These unique Bird Cage Perches, Bottlebrush Bird Toys, and Parrot Play Gyms, perfected over the course of more than a decade, were designed to give you and your birds an enjoyable in-the-cage and out-of-cage experience. Since 1992, Wayne Gagne has built more than 9300 floor gyms, thousands of Bottlebrush Hanging Bird Gyms, and tens of thousands of bolt-on Bird Cage Bottlebrush Perches.

 

Quick Links to Common Questions:

So what’s so great about this Bottlebrush stuff, anyway?

Bottlebrush Floor Play GymIn order to appreciate Bottlebrush for Birds, you need to understand the other types of wood that are available to Parrot owners. Currently, Manzanita is the most popular wood for Parrot Play Gyms. It is a beautiful and extremely hard wood that grows abundantly in the desert of Nevada. This makes it great for Parrot owners, but, unfortunately, it is not so wonderful for our Birds. Manzanita is extremely slippery, and most Birds have trouble holding on to it. In order to correct this problem, some manufacturers have tried sand blasting the Manzanita, which gives it a clean look and a slightly rougher texture. Admittedly, this does allow your Parrot to grip the wood more easily.

However, it is still not ideal for Birds, and it ignores a larger problem: the hardness of the wood. Manzanita is a very, very tough wood. It is marketed as a wood that will stand up to large beaks and lots of wear and tear. This sounds great at first, but your Parrot’s natural instinct is to chew. When your Bird tries to chew on Manzanita, he will quickly become frustrated. The wood is so hard that Parrots will not be able to break it, and may even injure their beak during the process. When this frustration builds, it can easily turn into behavioral issues.

Bottlebrush is a decorative landscaping tree that is commonly used in shopping centers, professional office complexes, and apartment communities. It is not native to Florida, and was originally imported from Australia. There are several species of Bottlebrush, but only one species is safe and ideal for Birds. It is also not available commercially, so Wayne personally harvests, inspects, and cleans his supply of Bottlebrush perches. Perches are cleaned using a proprietary tried-and true process that not only cleans but also sanitizes the Bottlebrush so that it is safe for your Birds.

Why does Wayne go to all that trouble?

Because Bottlebrush is the ideal wood for all Birds and Parrots!

Bottlebrush PerchesUnlike most wood, Bottlebrush Perches and Bottlebrush Play Gyms have two layers. The outer bark is soft, chewy, and easy and comfortable for birds to stand on. Your Parrot’s feet were designed to naturally mesh with the bark of trees and allow them to move about effortlessly. Wayne’s Bottlebrush Bird Cage Perches, Wayne’s Bottlebrush Bird Toys, and Wayne’s Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms retain their natural bark which is exactly what Birds crave! Parrots need to chew, and the bark of Bottlebrush Perches is absolutely perfect for that. Underneath all that lovely soft bark is the hard inner layer. This layer is tough enough to allow your Bird to gnaw on it, but will not damage or injure his beak. All Birds need to be able to gnaw on a tough (but not too hard!) wood in order to keep their beaks conditioned and shaped. Gnawing is probably the most over-looked part of your Parrot’s play time. Many Bird owners do not realize that their Bird wants to groom its own beak but has no way to do so! Waynes Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms, Wayne’s Bottlebrush Bird Toys, and Waynes Bottlebrush Bird Cage Perches are the solution to this problem. When other woods are too hard or too soft, Bottlebrush is perfect for Parrots who need to both chew and gnaw.

Ok, so Bottlebrush sounds great for Parrots and all, but is it really worth the money for my Bird?

How much have you spent on chew toys for your Parrot in the last month? How about the past year? Some people prefer not to think about it. That dollar amount can be overwhelming, especially if you own a large Cockatoo or Macaw. But what if there was one Bird Toy that would be the perfect compliment to all of those other wood Bird Toys that end up in splinters in the bottom of the Cage? And what if that one Bird Toy would last for a year or more? Would you buy it?

