Playstand and Perch advice for BFA owner

[mgood01]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice from BFA (or other Amazons) owners regarding what sort of playstand you have found your birds enjoy. I currently have a big t-stand, but was hoping to get her something that would encourage more play and exercise. I'm just afraid (knowing her) that she will just climb up to the top and stare at me, amazed that I just spent $300 on a fancy manzanita tree for her to sit on.

I bought a fun book on how to build PVC playgyms and thought I'd give it a try, but was just wondering if anyone had any proven experience with BFA's and playstands.

Also, I'm looking at rearranging her cage and was thinking of getting a booda flexible perch for her. I just purchased a thermo-perch for her and her upstairs neighbor, Cujo the cockatiel. I think they'll like those for sleeping and napping, but again, trying to get her a little more exercise. Booda has one that is like a big X. Anyone had any luck with those?

Thanks!!

[Isaac-1]

I bought a parrot tree a few months ago, I think the wood is dragonwood, not manzanita. My BFA goes straight to the top, ignores most of the toys, and chews on the end of the vertical branch stub about 80% of the time. He actively climbs around the tree maybe 10% of the time, and hangs out on lower branches near the food/water the other 10%

Ike

[Nazir's]

Yes, my birds love their Booda rope perch. While in their cages, that's where they perch the most. FYI: You have to be careful with those thermo perches. They have been noted to have burned little feet.

[mgood01]

Thanks Isaac. That's kind of what I figure is going to happen no matter what I get for her. She's a bit of a perch-potato, just likes to sit and watch all the action in the house. I see these other birds swinging and climbing, but not her. Maybe just another T-Stand is the way to go. We just moved to a condo on two levels, and I don't want to have to carry her perch up and down the stairs, just her.

Thanks also for the fyi on the thermo-perch. I'll definitely keep an eye on that.

[birdsnreps]

when i had an amazon, he was a major perch potatoe, that never wanted to play with toys either. occasionally i could get him to chew up some wood, but that was it. he preferred to stay on one perch, or ride around on my shoulder everwhere i went.

[mgood01]

Well, good to hear my zon isn't lazier than most. She has some toys that she loves playing with, mainly birdie bagels and adding tape. Stuff she can sing her beak into and destroy.

She also is perfectly content to ride around on my shoulder and hang out with me. I have to force her to climb and we do flapping exercises on my finger, which I think she really hates, but no pain no gain, or so I keep telling her.

[Ainon]

My best tips is that you take large branches from trees and build your own playstand. All the birds I know loves these the most.

Regarding perchpotatos, is she clipped? If yes I would suggest you to let her wings grow (give it a try ). Many parrots gets much more playful when they can fly, in some way it seams that they dare to be more wild when they doesn't have to make sure not to fall.
Secound, many birds need to learn how to play by themself, these parrots you have to tech them how to play. Another thing you van do is to put all the food in "food seaching toys" or just drill holes in pieces of wood and push the food in them so the parrot needs to work to get their daily meals.

It's really important that a parrot is active, both for the psychical and physical well being.

[tawny30]

Laura my Red lored amazon is also lazy left to her own devices. I do find she LOVES music and will dance if I dance too. She also LOVES to chew up wood and such. If she had her way though..she would sit around so I make a POINT of a couple hours being dedicated to making Laura party :)
Though at least Laura is very clumsy so actually hanging off perches and stuff won't happen.
Partly it is because Zons are clutzes but her nails are also still deformed from not being clipped. We are working on that though

[Ainon]

I don't feel that amazons are so clumpsy and lazy. Apple and other amazons I know are vary active and agile.

This is my boy enjoying himself



(Cheep good toy, take a plastic bottle, attach a pice of string thats not so easily chewed through, and put a couple of nuts in it)




(major molt in this picture, therfor the bad featherscostume)

[mgood01]

Holy cow, that is one active zon. Mine always seems a little too prissy to hang around like that. I like the plastic bottle idea, that's great. I'll try the coat hanger when I get home. :-D