Housing, Hardware Store Timber?

[TomAndGene]

Is it safe for me to but a bunch of wood from the hardware store to create a play gym for my bird, I'm pretty nifty when it comes to wood work but i'm just curious about the "unknowns" in the wood like the treatments etc, Would they be harmful to my bird.

Thanks, Tom.

[Melika]

Go for no sealants and no treatments on the wood and you'll be fine. Pine is usually the cheapest and is great because birds need some good softwoods to munch on. Keeps the beak busy and in good condition.

I'm not a fan of all the hard perches "so the bird can't destroy them". The whole point of wood is for those beaks to destroy.

[TomAndGene]

thanks a lot for your reply

[ellieelectrons]

My avian vet recommends paperbark and bottlebrush trees for natural wood (not wood bought from the store, just straight from the tree). The birds enjoy stripping the bark away.

Ellie.

[Melika]

Here's some info about bottlebrush http://www.windycityparrot.com/Bottle-B ... Birds.html

I have one of those stands (saw it at my favourite pet store one day and couldn't resist... I had been dreaming about 'pruning' every bottlebrush tree I saw while driving about town as they aren't as common here). Hane loves it. If I had access to the wood I could make so many things for him... *wistful sigh*