Homemade Parrot Gyms

Parrots are among the more intelligent of creatures. Parrots are certainly popular companion pets, but due to their inquisitive and intelligent nature, require regular attention and an area in which to play and explore. A parrot gym offers these birds an opportunity to exercise in safety, while keeping them mentally stimulated at the same time.

Things You'll Need

  • 1.5-inch thick wooden board, 3-foot by 3-foot
  • Self adhesive plastic sheet, 3-foot by 3-foot
  • Bench mounted vice
  • Drill, with wood bits
  • Strip of emery paper
  • 1-inch diameter doweling sticks, 22-inches long, 4
  • 1/2-inch doweling sticks, 82-inches long, 4
  • Small tube of wood glue
  • Assorted store bought parrot toys and ladders
  • Packet of 8-inch long plastic cable ties
  • 2-foot long piece of binding wire
  • Pliers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the 3 by 3 board on clean and level outdoor area and cover it with self adhesive plastic.

    • 2

      Mark a point, approximately 1 inch in from each of the four corners.

    • 3

      Drill a 1-inch diameter hole at each of the marked point. Lightly sand the inside of each hole, using a strip of emery paper.

    • 4

      Place the first 22-inch doweling stick in the bench mounted vice and drill a 1/2-inch hole, 3 inches from one end. Drill right through the stick. Turn the 22-inch doweling stick slightly in the vice and drill a second hole, 10 inches down from the first hole, but in a plane that is perpendicular to the first hole. Drill right through the stick.

    • 5

      Repeat the above step for the second, third and fourth 22-inch long doweling sticks.

    • 6

      Spread a thin layer of wood glue around the opposite end to where the holes were drilled, on the first 22-inch long doweling stick.

    • 7

      Position this doweling stick into one of the four holes in the 3-foot by 3-foot board.

    • 8

      Spread a thin layer of wood glue around the opposite end to where the holes were drilled, on the second 22-inch long doweling stick.

    • 9

      Position this doweling stick in the second hole in the 3 by 3 board. Ensure that the top holes in both doweling sticks are in line with each other.

    • 10

      Spread a thin layer of wood glue around the opposite ends to where the holes were drilled, on the third and fourth 22-inch long doweling sticks.

    • 11

      Position these doweling stick in the third and fourth holes in the 3 by 3 board. Ensure that the top holes in both doweling sticks are in line with each other.

    • 12

      Spread a thin layer of wood glue in the top holes in all four 22-inch long doweling sticks. Place one of the 82-inch long doweling sticks between the first and second vertical, 22-inch long doweling sticks. Place the second 82-inch long doweling stick between the third and forth vertical, 22-inch long doweling sticks.

    • 13

      Spread a thin layer of wood glue in the lower holes in all four 22-inch long doweling sticks. Place the third 82-inch long doweling stick between the first and third vertical, 22-inch long doweling sticks. Place the last 82-inch long doweling stick between the second and fourth vertical, 22-inch long doweling sticks.

    • 14

      Allow the wood glue to cure overnight.

    • 15

      Tie the assorted parrot toys, bells and metal mirrors onto the parrot gym at various points, using cable ties. The parrot will bite through and remove all items eventually, which allows you to replace them with new and novel items, or to reposition them in novel positions.

    • 16

      Position two store-bought parrot ladders against the horizontal doweling sticks and secure well with soft binding wire.