The branch assemblies of Wayne’s Bottlebrush Bird Play Gyms are designed to be one great big chew toy!

When you purchase one of Wayne’s Bottlebrush Bird Play Gyms, you will most likely need to purchase fewer chew toys for your Bird (assuming you already have three or more in your Bird’s Cage). Please keep in mind that you will still need to buy Foraging Bird Toys and other Toys for your Birds to play with; but they will already have the perfect chew toy – their Waynes Bottlebrush Play Gyms, Waynes Bottlebrush Parrot Perches and Bottlebrush Bird Toys!

 

Waynes Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms (and Bottlebrush Bird Cage Perches and Bottlebrush Bird Toys) last for a surprisingly long time. The Jumbo Hanging Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms that we have in our store are greatly loved by all of our Birds who chew and gnaw on them constantly.

Hundreds of Birds have played with those branches, yet the gyms are still in one piece! We’ve found the one exception to be our resident Blue and Gold Macaw, Sam, who is particularly voracious with his wood Toys. After having his gym for roughly 9 months, Sam had whittled it down far enough to warrant a replacement. However, a 9 month life span is hardly anything to sneeze at for one of Sam’s wood Toys. Sam is a Bird who tears through entire phone books within days, and completely disintegrates any and all wood Toys we give him.

 

These gyms are guaranteed to last.

 

However, after years of chewing you may want to replace the branches on your Parrot’s Play Gym. We offer Replacement Bottlebrush Parrot Perch Assemblies so you can simply and economically replace the top of your Waynes Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gym without having to discard and replace the entire Bird Play Gym.

Replacing the Bottlebrush Perch Assembly for your Waynes Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gym is surprisingly easy, and will cost anywhere from $80.00 and up (including shipping), depending on the size of your Bottlebrush Bird Play Gym. That’s all!

Ok, ok, you’ve convinced me! What can I expect of my Wayne’s Bottlebrush play gym?

First, all of Wayne’s Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms and Waynes’s Hanging Bottlebrush Bird Play Stands include two cups that screw into pre-installed hardware, plus at least one place where you can easily install a Wayne’s Bottlebrush Play Gym Toy, and numerous screw eyes (to hang Bird Toys or Bird Boings). We ship them mostly assembled, flat in a box, and they can be assembled easily- no tools required!

Bottlebrush ToysUnlike most gyms, which have only a single lower tray and allow your Birds to climb down and waltz off in any direction, each and every one of Wayne’s Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms are equipped with two trays. The upper tray of the Play Gym prevents your Parrot from climbing down onto the floor, and also acts as a catch-all for debris and Bird droppings. The lower tray supports the entire Bottlebrush Parrot Tree assembly and moves about on four wheels.

Another benefit to Wayne’s Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms is the material the trays are made of. Most wood gyms on the market today are made of Melamine, which is quickly destroyed by moisture. This doesn’t work well as a Parrot Gym for obvious reasons. Wayne’s Bottlebrush Play Gyms are made of furniture grade, 3”x4” plywood. The tops of the Bird Play Gyms are covered in Formica because it looks great and is easy to clean. Each Parrot Play Gym comes with one plastic bowl for treats, and holders for optional second or third bowls. Instead of a wood border along the bottom (which is typically the first thing Birds like to destroy on a Play Gym) Waynes Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms come with a 1/8” thick x 1” high aluminum border. Aluminum is much more expensive than the sheet metal that others use, but it is much safer. There are never any sharp or dangerous edges – ever! And, best of all, the material is safe for your Parrot, and your Parrot cannot destroy it. Wayne’s Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms are made to last for years and years. And because the Bottlebrush Play Stand Branch Assemblies are easily replaceable, you never need to buy another Bird Play Stand! They come in a variety of colors which look great with any décor. These Parrot Play Stands are not just Parrot Play Gyms; they are beautiful pieces of Parrot furniture!

Is there a Hanging Bottlebrush Play Gym?

