Instead of buying these for god knows how much, why not make them yourselves? The total cost per perch is around a dollar each. I built two this time, just to try the concept, and they are quite simple, but you can vary the type of branch you use to get more complex perches if you want.
Here's what you need:
For a larger pic: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8380 ... d6ce_b.jpg
From top to bottom, you need:
*Washers, which are wider than your bar spacing.
*Screw nuts, but if you can, get wing nuts, because they are much simpler to tighten by hand.
*Studscrews, these have different threads on either side, regular threads for wood on one, and threads for screw nuts on the other.
*Your own choice of parrot safe branch, but preferably at least an inch in diameter. Remember to wash it thouroughly.
You will need a few tools to make this, I didnt use all of these but they can come in handy:
*Saw
*Knife
*Wrench
*Foot rule
*Power drill
*Drills
*Various screw bits
First, take your branch and measure out how long you want the perches to be, then saw them. Remember to get at least one of the sides pretty smooth and straight, as you need it to be flat to be able to mount it properly on the bars.
They should now look like this:
Next, make marks in the center of the perches. This is where you will drill, using a smaller drill than the diameter of the stud screw. This is to prevent the wood from cracking when you are putting the stud screw in place.
Unfortunatly I forgot to photograph this, but I am sure you get the idea from the picture below.
Now get the stud screw in place, using a wrench or a torx:
Make sure you screw it all the way down, so that only the threads of the upper end of the stud screw is visible.
Put one washer onto the stud screw:
Next put on the second washer and the nut and you're all done:
And here's how it looks with a bird on it
:
As I said in the beginning of this guide, this is a very simple thing to do, and it can be varied to be much more complex. Building these perches, in this simple form, takes no time at all, and they are super cheap. Total price per perch is about 1 dollar each, and no more than 2$/each depending on prices for the parts you need.
You can get all the materials you need at a regular hardware store.
Good luck
Thanks for all the pictures [I learn so much quicker] .You must have trees with nice thick branches there.Im going to have to see what I can do around here.I have gotten grapevine[but that was just for chewing ] Hey maybe you could make a tree playstand [their so expensive].
