How to Build a Cockatiel Play Gym

The cockatiel is a popular pet in the United States. With an average size of 12 to 14 inches long, the cockatiel is usually a gray and white bird with a yellow head and peach-colored cheeks. They like to whistle more than talk, but you can train cockatiels to do a variety of sounds. Cockatiels enjoy social interaction and grow attached to their keepers. Cockatiel play gyms include a variety of toys depending on the personality of your pet. Along with plenty of fresh veggies and fruits in the cage, you can build a play gym with a T-stand and various toys from the pet store.

Things You'll Need

  • Bird cage
  • T-stand
  • Drill
  • Bird safe rope
  • Raffia string
  • 10 to 15 small bamboo sticks (gardening store)
  • Rawhide chew
  • Leather string
  • Newspaper
  • Various bird toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a large T-stand at a pet supply store. The T-stand should be a perch stand with a thick dowel base and a horizontal dowel at the top.

    • 2

      Wrap leather string around vertical dowel, crisscrossing with rawhide until tight and secure to the dowel.

    • 3

      Drill a hole into the horizontal wooden dowel on one end. Buy a bird-safe rope that measures the height of your T-stand to 3 inches from the ground. Push one end of the rope through the hole and make a knot larger than the drilled hole.

    • 4

      Cut bamboo sticks the height of your cage, about 3 feet. Then cut about two dozen smaller lengths to make the ladder rungs, about 3 inches in width. Use a non-toxic glue and a hot glue gun to attach the rungs to the longer bamboo sticks. Place the ladder so that it sits near the opposite end of the T-stand from the rope. Attach the ladder to the cage's bars with raffia string. Additionally, slip beads onto the ladder rungs before attaching them with glue to give your bird something else to play with.

    • 5

      Drill more holes into the T-stand and mount other toys like hanging bells, mirrors, rainmakers and other treats. Place a small wooden basket in the corner of the gym to store additional toys. See Resources for multiple links to bird toys and other play gym ideas.

    • 6

      Cover the bottom of the cage with newspaper to catch droppings.