Birdie Pets

Building Playground?

Question:

PVC "micro-splinters" are an observation of Fern Van Sant, a West Coast avian veterinarian. When I spoke to her about this, she indicated that the problem was readily observable by inspection of the bird’s feet, that it involved only outdoor aging PVC perches, and that it did not preclude the general use of PVC as a perch material. (No association with "sanding" of other roughening treatment was made, but long term exposure of PVC to direct California sun was key.) Plumbers reportedly handle PVC daily with much twisting and cutting without any general splinter problems. Jim J. Graham PhD Biology Department Washington University of St. Louis

Response:

   I haven’t seen any PetStuff stores in this part of CT.  The price in the Great Companions catalog was only $6.35 for the small bird basic kit. That seemed awfully cheap compared to the price of the ready-made playgrounds.    Our parrotlet doesn’t eat wood (yet), so we’re safe.  Thanks for the lead; I’ll keep looking.

Response:

>> PVC pipe is cheap and you can get various sizes tubing and connectors.  It > can be heated and bent (heat with boiling water).  Then sand the surface to > take the shine off. > — > Troy Bull                                         | Have a swell day, and; >I agree that PVC is *great* and cheap material for play gyms but I have also heard that >sanding it can casue ‘micro-splintering’ — it creates somthing that I figure is sort of >like fiberglass.

I just made a PVC shower perch and sanded it for a better gripping surface.  Can anybody give me more info on the concern of "micro-splintering?" > I was advised to either wrap my PVC with cotton rope/string (and watch >that to make sure it doesn’t snag toes) or melt the PVC with a soldering iron (outside, >of course, because the fumes are toxic).  Cathy Q. also suggested making washable denim >’sleeves’ for the pipe.  My TAG has really loves his PVC play gym (which is currently >wrapped in 1/4 inch rope).  just thought I’d mention the possible sanding problem >Allynn

Only the melting option seems workable for a shower perch.  I sanded mine on a belt sander which may have done some minor melting.  Is "micro-splintering" only a concern w/ hand sanding? –Dennis Danner Studios – Wildlife Sculpture   http://www.infi.net/~ddanner/index.html                    

Response:

> Hi everyone. I want to build a playground for my Senegal. Can anyone > suggest a type of wood (or other material) that I should use. Any > references to books that deal with this subject will also be > appreciated. thanks.    stephen

PVC pipe is cheap and you can get various sizes tubing and connectors.  It can be heated and bent (heat with boiling water).  Then sand the surface to take the shine off. — Troy Bull                                         | Have a swell day, and; Academic Software Support            |  Thank-You for playing. Simpson College (Indianaola Iowa)|

Response:

Hi everyone. I want to build a playground for my Senegal. Can anyone suggest a type of wood (or other material) that I should use. Any references to books that deal with this subject will also be appreciated. thanks.    stephen

Response:

   I’m looking for a Polly Logs Bird Playground Kit to build a playground for our parrotlet.  I saw them in the Great Companions Pet Supplies Catalog (1-800-829-2138), but every time I call they’re out of them.  They come in two sizes (small, medium); the medium kit is $9.45, with extra parts costing $3.45.  I figure it would take 2 kits and 2 extra parts to make a really deluxe playground.      I may get a wooden building kit (used to be Tinker Toys – the foreign ones are still made of wood), since our parrotlet isn’t really into eating wood.  I don’t think that would work for you, though.  If anyone knows of a source for Polly Logs, I’d love to know it.

Response:

writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->   I’m looking for a Polly Logs Bird Playground Kit to build a playground >for our parrotlet.  I saw them in the Great Companions Pet Supplies >Catalog (1-800-829-2138), but every time I call they’re out of them. They >come in two sizes (small, medium); the medium kit is $9.45, with extra >parts costing $3.45.  I figure it would take 2 kits and 2 extra parts to >make a really deluxe playground.   >   I may get a wooden building kit (used to be Tinker Toys – the foreign >ones are still made of wood), since our parrotlet isn’t really into eating >wood.  I don’t think that would work for you, though.  If anyone knows of >a source for Polly Logs, I’d love to know it.

Hi I have seen the Polly Logs in the PetStuff chain.  I thought they were rather expensive, and I wonder if the wood is tough enough to stand up to a large hookbill parrot.  But I was seduced by the idea, until I saw the price.  I can’t remember what it was exactly, but it was between 10-20 dollars for a smallish box of parts Pat Foley

Response:

Filed under: Pet Bird Supplies