Hello
I have decided that Apples needs a play tree that can sit by the window so he can enjoy the sun shine...plus my furniture is not really "bird friendly" so he has no other places to perch except on his cage....*yawn* too boring for my liking!
PLUUUUUUS while I was looking for new toys for him, I started wondering...why is it...that the faster the toy is meant to be shredded....the higher the price!!?!?!?
So I found so GREAT items to build my own toys...
Here are some pictures of the "elements" of my bird tree (all cleaned already don't worry) and the stuff I found to make some neat toys....
(the most expensive thing was the beads which were 5$ everything else was $1.50 or less!
All my goodies
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And yes...those ARE jingle bells >=)
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I LOVE these rings they are essentially key chain type rings that have been colored and they come with all these different connectors that are all sparkle and jingly VERY cheap at WalMart
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The tree will be built on the base and stand from an old cage I got off of the Freecycle network.
Wish me luck I will post pictures later

awww Apples is going to have a blast when that is done.. can we say spoiled lil fid??


one caution though... those key rings can be a danger to our birds beaks and toes because they can bite and wedge their beaks between the centre of the ring and get stuck so be sure to have these as constantly supervised play items...

Other then that .. good luck! Be sure to post pics when its done.. im wanting to building something similar but have it suspended from the ceiling in the very near future!

=) He has to be spoiled he had a rough start in life (was wild and found with a broken wing at 6 weeks old)
And the ring thingy's are "like" key rings but it is EXTREMELY hard to get them open. He will be supervised but I am 99% sure that he can't get these ones open as they are nearly impossible for a human with pliers.

aww poor lil fellow... glad he;s found a good home..

in that case with the rings.. have fun building!!!! can't wait to see the finishd product!

I'm sure you can come up with some cool toys with your supplies I noticed the baby links.I visit the resale shops and garage sale for cheap baby toys to use..rattles, links and teething beads(not the gel filled teethers) and can make great toys out of the stuff i find(all disinfected of course).
You will have to show us pics when completed! Good Luck and Have Fun!

Drum roll please.......... *TA DA!*


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It will have fewer toys on it most of the time but for now Apples is LOVING the overwhelming number of things to do

WOW!!!! I am soo jealous.. Great job!!

hubby and I are in the process of tossing ideas around for a second play area other then kiwi's cage..

what did you use for the base? I kinda looks like a kitty litter pan bottom? very creative!! Glad to hear Apples is already enjoying it! Spoiled lil fid!!!

The base and stand are actually the base and stand from an old bird cage but a kitty box would work great too!

VERY nice! you did a nice job and i'm sure apples is thrilled to have so much to choose from.

kris

I love the play tree! I have one for my Kiwi but I am still adding to it so it's kinda boring right now. How do you have the tree part attached to the base? The one I have now sits in a plastic washing machine pan. I need to make another tree for downstairs but I'm not sure how I want to attach it to whatever base I decide on.



Kathy

I love the stand you made Apples, may I add a bit of caution please!? The bells that you have are cute but dabgerous, the jingle bells clapper is VERY easily removed and the other bells that sorta have an X design are notorius for snagging little toes and hurting them badly, and as mentioned before the key chains arent a good toy neither due to grabbing beaks and hurting them! I do LOVE the tree and all the colors you have used! I still havent had time to make one for Mickey!

Hehe thanks for all the compliments. =)
The tree is attached to the base with "L-brackets" or "Corner brackets" you can get them in any store that has a hardware section. They are about $1 for two and I used three to hold mine up since my main branch sort of leans instead of being straight.
As far as the evil dangerous toys I have....
My bird has become my life....I treat him them same as any othe rnewborn....he is with me at all times. I only built the tree so he could sit next to me anywhere in the apartment, his cage is bulky so I can't very well haul that around with me. So..he has constant supervision. =)



OH and my DNA kit just came in the mail so I should be getting result within 3 or 4 days and then I'll know if I have a she-Apple or a he apple and then I'll be changing the name

Just wanted to clarify those ARE stainless steel right?

Wow!! I love your creativity. I want to make one so bad!! I just have no idea how to convert my vision into reality!

I had so many ideas in my head and couldn't figure out how to plan it out...then I just went and got a bunch of supplies and just started putting things together and my vision changed as I went along. =) I'd say...Just go for it! It'll turn out great and be fun too!

has Apples adjusted? How is he liking it???? I found a hanging one on ebay i wanna but until then i think I am definitely gonna make one... heading in to two whole days off so we'll see what happens lol

definitely going to be using yours as inspiration

What's the big thing at the bottom of the first picture, the one in the plastic packaging?

looks like that was the fleece that was used to make some of the toys

very nice, Wish I could do stuff like that. And you get to spend all day with your baby.

That's great!!!!

Lucky bird and Lucky you.

The thing in the plastic is indeed the fabric I used isn't it.....FLAMBOYANT! hahahaha
I told her I needed something tropical and LOUD but still sorta neutral. And this print was perfect!
OH and I am extra lucky =) I have 4 babies i get to stay home with, Apples, my oldest son, Lucas, my little guy, Zachary and my daughter, Natalie.
Buuuut......the boys have "outgrown" me and my daughter just sleeps all day so all of my time pretty much goes to Apples....(can't wait to change that name!!) And even when I'm taking care of my human babies, Apples is right there.

Okay ... I am inspired. I need to find good branches, though. I'm in a suburb and I swear everything here has been sprayed at one point with pesticide. Darn! I was just on vacation in the Wisconsin woods and NEVER thought of collecting some branches ...

Anyway, LOVE IT. Nice job!

Jen

WHAT KIND OF BRANCHES ARE THOSE?CAN YOU USE ANY KIND OF TREE BRANCHES TO MAKE A PLAY GYM? CAUSE THAT BRANCHES AT THE STORES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.

Just wondering what kind of tree the limbs were from.