manzanitahabitats.com - anyone seen this?

[Scotty]

Hi Guys & Gals!

Has anyone seen manzanitahabitats.com?

I'm wondering if this place might be the best deal around for wooden perch/play trees?

http://www.manzanitahabitats.com/store/

They also have an ebay store;

http://stores.ebay.com/Manzanita-Habitats-Parrot-Stands

[Pajarita]

I don't use manzanita wood, I don't like it.

[Dbeguy]

Hi Guys & Gals!

I'm wondering if this place might be the best deal around for wooden perch/play trees?

To be honest Scotty, for the best deal in wood you can't beat lopping off a big branch from a local (parrot-safe) tree.

Just see the thread "DIY Foraging Tree Stand" in the Toys section. Indefine made somthing marvelous with a fallen branch.

[Pajarita]

I agree. The reason I don't like manzanita is that it has no bark and it's way too hard for the parrots to chew. Now, you would say that the fact that the bark is peeled off makes it easier to clean and that precisely because the parrots cannot chew it, makes for a good bargain as it would last many years but, in my personal opinion, a perch made out of a real tree branch is best because it's not only used for perching but also for their feet/claws benefit (the roughness of the bark keeps their claws from getting too sharp) and it provides them with entertaining (the chewing). Besides, they are free and very easy to replace.

[Scotty]

I don't have many tools, so for my Umbrella Noelani, I was thinking something that is about a foot in diameter, and five feet tall, so the problem in my mind is how to secure the base to a wooden tray without falling over with a limited amount of tools...

I don't even own a drill, so while this might not be such a difficult task when you have all the tools, but without, I'm going to spend more on buying tools then buying one of those already assembled.

Time is money too don't forget, so, I'll need to go out and drive around to see what I can find, then cut it down, clean it up, dry it out and assemble it, the way I look at it, it's about the same man power and time in the costs of buying...

Lots of Ironwood right next to my house, but I only have a small saw, LOL...

Hmm

[Dbeguy]

I don't have many tools, so for my Umbrella Noelani, I was thinking something that is about a foot in diameter, and five feet tall, so the problem in my mind is how to secure the base to a wooden tray without falling over with a limited amount of tools...

There's no need for excessive tools Scotty if you think out-of-the-box.
Just off the top of my head....

Lots of Ironwood right next to my house, but I only have a small saw, LOL...
Hmm

Ironwood (Hornbeam) is safe but is very hard (hence the name) I'd assume that it would be similar to manzanita for better or for worse. at least it has texture for the bird's feet!



At the end of the day, you're right Scotty; time is money. No one is going to hiss at you if you buy a foraging tree, far from it.

[Scotty]

Ahhh Christmas Tree stand awesome idea, now why didn't I think of that one, LOL...

Well I'll go have a look at the guys cutting down the Ironwood forest next to my house and see if I can come up with something, along with the local hardware store if they still have from Christmas leftovers a tree stand...

But I might just end up buying one of the manzanita play stands from that site, I just don't have money, and I figured it's better than nothing to keep the bird occupied and happy...

Oh by the way I have a Fern & Avocado tree in my yard I could cut, are either of those bird friendly?

P.S. After posting this, boneheade me, LOL, I have a pretty nice fig tree in my yard, so have a look I took I nice cut out of it!

And I already have a christmas tree stand too!

Should I leave the bark natural or scrub it with kitchen scrub sponge to clean it, or sand the bark off?

[Scotty]

Ok I trimmed and cleaned it, just with water and a wire brush since Fig bark is very thin, if you can even call it bark.



Thinking now to let it dry out for a few days, then maybe drag it over to the beach and soak in the sea water, not sure yet... hmm...

[Dbeguy]

Ahhh Christmas Tree stand awesome idea, now why didn't I think of that one, LOL...

Ego boost!

Oh by the way I have a Fern & Avocado tree in my yard I could cut, are either of those bird friendly?

Where are you Scotty? I've never heard of a fern tree before. Nevermind about my ironwood pic that's American Hornbeam

[Scotty]

Where am I from? LOL, I'd have to hack the forum to erase my identity if I told you...

Fern trees are typically found growing in tropical and subtropical areas as well as temperate rainforests, so I'm in one of those...

http://tinyurl.com/ma3tnz3