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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

687.0. "Tiel Playpen!" by POWDML::DESILETS () Wed May 06 1992 19:45

    I am looking for a new/used cockatiel playpen that would fit on top
    of a cage (2' x 2 1/2') in size.  Preferably with a perch, ladder, and
    swing with a border around the base.   I noticed that Birdtalk had them
    advertised for 49.95 plus shipping and handling, but thought I'd check
    with our fellow noters to see if I could get one sooner.  Any
    suggestions/referrals would be greatly appreciated. 
    
    regards,
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
687.1Do it you self!!!!GERBIL::MAGEEThu May 07 1992 13:2014
      
    HINT-
    
          I wanted one but couldn't afford it. Went to builders square
    & bought odd sizes of plywood, wood for the edging and various
    sized wooden dowles. With a drill, hand saw nails, glue and three
    hours I made a custom one for Rosey. It's bigger than anything
    I could afford and I love the fact that I made it. 
          I am NOT Bob Vila and it is not perfect but it was fun.
    
    Total cost = approx. $8 
    
    chet
    
687.2do-it-yourself, easy -- really?SELL3::MCETTRICKTue Jun 02 1992 20:0510
    Chet,
    
    Not having much experience (actually none) with a drill, plywood,
    etc... Do you think I could do it myself?  If so, can you explain it a
    little more in detail?
    
    Thanks.
    
    Wendy
    Working on being a good "bird-mommy"
687.3An empty play ground!!!GERBIL::MAGEEWed Jun 03 1992 01:1420
    
    Wendy,
          I would be more than happy to give you greater detail
    on how to build one but- I offer experience & advice first.
    
          The person who got the most enjoyment out of what I built
    was me not my two tiels! I have ladders, perches toys... but noooo-
    they like shoe laces, pencils, computer keyboards.... The point is 
    that it's like buying a fancy cat bed. You can't make them use it!
    I am just glad that I didn't spend $50 to find this out.
    
          I think that you will find that what Dolly will enjoy playing
    the most with is you and your family.
    
          Does anyone else in note land have similar experiences with
    tiels and playpens???
    
    
         Chet
             
687.4Another opinionSALEM::VINCENTWed Jun 03 1992 10:5410
    Yup, same thing. I built one using some plastic pipe elbows, tees and
    wall flanges combined with wodden dowels. Not too hard. The bird
    ignored it. He walked around on the base a few times and christened it,
    climbed the ladder a couple of times and that's it.
    
    I'd suggest the same thing as -.1, your bird's favorite toy will
    eventually be YOU. It may take a while but if you work and play with
    him it will happen, and the less distraction he has in the mean time
    will spped this up. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't bother with a
    playpen.
687.5Play time!CSOA1::DIRRMANWed Jun 03 1992 17:0714
    We have Playpens above all our cages one large one covering 3 cages -
    then 3 seperate ones - then one communal playpen. Some store bought -
    some home make. The problem with th PVC is that it is too slippery and
    small birds feel uncomfortable. So I taped the sandpaper prerch stuff
    on the PVC. I also hang stuff like shoe strings and brightly colored
    beads and wood items. I also put a treat stick and the absolutely
    love the play pens! All of them have a ladder and swing.
    
    If you look in any of the bird magazines - they have pictures of them
    and you can take it from those.
    
    			Good Luck!
    
    				Dora
687.6HmmmSELL1::MCETTRICKThu Jun 04 1992 14:3911
    Thanks for the advice.  When we are home, Dolly is on one of us.  She
    likes to carry around recipe cards or attache herself to my back (I
    don't know how she's hanging on!) to play with the elastic at the
    bottom of my hair, etc., etc.  I was thinking, gee, is this fun?  Maybe
    she NEEDS "bird" toys.  But unless they have one that attaches to a
    person, she could possibly not even use it, right?  When she's just
    sitting on my shoulder, cleaning herself and looking around, listening
    to the household conversation, do you think that enjoyable to her?  Do
    you think it's enough stimulation?
    
    Wendy
687.7Save money on toysGERBIL::MAGEEThu Jun 04 1992 16:5417
    
    Yes Yes Yes!
    
    When given a choice of where to be Rosey picks
    "on me". This must be what she likes. If I'm
    standing and she is on the floor she actually
    comes over and stands on the top of my foot!
    
    Your bird is a child and children like to be
    with parents. You are Dollys parent. Even 
    though we think bird toys look cute- we aren't 
    birds. Just the same as our human kids can have
    more fun with the used wrapping paper than the 
    gift- so too birds.
    
    chet
        
687.8SALEM::VINCENTFri Jun 05 1992 10:578
    re: -.2
    
    I didn't use PVC for the perches, I used wooden dowels there. I used
    PVC elbows and tees to put the perches into so when I needed to clean
    or replace the dowels all I had to do was yank them out of the plastic
    and replace them.
    
    TPV
687.9BUSY::TBUTLERFri Jun 05 1992 12:5010
    	You bet that when your bird is just sitting on you preening itself
    it's enjoying itself.  My Cory loves to just sit on my knee and preen,
    he just peeps and loves to be cuddled when he's in this mood and I
    think it's some of the best times for the both of us.  He would rather
    play with a paper shopping bag (his own little fort) than any of the
    toys we've bought him.  He also likes to sit on my Wife's and my head
    and preen us!  But....you make sure that he's....ah....relieved himself
    recently before you put him up there. ;^)
    
    Tom
687.10SID STAYES IN HIS ALL DAYCSLALL::LEONHARTAussie land calling meFri Jun 05 1992 16:3614
    Hi, my son built a playpen for our teil.  It's simply a peice of
    playwood that i covered with contact paper for easy cleaning,
    with a 1 x 2 screwed into the middle, then about 12 to 14 inches 
    up a hole was drilled into it, a dowel inserted.  next a really
    nice branch was stipped of bark, cleaned, soaked, washed, and secured 
    on top of the 1 x 2 and some toyes hang from the braches.
    Well SID loves it.  He spends all day and most of the night climbing
    around on it. Maybe it's becouse it's more like a real tree.
    it also has a ladder that comes down from the first dowle to the
    platform.
    I hope that this has helped some..
    
    suzanne