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Post by orange on Jul 4, 2006 18:25:14 GMT
I use apple branches as perches. I have kept the bark on and I scrub the poo off (just with hot water and a pot brush that I bought and use just for the bird stuff) every couple of days. I was wondering how often I should change the perches?
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avril
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Post by avril on Jul 5, 2006 6:06:50 GMT
There is not specific length of time to leave the branches. When your budgies have strippped the bark off the branches. They love to do this
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Post by boomberry on Jul 5, 2006 9:13:25 GMT
Do you need to bake apple branches before use, as weve got a small apple tree in our garden not strong enough for Monty or the tiels but the budgies would love them.
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Post by Julie on Jul 5, 2006 10:29:59 GMT
I poured boiling water on mine Booms and then put them in the microwave with a glass of water.
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Post by boomberry on Jul 5, 2006 11:09:01 GMT
Oh thanks Jules I might try it then - why the glass of water might I ask?
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avril
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Post by avril on Jul 5, 2006 11:58:01 GMT
To tell the truth I don't do anything with the natural perches and I have been breeding budgies for nearly forty years and I haven't lost one to any disease from Eucalyptus or apple branches.
If I buy perches I alway sterilize them with boiling water and let them dry as naturally as possible usually in the sun.
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Post by Billie on Jul 5, 2006 14:24:51 GMT
I've had great sucess with the Java wood perches that Pets at Home and other sell. As longs as your cage wire is strong enough to take a larger piece it would easily take teil type weights. The perches bolt to the cage on a wing nut arrangement. They sell various sizes and my birds love it. Each time they land they have a choice of various branch thicknesses to choose from so great foot exercise. The birds spend more time on this than the dowel style perches that are also on offer.
Thanks for the cleaning tips for the natural wood I was given a few small Eucalyptus branches from my mother in law and was wondering how to make sure they were germ free. Too big to fit in the microwave though any other suggestions. All my gang love to chew so I don't suppose the bark would last long anyway.
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Post by lin on Jul 5, 2006 14:42:36 GMT
You can pop it in a low oven for a few hours. Or, if the sun is strong enough, pop out in the sun for a day or two. The sun where I live can kill anything #cheesy# Not sure how warm it is where you are though
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Post by Julie on Jul 5, 2006 15:36:14 GMT
Oh thanks Jules I might try it then - why the glass of water might I ask? Ah well that's just me being paranoid-I think there's supposed to be fluid in things that go in m/w so I pop one in just in case it needs the moisture in there! |
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Post by orange on Jul 5, 2006 15:56:03 GMT
Avril, I don't have any budgies... just kakarikis #cheesy# #cheesy#
Thanks for all your advice, I had read before I used my perches about baking them and I did before put them in.
Julie, I believe you are right, thats how the microwave works. A microwave (as far as I know) actually acts on the moisture of whatever is put in there.
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Post by silvercloud on Jul 6, 2006 9:21:48 GMT
A good scrub with white vinegar also kills germs and bacteria.
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avril
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Post by avril on Jul 6, 2006 10:38:12 GMT
sorry orange my mistake I'm in two minds at the moment so much going on and it is winter down here and I don't like the cold hehehe
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Post by orange on Jul 6, 2006 18:44:58 GMT
hehe.. no problem avril! I'll swap you... you can have our heat wave and I will take your winter!!!
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avril
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Post by avril on Jul 8, 2006 3:03:46 GMT
Orange I will take the heat anytime the winter is not good for my " Arthur and Iris" as all my joints seize up and I can't walk and typing is a pain.
The only thing I really like about winter is the rain as we are in a drought that has lasted for the last 6 or 7 years and our water supplies around the country are not at a very high level, so if I could have the rain without the cold I would be very happy.
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