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Our pet birds have taken over our home, but I'm not complaining. It does, however, require a lot of effort to keep things looking somewhat neat! I constantly rearrange cages and furniture to try and come up with the perfect setup. With as many pet birds as we have, it's a challenge because their play areas can take up a lot of room.

I try to save a little space by using hanging swings. With so many pet parrots, I found a way to save a little money on swings for them all. I buy hula hoops and cotton clotheslines at a discount store. For the bigger birds I tie two hoops together, tightly wrap them all the way around with the clothesline rope, add a perch from my weeping willow tree out back and attach a chain to hang the entire swing from the ceiling.

My husband, Ray, cut lengths of PVC pipe to cover the chains and also serve as a ceiling-saver. Ray put several hooks in the ceilings of rooms where we spend a lot of time so the birds can be part of the daily activities. They can play on these portable play areas while spending time out of their cages.
 
The pet birds like to flap their wings to get the swings twirling around and round, which must give them the feeling that they are actually flying. I use toggle bolts and swivel hooks to ensure that the hooks won't come unscrewed from the ceiling and go crashing to the floor, pet bird and all, when they get them going around quickly!
 
I have three rooms designated as bird-cage rooms. With my flock, cages take up a good deal of space. Luckily, our home is big enough that I can do this. It's a place where the pet parrots can safely stay if we are busy or otherwise occupied. Their bedtime is about 8 or 9 p.m. and it's when they can have a little privacy to go to sleep while we watch TV in the family room.
 
Yes, the pet birds have taken over my house but ... they've also taken over my heart.


If you have any space-saving tips please share them in the comments section below.

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Reader Comments

Love the article and video. It's a sunny day in Ohio and I'll bet your birds love seeing the bright sunshine streaming through their windows. Elba, Bloomingdale, OH Posted: 3/5/2010 11:05:11 AM For their swings or hanging gyms I use towels or vinyl table clothes that can be picked up, shaken out & thrown in the washer to keep them clean for the next time the birds need them. There are so many patterns you can get creative & match you decor...LOL Linda, Toronto, OH Posted: 2/26/2010 8:52:48 AM It is amazing how many parrot you have and how well you can take care of them. Joan, Upper Montclair, NJ Posted: 2/26/2010 8:38:49 AM Linda, you have done a good job usig your space to its best advantage. Your creativity with the houla hoops is a practical conclusion. I have an "atom" for my grey, he loves it and flies from his cage in the living room to the atom on the ceiling of my bedroom. What do you put uner the hoops to catch the "debris" that falls to the floor? Carol, Bluffton, SC Posted: 2/26/2010 8:11:58 AM

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