BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Not exactly what you want but I use ceiling hooks in the basement and I use swing arms in the garage. The arms could be mounted in a two up configuration like the bike rack. They also swing up so they are flush with the wall (a swing sideways to flatten would be better as gravity lowers the arms from time to time). This is the link to what I have: $6 each. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-50-lb-Flip-Up-Storage-Hanger-01195/202305470#.Um6W9qx_Dkg

@Sew - I use something similar in my basement. I am actually looking for a tall rack for an alternate use, although it seemed too bizarre to mention "to the public." A friend of mine made me a huge "ball" of grape vines for use as a hanging bird perch for my parrots. But, it is sort of teardrop shaped and too long for the holder I was intending to use. Rather than investing in something bird centric to use (at probably twice the cost), I thought a tall standing bike rack would be a possibility. It' the right height, doesn't take up much space, and has a hook up at head level, or higher. Even better, if it doesn't work for this purpose, I can still use it for its intended purpose. I can still use the hook option, and may, but I just spent a whole lot of time removing old paneling from the walls in the room where i keep the cages, re-drywalling the room, painting, etc. Driving huge hooks into the walls or ceiling just doesn't work for me quite yet. I need to wait until everything is dinged up before I consider that (much easier and much cheaper) option. Thanks, though!

I had a Cockatoo years ago. She didn't like to be in the living room when we were in the kitchen, so we made a mobile stand. A planter, a bit of quickcrete, a post, and then screwed a dow rod to the vertical post. Not too heavy to move, sturdy, heavy enough not to tip under the weight of an acrobatic Cockatoo.

@Sara: What about one of the "third hand" extendable pole tools, used to support drywall/light fixtures/etc. against the ceiling? You could probably attach some form of hook (or use it to compress a rope or other support against the ceiling); and, well, it also helps when you are remodeling a room...

Prowl the thrift stores for one of those old 1950's pole lights that compress between the floor and ceiling, and stick an arm on it. Plus you would have a cool light.

I keep thinking of the portable pole dance scene in "Somewhere". Those things must support a lot of weight.

We typically use long driftwood in a christmas tree stand to accomplish what SEW did for her cockatoo. Works like a charm. But, this new "toy" is about 3 feet tall, and 2 feet around. It's like a birdy jungle gym. A portable stand like the one she suggest would be great, but with this new toy dangling off to one side, I am afraid the height to weight to sway ratio would be off, and the whole thing could topple. Besides, I am looking to replace something that currently gives her some height (4-6 feet), so a smaller version is not as appealign (and she already has those options.) Both the extendable pole tools and the funky lamps were options that I had considered. But, the question of how to securely attach a hook was a complicating factor. And, she will taste everything. So I have some concern about material/possibility of flaking paint/finish, etc. Finally, this is probably going to be in my living room at some point. The bird in question is getting arthritic in her old age, and the old 3 ft by 3 ft by 6 ft play gym we had her on just doesn't work for her anymore. A box made out of almost nothing but comfy perches (soft braided perches for the uninitiated) is what the old playgym morphed into). I'll be glad to get that monster out of the living room, but I am also sorry to see it go. It was easily the best bird purchase I ever made. It's just more than she can really use now. And it is a pain in the butt to get clean! So, what I need is the equivalent of a hook in the wall, that extends at least a foot out from the surface of the wall. It could hang from the ceiling, but it would have to a fairly substantial hook. That would probably be option 1, except that she can be stubborn, and it won't take her long to figure out if she climbs to ceiling height, I won't be able to get her down. So, I'd have to shield the rope of the chain to keep her from climbing higher than I can easily reach in order to get her down at bedtime/when I leave for work. And it would be in the middle of my living room wall, most likely. So I'd be trying to find a stud through plaster. So, that brought me to the question of a tall (6 ft ish) free standing or mostly free standing SOMETHING that could handle some "dangle weight" safely. The leaning/self supporting bike rack seemed like an option. And it comes equipped with hooks! And, if it turns out that she hates this new toy (always possible) I can use it as a bike rack! But, other ideas are welcome, and appreciated. So keep the good ideas coming!

Aargh. The combination of (pole) dancing and large birds has left visions of Ignatius J. Reilly dancing through my head...my valve may not recover from the trauma. Sorry for the literary diversion. :)

!!! http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/bik/4154731257.html

@Edmonds....yep, already have a call in on that one, as well as a free standing option from somewhere east of the City from a while ago. If it doesn't pan out as a parrot playstand, it may be out to its intended use and relieve a bike overcrowding issue in my dining room!

If you are up for a DIY project, you can make your own pole out of a couple 2x4's and some adjustable furniture feet Then you can make it as fancy or plain as you wish, and you wont have to worry about toxic paint, etc.

From the sounds of it, I'd probably do a ceiling hook with rope/macrame/chain of some sort. Not sure about the shielding, but it is the least invasive solution if you don't plan on moving it once installed. The stud shouldn't be too hard to find, I actually use magnets instead of a stud finder. You could also pick up a shelving bracket made for a closet, it has a hook on the end that is about a foot out from the wall, made for the bar you hang clothes from. They come in multiple metal finishes and don't look that bad. I'll see if I have one laying around and take a picture.

I'm very happy with the wall hook in my office -- the hook costs about $15 if you actually purchase it. It fits behind the door. Hung it a little high.... (oops, have to rotate or it's hanging... hmmm, can't, my html skills have evaporated)

neilmd wrote: (oops, have to rotate or it’s hanging… hmmm, can’t, my html skills have evaporated)

It is oriented correctly if you click on the photo and open it in another tab/window.

Probably more than you want to pay, but how about something like this? http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Stand-Hammock-Chairs-Hanging/dp/B003KJXNGG

Hey, SRPIT..... Something like that was originally Plan A. I didn't realize that I could get one that inexpensively. But, I know that if she hates the toy/playgym, I have a use for the standing bike rack. Which I can also buy used for about half that price. Thanks for the continued creativity, everyone!