Help - Search - Members - Calendar
Full Version: Uncle Zippy's Old Fashioned
Quaker Parrots Forum > For Pet Lovers > General Pet Bird Discussion > DIY: Do It Yourself!
Uncle Zippy
These are the "trees" I made the fids. Tinker's is on the other side of the room. Same deal only smaller diameter perches for her dainty feet.

Click to view attachment

If you want more details let me know. biggrin.gif
Nancy and Bubba
wow - pretty nifty rolleyes.gif Bubba is on the poor side of town, plus no room for anymore tongue.gif Nice job excl.gif
cindylou_38
there are great looking!
Summer
Very nice UZ. I for one would love to know the dimensions that the trees are. I've been trying to make a play tree for Fez, but I'm not very good with the power tools, and such. I have great ideas in my head, but I can't translate them so that hubby can bring it to life.

Thanks!
munchkinmama
QUOTE (Uncle Zippy @ Jul 18 2006, 01:28 PM) *
If you want more details let me know. biggrin.gif


I want! I want!

*hand raised in the back of the room*
Joanne's Animal Kingdom
so how did you get the toothpicks to stay together for Tinkers "tree"? tongue.gif
PacosMom
Good job, UZ. Did you use the wooden closet poles for the stands? They really came out nice.

One more question: How do you keep Buddy from hopping over to that speaker, and sliding down the wire?
Tari
I would love to have details! How tall are they? How many dowel rods and what sizes? Did you make the toys hung from them?

***thinking hubby is going to kill her for buying yet MORE things for fids*** laugh.gif
huey B Quaker
You do good work UZ. Very good. laugh.gif
Uncle Zippy
Here is some more info and a couple more pictures for those interested.

I build them around 5 feet high(don't want them taller than me wink.gif ). I buy the round large dowel, I think it's 2 inches in diameter and an assortment of smaller dowels suitable for perches. Drill holes the same size as you perch dowels and glue them in using non toxic wood glue. Make sure your perches aren't longer than the base is wide to avoid messes. You can also drill small holes to add food/water/toy cups like this. Sorry but Maya was not ready for this picture. laugh.gif

Click to view attachment

Cut the main post to size and affix it to the base with angle brackets and small wood screws. For a base I use a wood with a veneer surface for easy clean up. I also add a trim to keep messes contained. A bead of caulk keeps seeds and stuff from getting caught between the base and trim. Your base can be any size you like just make sure perches don't overhang the base to avoid poop on the floor.

Click to view attachment

Add screw in eye hole hooks to attach toys and other goodies.

Click to view attachment

Hope that helps. Now get out your saws and screwdrivers and get building. wink.gif
Arkali
Very cool looking. And I gotta say - the pic of Maya cracked me up. Bless her heart smile.gif
Roxanne
Nice Job UZ!
I love Tayten
Can you teach me how to make those?Tayten needs to be able to get off his cage and onto a play place.
Laura
What an AWSOME job! So how much do you think it cost you to build that?
Uncle Zippy
QUOTE (I love Tayten @ Aug 15 2006, 11:07 AM) *
Can you teach me how to make those?Tayten needs to be able to get off his cage and onto a play place.


There are semi-detailed directions further down this thread.

QUOTE (Laura @ Aug 15 2006, 11:39 AM) *
What an AWSOME job! So how much do you think it cost you to build that?



I think for a single tree it runs me about $50 Canadian.

The most expensive items are probably the hardware. Screws, brackets, castors, the wood itself isn't too costly. So if you can scrounge the hardware you could probably do it cheaper.
Sandi Kiwis Mom
Wow UZ, you did a great job.

I wish I would of seen this thread before I purchased the 2 hanging play gyms. They take up way too much room.
upliftedwings
UZ, they turned out great. Is this the same as the other one , from a while back?
Now if just pick up all that stuff and come to Texas with it we'll get busy....LOl
BYEBYE
<taps her foot> still waiting on UZ to show up to build Mékhé and Mali one............... wink.gif
Uncle Zippy
QUOTE (~*~Kay~*~ @ Aug 18 2006, 06:20 PM) *
<taps her foot> still waiting on UZ to show up to build Mékhé and Mali one............... wink.gif


Whats missing? The pictures and directions are here in this thread.

Is there a particular question you have?

