything.

hmm, lol. i MAY have to rethink that good thing i am not getting a huge macaw, but a little quaker so maybe a few min? lol i am also(after i put them on) covering them in a few layers of sisal twine. so looks like ill add another zip strip and a few more layers of sisal. i will only be using those on a few of the branches. most will be help together with SS screws. thanks

 

[mrgoogls]

and where did youstart talking about wire from? lol?

 

[azdesertrhino]

1/8" stainless piano wire works pretty good also

with the GW's, won't last over 1-2 days, depends on what it's keeping them from

LOL!! Must be tough little critters. I can barely bend that stuff and have to use my lineman's pliers to cut it!!

 

[BirdSquawk]

If you are making a stand, you could put the branches in plaster of paris.