making bird tree, what wood to use

[nsteele]

I was going to make a tree for my recently adopted African Grey, I was going to get a tree branch and take of the bark and sand it down and bold it to a folding table(stainless steel hardware). I've herd that some woods are bad for parrots. Someone was telling me that Oak and cherry are bad for parrots. They say pine and maple are ok.. I have tons of pine trees in my back yard, but pine is softwood tends to have alot of sap.

I would like to know if Oak is ok or not. and what wood would you recommend.

[renaelock]

Bird; Birds: Safe, Toxic Trees, Woods. Safe Tree Wood. Parrots. Parrot cages. This site will tell you what is ok to use and what is toxic. I have used apple tree and have had no problems with it but I have yet to make a tree stand for them, just perches so far.

[chinniechantel]

If apple wood is scrubbed, boiled and baked it is safe for them. Of course it also needs to be pesticide free.

[nsteele]

well we went into the forest today in search of a tree.. we were going to get a birch tree because we have 1000's of them in the back yard. Problem I found is they don't really have any unique shapes to them they grow pretty straight.
Then we found a very old cottonwood tree. The branches had much better shape to them. Although the bark was very hard to take off.

here is a picture of what I got.. stripped the bark and brought in to let dry then I will sand

[Raha]

A great start. You will have to update us when you finish it.

[chinniechantel]

That does look great! I have a mulberry tree growing for that exact same purpose.

[Joel]

Bottlebrush trees are used often. Not sure what area of the country you are in?

[nsteele]

Originally Posted by Anaconda

Bottlebrush trees are used often. Not sure what area of the country you are in?

Northern eastern ontario, Canada

according to tree atlas these are the most common trees around here

* American Mountain-Ash
* Balsam Fir
* Black Cherry
* Black Spruce
* Bur Oak
* Eastern Hemlock
* Eastern White Cedar
* Eastern White Pine
* Jack Pine
* Peachleaf Willow
* Pin Cherry
* Red Maple
* Red Oak
* Red Pine
* Shagbark Hickory
* Showy Mountain-Ash
* Silver Maple
* Sugar Maple
* Tamarack
* Trembling Aspen
* White Birch
* White Spruce

I'm not to sure if the cottonwood will be a good play tree or not it's very soft i will have wait and see when it drys

[Lex123]

Is you stand finished yet???

[nsteele]

its pretty much dry now i'm going to start sanding on the weekend I will update when im done with instructions :)