Nice branches/perches from... IKEA!

[Ursula]

We went to IKEA this afternoon to look for guest room furniture and of course instead of that I found something for the birds. I picked up 2 sets (5 pieces each) of the willow branches:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90153456/

They had them in black and white and i took the white ones. They are not painted or anything, just twisted willow sticks with the bark peeled off and dried. I use them in the aviary standing up in a stand (where I had some bamboo sticks before) but I think they should be great as perches in cages too. If you have an IKEA nearby check them out.

[cindy]

Ahhh the magic word IKEA...have you seen these

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70105659/

I am toying with the idea of putting the flat side with the hole fcing the cage top, tilt it to make a nice gord type nest.

I picked up two of theses in white
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30184446/

I am going to try these out tilted like a tube nest to see how the work...you can't beat the price!!!!

[CandoAviary]

Nice buys ladies
Cindy one thing I have found over the years with ceramics and plastic is that they lack ventilation holes so sometimes they can trap moisture and create a mold/mildew problem. With the plastic one you could poke little holes in it to help with ventilation.

Ursula, sometimes they dye those branches... try to buy the natural colored ones.... I have bought grapevine wreaths before that had a sealer on them...I soaked the wreathes and they let them air drie in the sun...the varnish coating came off and they were then safe for the finches. I couldn't tell if yours were dyed or not but I know you have hookbills that like to nibble.

[Ursula]

Great ideas, Cindy!

Thanks, Candace! They don't look died at all. They are just without bark and it looks like natural wood. I will test them tomorrow though and soak in hot water just to make sure.

[cindy]

Most of what I see in IKEA is all very earth friendly, there are so many things to look at...I use the children's snack bowls for water and seeds

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50096905/

I also found electrical strips and timers....I love Ikea!!!!

[PrettyBird]

Thats a great idea
Its funny, ever since I got back into finches, whenever Im out at a store/home decor store I unconciously look around at branches in decor or in bunches and think "hmm that would be great for the birds" never thought to actually go and buy them!

I saw some really nice natural twisted branches (about an inch and a half or so thick and spiraled) the other day at a store....now I wish I would have picked them up!

[RigorMortisKitten]

haha i saw those too when i was at IKEA a few days ago I immediately thought about making something for the birds out of them IKEA has some good stuff, but its always crowded with people there