Edit:

I get it now. rolleyes.gif Sorry, I'm a lttle thick right now....not enough blood in the alcohol system. wacko.gif

Send the first class tickets to me, and book me the presidential suite. I can be there next week. tongue.gif
gypsygal
You should market these UZ....with a nice discount to all your forum friends of course laugh.gif
gypsygal
You should market these UZ....with a nice discount to all your forum friends of course laugh.gif


Sorry about the double post...stupid comp tongue.gif
BYEBYE
QUOTE (Uncle Zippy @ Aug 18 2006, 11:00 PM) *
Whats missing? The pictures and directions are here in this thread.

Is there a particular question you have?

Edit:

I get it now. rolleyes.gif Sorry, I'm a lttle thick right now....not enough blood in the alcohol system. wacko.gif

Send the first class tickets to me, and book me the presidential suite. I can be there next week. tongue.gif


laugh.gif laugh.gif Actually, I am going to try it myself(with help of course!) I like the design and they don't take up a ton of room....you could market these and sell them on eBay! GJ!! (LOL, not enough blood in the alcohol system!)
Cheekys mum
Wow they are really NICE! I just bought a "gym" for $70.00 we bought it and were done with it....but had my hub been assertive he could of built something cheaper!
Uncle Zippy
I'd like to see the variations of my design. Anybody built one yet? Thinking about it?
BYEBYE
QUOTE (Uncle Zippy @ Aug 23 2006, 04:19 PM) *
I'd like to see the variations of my design. Anybody built one yet? Thinking about it?


I'm definately thinking about it...but having a garage sale this weekend so I am pre-occupied but will post after I make one. I need something for Mékhé to play on in the living room.
miss1mouse
My husband is a carpenter so this should be easy for him. He's going to be so thrilled that I am yet again giving him a project! biggrin.gif
Alestix
I am looking into making one still trying to find the right dowels in small town usa =X
Yogi's_mom
um I know this is an older thread, but wow. Great trees!

I have the basic tree part done, and am going out today or tomorrow to get the hardware to hang toys.

I don't know if Yogi will be happy to be so spoiled, or terrified at the prospect of more new things to have to get used to.

Will post a pic after I've finished <grin>.

Deb
lg2312
tongue.gif I want details too! I think Popster would have some fun on that! This was posted before I even thought about a green monster!
Yogi's_mom
Here is my somewhat clumsy attempt at UZ's bird tree lol.

Thankfully, Yogi is easy to please and was playing on it within minutes. Um..he was actually more interested in the dish when he realized there was food in it.

What a sweet guy.. made me feel good to see he liked it, and the toys I made. Going to save a lot of money on toys heheh.

Only a week and I love the little guy wub.gif

Click to view attachment
Alestix
This may seem a bit dumb but where do people buy dowel rods...I have looked at all the home type stores (menards lowes home depot) I swear they used to stock them but I cant for the life of me find any.
Andie's Mom
Our Lowes has them but you can get them at places like Joannes fabrics and Michaels stores as well. Make sure you get different sizes to keep the feet exercised
Uncle Zippy
QUOTE (Yogi's_mom @ Mar 4 2007, 12:08 AM) *
Here is my somewhat clumsy attempt at UZ's bird tree lol.

Thankfully, Yogi is easy to please and was playing on it within minutes. Um..he was actually more interested in the dish when he realized there was food in it.

What a sweet guy.. made me feel good to see he liked it, and the toys I made. Going to save a lot of money on toys heheh.

Only a week and I love the little guy wub.gif

Click to view attachment



You did an excellent job for your first try! smile.gif My first couple weren't fit for the fireplace. unsure.gif

I'm glad this thread is still getting used. I keep thinking about deleting the pictures when I manage my attachments to give me more space. Guess I'll leave them up for a while. wink.gif

QUOTE (lg2312 @ Mar 3 2007, 04:59 AM) *
tongue.gif I want details too! I think Popster would have some fun on that! This was posted before I even thought about a green monster!



There are semi-detailed instruction about half way down the first page.
AnnJ
thanx for not deleting!
Uncle Zippy
No problem. We have more room for pictures now, so it's no big deal leaving them up.

Y'know I never did mention that all my trees are on castors, so they are really easy to roll around for cleaning. smile.gif
Julies Jungle
Nice work UZ. I think you should market these as well.
kalipso2
QUOTE (Uncle Zippy @ Jul 18 2006, 03:28 PM) *
If you want more details let me know. biggrin.gif


yeah... i want details. How long will it take you to make one for my Cricket? lol
equineRtist
WOW, neat UZ!!!! These are great. You have done a wonderful job!!!