We are proud to offer Wayne’s Bottlebrush Hanging Parrot Play Gyms! These gyms offer your Birds more freedom than any other gym on the market. How so? Well, consider this: your bird is (or was) a domestically hand-fed baby. Taken from his stationary nesting box, he was put into some kind of container, and eventually a cage. Everything in his life is stationary. When your Bird is first introduced to a Wayne’s Bottlebrush Hanging Play Gym he may be a little frightened. After all, he’s never been exposed to branches that move before! However, after a while his natural instinct will take over and he will experience the kind of freedom that wild Birds enjoy when living in a tree! There has always been something directly under where your Parrot stands – a grate, a tray, etc. But for the first time in his life he can experience total freedom!Bottlebrush Chunks

If you have tried Hanging Gyms in the past, only to be met with disapproval from your Parrot, you may have been forgetting one critical detail: Parrots must feel secure in order to enjoy being on a free-hanging gym! Many of the Hanging Parrot Gyms on the market today are made of PVC or hard woods. These materials are hard for Birds to grip, and they end up choosing to stay on the ground. As with all other Wayne’s Parrot Stuff products, Wayne’s Bottlebrush Hanging Gyms are made with Bottlebrush wood – guaranteed to give your Parrot a safe and secure grip that will allow him to flap, flutter, and play with wild abandon!

Wayne’s Bottlebrush Hanging Play Gyms are light and can be easily moved from one room to another. Installing ceiling hooks in each room of the house lets you choose where you and your Parrot will spend the day! (Just be sure to install the ceiling hooks on a beam to prevent the gym from falling.) And, Wayne’s unique “swinger hangers” (made from PVC) prevent your Birds from reaching the ceiling. The hangers are permanently attached to the Hanging Gym, making it easy to move your gym from room to room without having to use a step stool. Simply lift up on the bottom of the gym, and slide the entire unit off the ceiling hook.

You may have been told that Parrots should not be allowed to perch higher than your eye level. Typically, this is true since Birds never want to come down when given the option of being up. The difference here is that you can easily lift your Hanging Gym down from the ceiling, bring it to eye level, and then ask your Parrot to step up onto your hand. By doing things in this manner, your Parrot is allowed to play up high – where he wants to be – and you avoid getting bitten!

Wayne’s Bottlebrush Hanging Play Gyms are extremely durable and are built to last. They will provide your Parrot with lots of great Bottlebrush to chew and gnaw on, and multiple eyelet screws provide plenty of places to add toys, ropes, and more! Cups are standard on all Hanging Gyms, as well as 3 rotating, built-in Bottlebrush chunks that spin in place but cannot be removed. Parrots love these!

I can’t afford a Play Gym just yet. How can I give my Bird the benefits of Bottlebrush without breaking the bank?

For those that are looking to sample Bottlebrush, or, for whatever reason, aren’t quite ready for a large gym yet, we recommend Wayne’s Bottlebrush Bird Cage Perches. There is no quicker, easier way to improve your Parrot’s daily life than to purchase comfortable perches for him. Bottlebrush perches retain their natural bark which makes them comfortable and easy to stand on. Your Bird will no longer be forced to grip his perches and get cramped feet! The outer layer of bark is soft and chewy – perfect for peeling and chewing – while the inner layer is tough – perfect for gnawing. Bottlebrush Bird Cage Perches come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Be sure to choose an appropriate size for your Bird at check-out, or write us a note and we’ll pick one for you.

What about toys? Are there any Bottlebrush Toys that I can purchase for my Parrot?

In addition to Wayne’s Bottlebrush Bird Cage Perches, and Wayne’s Bottlebrush Parrot Play Gyms, and Wayne’s Bottlebrush Hanging Play Gyms, we also offer Bottlebrush Play Gym Bird Toys, Bottlebrush Flexi Bird Toys, Bottlebrush Bag of Bird Toy Wood, and Bottlebrush “Chunks and Twigs.”