$10 Atom for smaller birds

[Andulak]

My friend Amy (Willow here on the Boards) told me about the hoopball project posted here, and I came up with an inexpensive small bird version -- made out of plastic tubing and vet wrap. I think I need to add a small toy there somewhere -- let me know if you have any ideas! The birds are still afraid of it, but it shouldn't take too long for them to hop on.

[magdalena]

That looks great, I love the two connected loops in the middle!

[SerBonz]

I see alot of photos of things like this with everyones birds and it makes me think about how you do that.
Do you just stand close by while the bird is on these toys and stands? It would take me many hours of constant chasing to get my birds put up in their cage.

I would like to learn how to do this.

[LovelySydney]

I love it! Where did you get the tubing from?

[jenseits]

Great adaptation for smaller birds. I love how creative BB members are.

[Peanutbutter]

I made a smaller one of these with 12in wood embroidery hoops and fleece... cost less than $3! :) Gotta admit yours is cooler!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...09Orbit001.jpg

[RubyMuse]

Response to SerBonz:

It doesn't take me too much time get my birds back in because I put their favorite treat in, they see it, and go in to get it. After they play and are tuckered out they want a snack and have to go in to get it. They just know it is the routine.

I do have a few that are harder than others but I just have not found what is "worth it" to them...sometimes they just go in because they are tired.

[Andulak]

Sorry about the late response.

SerBonz -- my birds are trained to hop on my finger and stay there (most the time, lol) when I carry them back to their cage. I used millet to train them when they were babies (they were not hand-fed). Also, they will often fly back to their cage on their own if I put some yummies in (avi cakes, lettuce, millet etc.).

LovelySydney, I got the tubing from Lowes. Go to their plumbing section, they sell the tubing by foot and its super cheap (much cheaper than anywhere else, including HomeDepot).

As for making it, I used two sizes of tubing. The smaller size fit snug inside the larger diameter one -- that's how I connected the ends of the tubing (I also used a glue gun to make the connections more durable). I simply cut a small (1" or so) piece of the smaller diameter tubing, stuck half of it in one end of the tube I used to make the atom with and then connected it to the other end throught the small piece. You can buy special connectors to connect the tubes, but they are little pricey and you dont really need them. To make a cross, I used a kitchen knife to put a hole in the larger tubing, then I put a small piece of the smaller diameter tubing THROUGH the larger one and connected another ring that way. I wrapped it all in vet wrap I got from Tractor Supply Store. Let me know if you would like more detailed directions.

Btw, the birds are now used to their new gym and spend lots of time just hanging out and playing on it!