You know me by now. That wall behind them sure looks like a nice canvas for a mural! laugh.gif Trees and birds all over that sure would be fun! I love a yellow wall...soft better yellow or tan are the most beautiful walls to paint on. tongue.gif
Carrie~Anne
When Ron and Susi rehomed Tiko to me, they sent Tiko with the stand that Ron made for him. It IS a great stand.

QUOTE (equineRtist @ Oct 24 2007, 03:36 PM) *
You know me by now. That wall behind them sure looks like a nice canvas for a mural! laugh.gif Trees and birds all over that sure would be fun! I love a yellow wall...soft better yellow or tan are the most beautiful walls to paint on. tongue.gif


Ooohhhhhhh while you're at Ron's place doing that, mind coming up to mine and doing one for me too?? biggrin.gif
TJ Maj's Mom
OoOoO I love these!! Might I ask one question though??? Are the bars spaced out where they can get up and down on each one? How big is the spacing?? I just have a QP, I'd love to sit down with the DH and make one. Thank yousoooo much for sharing! biggrin.gif
Uncle Zippy
QUOTE (Maj's Mom @ Oct 25 2007, 12:00 PM) *
OoOoO I love these!! Might I ask one question though??? Are the bars spaced out where they can get up and down on each one? How big is the spacing?? I just have a QP, I'd love to sit down with the DH and make one. Thank yousoooo much for sharing! biggrin.gif



The perches are spaced close enough that they can easily climb up or down. Say 2 or 3 of inches.

One thing to watch for is perch placement. I've found that if you put one perch directly underneath another it winds up getting poopy pretty fast. Try and stagger them so they're more ladder like and you'll have less cleaning to do. wink.gif
LuvMyHarley1
Ron you ought to patent these things honey.... laugh.gif
Uncle Zippy
Could you imagine trying to ship one of these monsters? 5' X 3' X 2'. unsure.gif I could break it down, but you'd still have to contend with that 5' center pole and the 3' X 2' base.

Tell you what, if you want one, you can come to Kelowna and pick it up. Bring a truck. laugh.gif
TJ Maj's Mom
hmmm what kind of glue do you use? Any specific brand?? Is Elmers wood glue non toxic? My fid is a bit of a chewer. Gosh you know that would be easier for me...but how far of a drive is that???? WOW blink.gif
Skipper
UZ I'm so glad that you left these pics up!!! now a quick question for you though...do you have the fids cages out in open or do you put the cages in the "bedroom" and then have them out on their stands as the flock time? My place is pretty small and I'd love to have a stand for them to play with-i know they would stay on...and if these stands are less obtrusive then the cage i couyld move that into my bedroom for sleeping time......sorry just thinking out loud.....
Uncle Zippy
QUOTE (Maj's Mom @ Oct 31 2007, 01:44 PM) *
hmmm what kind of glue do you use? Any specific brand?? Is Elmers wood glue non toxic? My fid is a bit of a chewer. Gosh you know that would be easier for me...but how far of a drive is that???? WOW blink.gif



Yeah, I think it was Elmers, or something similar. It was a kid frienly type, so non-toxic.
Uncle Zippy
QUOTE (Skipper @ Oct 31 2007, 02:33 PM) *
UZ I'm so glad that you left these pics up!!! now a quick question for you though...do you have the fids cages out in open or do you put the cages in the "bedroom" and then have them out on their stands as the flock time? My place is pretty small and I'd love to have a stand for them to play with-i know they would stay on...and if these stands are less obtrusive then the cage i couyld move that into my bedroom for sleeping time......sorry just thinking out loud.....



We have cages in a spare bedroom. The trees are in the living room.

The reasons are two fold. One, Taking them out and away from the cages for play/flock time reduces the chance of cage aggression drastically. Two, four cages just take up too much room in the living room.

I made sure when I built the trees that they were tall enough, and with no low perches, so that climbing down would be impossible. We still get the odd leap, jump or flight, but there is no sneaking off. I can hear when someone takes to ground. biggrin.gif

If there is a down side, it's having four trees to clean in addition to the cages, but the trees are relatively easy to keep clean, and while they are away from their cages, they can't bee making a mess in there, so we have less frequent cage cleanings. It kind of balances out. huh.gif
TJ Maj's Mom
Thanks a million UZ, hoping to gather all my bird safe supplies this weekend. I doubt I can complete such a task in one weekend, so going to start with fid safe supplies. Will let you know what we come up with biggrin.gif smile.gif
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.
Invision Power Board © 2001-2008 Invision Power Services, Inc.