I am so happy to announce that March 2012's Feathered Estates highlight is Marian (Marian)! She has not allowed the challenge of living in a small apartment to stop her from making sure her beloved Hiram and Tara have an exciting, fun and safe place to play and forage in. Marian's awesome setup venue is for a Living-room Setup.
1~ What kind of birds do you have and how many birds did you design your setup for?
I have two birds now.The setup originally was just for Hiram. I just keep adding on as we go along. When Tara joined the family we expanded.
2~ Is your setup for a handicapped bird? No it isn't.
3~ Are there any budgeting tips you discovered while doing your setup?
Well I am on a fixed income now....so that all played into the setup. I love to experiment with DIY things. DIY has saved quite a bit of money also. I am also very thankful to have been sent some nice things for both birds. This really helped in the setup also.
4~ Is your setup changeable or stationary and do you add or make changes continually or do things stay primarily as is?
Well mine is pretty changeable. Everything is on wheels and portable.The only thing that isn't is Hirams tree stand. That is put into a christmas tree stand. It's not all that fancy but he does enjoy it.
5~ Where did you find your materials if you made it yourself or where did you purchase the setup and do you have favorite places to purchase safe toys and/or supplies that you find reliable?
For Hiram's stand, I had a magnolia branch brought in. Then added branches to that.The one large stand is actually a clothing rack. I wrapped rope 1" around the bars. Then I added wicker baskets on the ends filled with foot toys. I also added the atom to the upper bar.Then added a thick 1" highway from the upper bar to the smaller stand to the sliding windows. I try to keep things busy as I can for both since hanging things and putting too many holes in the apartment could be a major no-no. I also purchased wood for platform perches from Lowes. Both birds love their platforms even though Tara took about a week to get used to hers.
6~ Do you have a favorite item that you bought for your setup?
Yes, I would say all the smaller stands helped make everything perfect. If I need to go into another room...I can easily wheel them in with me. My guys adore wicker so we go through alot of baskets.
7~ If you made any DIY toys what is your bird(s) favorite and were there any failures? Favorites here, hands down, are foot toys. They really only consist of poly or cotton rope with a few beads to chew up. Failure was probably the swings I have done for Hiram. None have been a hit.
8~ Did you incorporate into your setup any foraging toys and how did your bird(s) take to them and was age or inactivity a factor?
Hiram is not a forager. I guess he is a bit spoiled. Tara loves her foraging toy. She loves trying to get her almonds out of it. Hiram could care less LOLOL.
9~ What difficulties did you encounter, if any, and how did you remedy them?
The difficulty I have is living in an apartment for the first time in my life. I have owned 4 homes. So things are not going to be same. That at first made me nervous. Hanging things from the ceiling isn't done and putting alot of holes in walls won't be happening either (though the maintenance man was going to try with the Atom but we decided not to for go that). So I hung it up on the Clothing rack. Tara loves it.
10~ What do you like least about your set up (if anything)?
Lets see, Hiram's stand isn't anything too pretty....but he loves it. Also, not being able to hang things from the ceiling. That's about it.
11~ What do you like most about your setup?
How everything flows from stands to cage.
12~ Did your bird(s) take to the setup right away or did they approach it tentatively needing time to adjust and do you feel their age was a factor?
They both took to it just fine.
13~ Any future renovations planned?
Yes, I have plans to add a few more things. As soon as I get more 1" rope there will be more highways. One day, way in the future, maybe a java tree and a small net. My living room now has become parrot cove LOL. But thats ok living alone because they are my family and entertainment.
1~ What kind of birds do you have and how many birds did you design your setup for?
I have two birds now.The setup originally was just for Hiram. I just keep adding on as we go along. When Tara joined the family we expanded.
2~ Is your setup for a handicapped bird? No it isn't.
3~ Are there any budgeting tips you discovered while doing your setup?
Well I am on a fixed income now....so that all played into the setup. I love to experiment with DIY things. DIY has saved quite a bit of money also. I am also very thankful to have been sent some nice things for both birds. This really helped in the setup also.
4~ Is your setup changeable or stationary and do you add or make changes continually or do things stay primarily as is?
Well mine is pretty changeable. Everything is on wheels and portable.The only thing that isn't is Hirams tree stand. That is put into a christmas tree stand. It's not all that fancy but he does enjoy it.
5~ Where did you find your materials if you made it yourself or where did you purchase the setup and do you have favorite places to purchase safe toys and/or supplies that you find reliable?
For Hiram's stand, I had a magnolia branch brought in. Then added branches to that.The one large stand is actually a clothing rack. I wrapped rope 1" around the bars. Then I added wicker baskets on the ends filled with foot toys. I also added the atom to the upper bar.Then added a thick 1" highway from the upper bar to the smaller stand to the sliding windows. I try to keep things busy as I can for both since hanging things and putting too many holes in the apartment could be a major no-no. I also purchased wood for platform perches from Lowes. Both birds love their platforms even though Tara took about a week to get used to hers.
6~ Do you have a favorite item that you bought for your setup?
Yes, I would say all the smaller stands helped make everything perfect. If I need to go into another room...I can easily wheel them in with me. My guys adore wicker so we go through alot of baskets.
7~ If you made any DIY toys what is your bird(s) favorite and were there any failures? Favorites here, hands down, are foot toys. They really only consist of poly or cotton rope with a few beads to chew up. Failure was probably the swings I have done for Hiram. None have been a hit.
8~ Did you incorporate into your setup any foraging toys and how did your bird(s) take to them and was age or inactivity a factor?
Hiram is not a forager. I guess he is a bit spoiled. Tara loves her foraging toy. She loves trying to get her almonds out of it. Hiram could care less LOLOL.
9~ What difficulties did you encounter, if any, and how did you remedy them?
The difficulty I have is living in an apartment for the first time in my life. I have owned 4 homes. So things are not going to be same. That at first made me nervous. Hanging things from the ceiling isn't done and putting alot of holes in walls won't be happening either (though the maintenance man was going to try with the Atom but we decided not to for go that). So I hung it up on the Clothing rack. Tara loves it.
10~ What do you like least about your set up (if anything)?
Lets see, Hiram's stand isn't anything too pretty....but he loves it. Also, not being able to hang things from the ceiling. That's about it.
11~ What do you like most about your setup?
How everything flows from stands to cage.
12~ Did your bird(s) take to the setup right away or did they approach it tentatively needing time to adjust and do you feel their age was a factor?
They both took to it just fine.
13~ Any future renovations planned?
Yes, I have plans to add a few more things. As soon as I get more 1" rope there will be more highways. One day, way in the future, maybe a java tree and a small net. My living room now has become parrot cove LOL. But thats ok living alone because they are my family and entertainment.
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