Can I use my own wood??

[LovelySydney]

OK I've googled the crap outta this and found nothing so Im submitting it to the board & hopefully can figure this out.


I am ATTEMPTING to make my own play gym for Oliver. I've figured out the base and can order the circle top BUT the manzanita I want is just a WEE bit out of my price range. I have a wonderful park near my home with a ton of branches and wood of every shape & size I could possibly use.

CAN I SAFELY BRING IT HOME & USE IT?? I read somewhere, don't remember where, that I can put the wood in the oven at 400 degrees & kill off any eggs, bacteria, etc. but I don't want to risk it if it could even potentially be 15% unsafe for Olly.


Any thoughts???

[ParrotletsRock]

I think in a public park there may be a risk of insecticide/pesticide residue on the wood.

[chapala]

You need to know what species of tree, then check to see if the wood is safe or toxic for bird perches. You might want to photograph a couple of the trees and show them to a good sized nursery for identification. Personally, I don't care for manzanita because it's too slippery. I like and use other kinds of branches including bottlebrush, eucalyptus, guava. Different woods are available in different areas, and it's likely that some trees around you are safe. Fresh pine isn't good because of the sap, but dried pine is fine.

I just give mine a good wash, and if I'm worried about wild birds having been on the wood, I might let a 10% bleach solution sit on the wood for 5 minutes, then rinse REALLY well and dry in the sun. You do want to make sure any branches have not been sprayed with pesticides.

[Petie's_Mom]

I use branches from my apple trees 'cause I know they aren't treated. I heat them in the oven at 400F for any undesirables and then voila...we have useable wood.

[LovelySydney]

How long do you keep them in the oven??

[Petie's_Mom]

1/2 hour usually

[Sara!]

I use willow branches from my own garden, so I know they haven't been treated with pesticides. I still give them a good wash though

[amsue0222]

I used to give my chinchillas apple wood from my trees in the back because they like to chew on them, but I would always boil the wood, and then I baked it in the oven for about 1/2 hour at 300-- just make sure you don't burn the house down!! Also I used mulberry and cottonwood. MY chins loved the cottonwood.

[enborgle]

Like some others here I will use wood from my own apple trees baked appropriately, but I don't think I'd want to take a chance on anything from a public park due to the risk of pesticide/insecticide.

[Mama2ManyMouths]

I use the branches from our Camellia (flowering shrub) that has relatively smooth, unblemished bark making it easy to clean. I'll only use apple wood when it's been completely stripped of it's bark and the pithy layer underneath is removed entirely. If chewed, the pith can actually poison birds because the toxin in it converts to cyanide in the body. Apple bark also tends to be very rough and hard to keep clean (even if the bird does not attempt to chew it.)

[Frankieismybird]

Hi,

I know this is an old post but was hoping to get more information.
My neighbor cut down his bottle brush tree and I got a lot of great branches to use. I know they weren't treated or anything so it's safe to use.

I want to make a playgym but was wondering if I have to dry out the branches before I screw it all together. If so is there a fast way to dry them out?

[Jinx n Noodle]

I think it's best to clean them and then bake it. Clean to get all the debris off them and the bake to try to kill all the bug eggs.

[JennT619]

Yep. Always bake it. You never know when there might be mites in there. I thought I read to bake at200 degrees for 2 hours and wrap the wood in foil. But others are saying 400 degrees so I don't know. Maybe Google it?

[JennT619]

Ok, I just double checked. I was right, 200 degrees for 2 hours. No foil necessary.

[robinkhd56]

As far as drying it first, if you use bolts it is better to use dry wood. Green wood will shrink in the drying process and any joints will be loose if fitted together while the wood is still green.