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View Full Version : Riley is getting a new playstand



Robyn
02-20-2015, 10:05 AM
This weekend I will be building a play stand for Riley. The materals used will be untreated square pine dowels, zip ties, nylon rope and a corkboard base. I am mainly building this play stand because when she is hanging out on her current play stand she just sits in one place which is not the point in having one I also can't hang any toys on it. So due to my being less than impressed with other table top play stands I have decided to build my own I will post pics when it's done. The reason I have chosen the cork board base is that I will be using cage liners on the bottom so that it won't be able to absorb feces. Since Riley only drinks from her water bottle she will be going back into her cage (the play stand will be on top of the cage) to get a drink and back out like she normally does so there's no worry of her tiping over a water dish and she is not one to burrow so I don't have to worry about her burrowing under the liner and chewing up the cork. Before I build it would a cork board be ok to use as a base? I will be making toys out of nylon rope, beads, natural popsicle sticks, wood and plastic toy parts from a couple toy making kits and all new toys will have Rileys favorite thing bells. I will be having places for me to hang about 4 new toys on this playstand as well as a mini cargo net. I know it sounds weird which is why I will be posting pics after it's finished.

Mare
02-20-2015, 04:23 PM
I wouldn't know for sure about cork board but sure sounds GOOD to me! I can't wait to see pics!

Lady
02-21-2015, 12:23 AM
Wonderful that you are customizing a play stand just for Riley, such a good Momma you are to her and the perfect person who knows what she likes.
I'm not sure about a cork board because I don't know what is used as far as glue, I would imagine wood glue, but that's just my thinking.

I too am excited to see the pics. I'm still working and reworking the net idea for Lady that I got from Dianne, Jean-Pierre and Margaret. I have not found a crochet hook so I have been trying to fashion it by hand and had to start over a few times. Home made is best, it is one of a kind and made with love :heart:.

plax
02-21-2015, 04:25 AM
That sounds like a very nice project, Robyn. Hopefully Riley will make good use of it once you're finished putting it together. Most sources report that cork is safe around companion birds. As Alice mentioned, the glue bonding the cork particles may be a concern in some cases. But I think it would likely be difficult to determine which bonding agents a manufacturer may have used. As long as Riley doesn't chew on the stuff it will probably be fine.

Mare
02-21-2015, 07:11 PM
Alice, now that you mentioned it, crocheting with just your finger does work pretty darn well! The kids and I've made dog blankets with that method..use your finger as the hook :)

Lady
02-21-2015, 07:52 PM
Oh Mare,
I've been trying and I guess I'm a bit to picky because I have taken it apart four times today alone, I just can't seem to get it as straight or square as I want it. I think once I try again, however it turns out is what I'm going to stick with, straight or not. I surely am no machine and it doesn't have to be perfect. I might even make a tool out of a paper clip because my fingers are beginning to hurt.

Robyn
02-22-2015, 01:38 AM
I already know mines not going to be straight but I'm sure Riley isn't going to mind if its straight or not she will just enjoy something to climb on and play with.

Casper's 2nd best friend
02-22-2015, 10:32 AM
I would have thought that there is a difference between chewing stuff and spitting it out (shredding) and chewing and swallowing.
Casper does a lot of shredding of cardboard and wood which we don't mind as long it is not part of the furniture or house. He knows what is naughty so only does that when he is attention seeking.
Chewing at the paintwork on the house is definitely a nono, not because we are houseproud, but ours is a very old house and a lot of the old paint below the new stuff must contain lead.

Visitors say our house has lots of character. I have come to the conclusion that the definition of character is: at least a hundred years of bodging. In our case three hundred years so trying to work out what has happened is quite interesting. We are just looking after it for the next generation who will make more changes just as I have.

plax
02-22-2015, 07:27 PM
I would have thought that there is a difference between chewing stuff and spitting it out (shredding) and chewing and swallowing.There is. But certain birds are prone to swallow some of their shreddings. Veterinarians occasionally have to remove cloth fiber masses from the crops of parrots. Have a look at this thread: [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Casper's 2nd best friend
02-22-2015, 10:21 PM
You suggest that there is no easy way of knowing whether your bird has one of these impactions. Casper does sometimes act as though he is yawning. Would that be relevant or is he just... yawning. His weight is pretty constant.

plax
02-23-2015, 01:24 AM
You suggest that there is no easy way of knowing whether your bird has one of these impactions. Casper does sometimes act as though he is yawning. Would that be relevant or is he just... yawning. His weight is pretty constant.I don't think it's a hugely common condition since birds can pass and even digest many of the non-food materials they may swallow. But it still occurs now and then. I wouldn't be terribly worried as along as Casper is eating and pooping normally... and as long as his crop empties normally each day. But if you ever feel a persistent lump in his crop area then I think it would be wise to take him in for a vet check.

Robyn
02-23-2015, 02:24 AM
So I haven't been able to build it today but it will for sure be built tomorrow along with over 30 toys. The toy building supply list consist of rope, bells, natural craft sticks, beads lots and lots of beads over 3,000 beads, natural coffee filters, alphabet beads which oddly in a bag of 200 beads there was only 1 i but about 10 x's and Q's each cause you know those are used soooo much more than the letter i, plastic straws and 2 toy making kits from the drs foster and smith website each containing 93 peices but it doesn't tell you exactly what they are just that they are a combination of wood, plastic, wicker, paper sticks and bells. So tomorrow will be fun and very busy and pics will be coming either tomorrow night or tuesday morning.

I also forgot the plastic cups and toilet paper tubes to add to the foraging toys I can make.

Robyn
02-24-2015, 03:24 AM
Well the play stand is up with two minor problems 1 I can't find the hooks to screw into the top part so I can hang toys but I can always get more. And 2 I forgot to stabilize the net so it fell a couple times I fixed this by lowering the legs further into the holes I cut out for them. I have spent ALL day working on the play stand and making new toys today I know they're nothing fancy but you work with what you got.

Robyn
02-24-2015, 10:31 AM
I have posted pics in my album and my phones not letting me post them here but you can check out the play stand and the 20 new toys I made by checking out my album.

Robyn
02-26-2015, 12:09 AM
Here are some pics of Riley enjoying her new play stand and some of the toys I made as well as the "cargo" net I made her despite the evil kittens at my grandmas house trying to destroy everything I made

Robyn
02-26-2015, 12:11 AM
And the actual part of the play stand where she can play with her toys.

Lady
02-26-2015, 02:44 AM
:loveit: Riley looks very happy and excited to play on her new gym. :goodjob: Look at all those toys :th_yah:.

Kind of looks like a second Christmas :D!

Robyn
02-26-2015, 04:47 AM
Riley apparently loves it. For the first time ever I was able to do the dishes while she stayed put on her play stand. Normally I have to put her back no less than 10 times but today I was able to do a full 2 hours of house work without her flying to me once. So not only does she like it and it was inexpensive to make (around $30 total) but it does exactly what it was intended to do which is keep her occupied while I do what I need to do.

Casper's 2nd best friend
02-26-2015, 12:19 PM
Wow Riley is going to be busybusybusy now.

kendrafitz
02-26-2015, 11:27 PM
Awesome!!

Lady
02-26-2015, 11:46 PM
That's great!!

plax
02-27-2015, 03:01 AM
I'm glad Riley likes her new hangout. That's how to make a happy bird :b223:

Macaw Lover
02-27-2015, 05:29 PM
Looks like a fun place to hang out at and play. :th_smile:

Abby
04-14-2015, 01:17 AM
That looks incredible! Nice job. What a spoiled birdie.

Robyn
04-14-2015, 04:03 AM
Thank you