Hamster accessories?

[Mandolin]

Looking around the pet stores and pet departments in my city i am quite disappointed when it comes to bird toys and bird accessories. Lately i have been looking around for nest boxes or good substitutions as Kameko has decimated 2 cardboard nest boxes this time with her eggs. She should be coming off her eggs tomorrow so this time around i am not concerned about replacing anything but i am looking for ideas for next time. I have not found any nest boxes in pet stores but i have found many things in the hamster isle that look like they might be suitable replacements. Have any of you used the hamster huts that are add-ons to certain cages? I have also seen the coconut homes but i am concerned with Kameko chewing on the coconut and not knowing there it has been it kind of scares me. So any ideas?
I made a quick album to show just how she has chewed up her whole nest box twice. Keep an eye out you can see how she always has her kitty jingle balls in her nest boxes :lol.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2093109063

[butterfly1061]

Mandy,

Kameko is soooo beautiful! Love her little destroyed nest :lol , but it's hers and she decorated it. I've never used anything other than a regular nestbox from petsmart. I like it cause the top opens and I can see everything. :2cents:

[Mandolin]

Well thank you, she is a beautiful bird, one of many on this site :D. Yes she is very happy with her destroyed nest, but i think i will try and find a replacement for the cardboard for next time. I wish we had a petsmart in my city, they seem to be the place to go. I will look closer when i go to the pet store tonight for new perches. But i am still curious if others have improvised with hamster houses or those coconut homes.

[butterfly1061]

The only coconut toy I have has an opening on both sides so it wouldn't make a good nest. I've seen others, but never bought any. There are some members here who have some of the larger coconut huts big enough to make a nest inside. Maybe they will chime in with information for you. Good Luck! :)

[Elle]

Mandy,

I made my own coconut huts for my birds. I selected a large coconut at the grocery store, cut a hole on one side, baked the coconut at 400 degrees for about 20 to 30 minutes until the flesh inside comes out easily. I then let the coconut soak for 2 days completely submersed in a 10% beach solution. I change the water everyday. I finish with a really good rinse and let it air dry. I then use a bolt and two nuts to fasten it to the cage. Like this, I know where the coconut has been and I know they it has not been treated with any type of chemical.
My birds will spend hours removing the coir (husk) on the coconut until it's all smooth. It's not dangereous so I have no worries :)

I use a regular budgie nesting box for my lovies when they nest. The reason I don't both with a lovebird appropriate nest box is because I know for a fact that my birds will never raise babies. Therefore they don't really need the extra room. Phoebe is my second bird who layed eggs in a box like that and I never ran into any type of problems. Now, if they would raise chicks, I would be concerned about the lack of room.

Hope that helps a little,

[Buy A Paper Doll]

I was WONDERING where you got that cool coco-hut for your birdies, Elle!

Thanks for the instructions ...

[Elle]

I was WONDERING where you got that cool coco-hut for your birdies, Elle!

Thanks for the instructions ...

I think I will always giggle when you make a reference to a coconut and Miss Melly:whistle:

[dani]

I just have to say... Kameko is absolutely stunning!!:p

[Cooper]

Are you ever down in Vancouver? Just last week I made the trip to my favourite bird store (hour and half away from home) in Vancouver. I overheard the sales lady suggesting a toy for another customer's baby bird that lovies love (budgies won't touch). It was a plastic hamster wheel. They'll get shredded fairly quickly but they're cheap - and I could replace it at any pet supply store! That customer bought a rodent ball for their bird that likes to wander around on the ground. So some toys can cross over. Cooper gets all excited when I bring her a new toilet paper roll to shred, but she's not so sure about the hamster wheel, it's a little wobbly :D

Anyways, this same store ships (in Canada). But if you are ever down here.... they recently had a guy from Whitehorse.
http://www.wctropicalbird.com/

[Mandolin]

Thank you so much for that site. I am usually in Vancouver a couple of times over the summer and this looks like it will be a definite place for me to check out. I'm not sure what Kameko would think about a hamster wheel, i have thought about it when i have seen them in the pet store. I might consider giving it a try. Thanks again for the info on the store :D.

[shylevon]

I'm not sure why you are thinking she has destroyed her nestbox. It looks to me like she has everything set up just the way she likes it.

Not all birdies like to be enclosed in a box and if they feel safe, some rather prefer to be out in the light where they can see the action. Of course, she may prefer to be in a box, but she just didn't realize that until after the box was all chewed up and gone. They get to thinking, 'I'm just gonna chew this little corner off right here, and let a bit of fresh air in, you know, do some redecorating'. So they chew off the corner but they just can't stop and soon the corner and the entire box is a distant memory.

Hamster accessories work well, if that is what you can find. Make sure if it is plastic, it is a hard plastic.

Cocohuts work well, at least they do for my birds. Hang them low though with a bit of cushioning underneath in case the eggies or babies roll out.