Macrame Bird Perch

This beautifully boho 3-level macrame bird perch provides endless hours of play and rest for your pet birds. The top and bottom rings are perches, while the center ring is a swing. All of the design elements thoughtfully offer plenty of enrichment for your feathered friends. Not only can your birds perch, climb, and swing on 100% natural jute rope, they can also safely peck raw wood beads, make noise with bells, preen tassels, and forage through macrame "feathers" where you can slip in seeds into the knots.

I have always admired macrame projects, but haven't had much purpose to make one until now. As this is my first venture into macrame, this project incorporates the easiest beginner macrame knots. You will find it quite simple to make, and it adds functional feathered flair to your decor.

Make sure to use only natural jute/hemp or sisal for safety and, as with all rope toys, monitor your birds while at play. With any evidence of your bird ingesting the rope, discontinue use of the toy whether this or a store-bought rope toy.

100% natural/undyed 7 mm jute rope -- I used about 65 feet

Jute twine -- several inches

Screw hook with anchor -- for fastening to the ceiling

2-1/2" wooden ring

Raw/unfinished wood beads

Liberty bells (jingle bells are not suggested for birds)

3 x 10" rings

Before we begin, here are cute pictures of our parakeets, Duckie and Bluebell*, loving their new perch.

We adopted Duckie and Bluebell last month as they were rehomed for the second time. They are flighted birds and we give them as much time as possible to be out of their cage and feel included in the family. It was quickly obvious that their favorite spot in our house was the pendant light above our kitchen island -- not quite the ideal place for birds to be perching themselves! So I decided to make them their own personal place to hang out, inspired by the design and shape of lantern pendant chandeliers.

It is so satisfying to see just how much they appreciate their new perch.

*Our 8 year old renamed them after two birds of Youtuber's ElleAndTheBirds, and she insists those are the only names they can have.

You will need 4 strands of 7 mm natural jute rope cut into lengths of 10 ft each.

To start the project, you will need to connect the 4 strands of jute rope to the wood ring.

1. Fold the rope in half. On one end, you will have the "folded end" and on the other end, you will have the "tails". Put the folded end through the wood ring; just a couple of inches of the folded end through the ring will be sufficient.

2. Take the tails through the wood ring and under the folded end.

3. Pull the tails until the knot is tight.

4. Add the second strand and repeat steps 1-3.

5. Repeat with the third and fourth strands.

1. The first picture shows what the finished square knots will look like.

2. Distinctly separate into 4 double strands (each double strand will have 2 tails).

3. Starting with the leftmost double strand, fold to make the shape of a number 4 (I will call this the "left loop"). Place over the second and third double strands, then under the fourth double strand.

4. Now take the rightmost double strand and fold it to make the shape of a reversed number 4 (I will call this the "right loop"). Place this double strand under the second and third double strands.

5. Still working with the same double strand, place it under the left loop, then pull it over to make a shape similar to a pretzel, as shown.

6. Now as you pull the tails, hold the two center double strands in place. Tightly pull the tails until snug.

7. The seventh picture shows the tight knot and there should be no gaps.

8. Now working in reverse, start with the rightmost double strand, and fold the strand to make a right loop. Place over the two center double strands and under the first.

9. Take the leftmost double strand and fold it to make a left loop. Place under the two center strands.

10. Still working with the same double strand, place it under the right loop, then pull it over to make another pretzel-like shape.

11. Tightly pull the tails snug, while holding the two center double strands in place.

Continue repeating the above steps (alternating starting from the leftmost then the rightmost) until you reach the length you desire.

Once you've achieved your desired length of square knots, it's time to secure the double strands to the first (top) horizontal ring.

1. Place the double strands over the ring, distinctly spacing them to divide the circle into 4 equal quarters.

2. For each quarter, take the double strand and place under the ring.

3. Divide the double strand into its 2 tails. Pull the tails through the center.

4. Take the right tail and bring towards the back. A loop will be formed in the back. Pull the tail through the loop.

5. Just like in the previous step, take the left tail and bring towards the back. Pull the tail through the loop.

6. Before securing and tightening, make sure the length between the square knots and the ring are as desired.

7. Repeat with the other 3 double strands.

1. For the length between the top and bottom rings, I made two facing double strands with alternating half hitch knots, shown in the first picture.

2. To make the first half hitch knot, take the left tail and place over the right tail, forming the shape of a number 4.

3. Pull through under the right tail and over the left, creating a pretzel shape as shown.

4. Now onto the right side, take the right tail and place over the left, forming the shape of a reverse number 4.

5. Pull through under the left tail and over the right, creating a pretzel shape as shown.

6. The sixth picture show two alternating hitch knots.

7. Continue repeating the above steps to make alternating hitch knots.

8. Repeat until your desired length is achieved.

1. With the remaining 2 facing double strands, I took one tail from each to secure the middle ring, which is in a vertical swing position.

2. Gather one tail from each of the 2 remaining double strands and place over the vertical ring.

3. Take the two tails through the center.

4. Take the right tail and bring towards the back. A loop will be formed in the back. Pull the tail through the loop. Take the left tail and bring towards the back. Pull the tail through the loop.

5. Pull the tails and tighten. You now have 1 single strand on each of 2 facing sides, and 1 length of alternating hitch knots on the other 2 facing sides.

Now you will have 4 sides to secure to the bottom horizontal ring, 2 sides are alternating half hitch knots and the other 2 sides are single strands.

1. Starting with a side that has the alternating half hitch knots, take the tails and place under the ring.

2. Pull the tails through the center.

3. Tighten as you pull, until snug and secure. Repeat for the other side that has the alternating half hitch knots.

4. No onto the sides with single strands. Take the strand and tie using a basic knot onto the ring.

5. Pull and tighten. Then repeat with the last remaining side.

My birds can spend hours on these macrame feathers. They climb, hang upside down, and forage. The macrame feathers are definitely their favorite part of this perch.

1. There are several ways to make macrame feathers, however the ways I've seen online provide a bulky center, especially for 7 mm jute rope. So I simplified the feathers into basic knots. The completed feathers are shown in the first picture.

2. To prepare the feathers, cut several lengths of jute rope -- I cut 15 strands of 9" lengths for each feather.

3. Starting right at the intersection where the alternating half hitch knots and bottom horizontal ring meet, I secured one strand using a basic knot.

4. Tighten the knot and make sure it is as close as possible to the ring.

5. Add the second knot using the same steps, ensuring the knot is as close as possible to the previous.

6. Continue securing the strands with basic knots, one after the other, always ensuring they are tightly touching.

7. Pull apart and unravel each end of the strands.

8. Fluff up the unraveled strands.

9. Using very sharp scissors, trim the strands to create a feather shape.

Time to add some more frills.

1. I decided to add beads, a bell, and tassel to each of the remaining 2 single strands. The completed strand is shown in the first picture.

2. Add the beads one at a time.

3. Secure each bead with a basic knot underneath.

4. Repeat with as many beads as desired.

5. Pull apart and unravel the ends.

6. You now have a tassel.

7. Using jute twine, tie a bell to the top of the tassel.

8. I also chose to add beads, bells, and tassels to the strands that hold up the vertical swing.

There you have it -- a lovingly made macrame perch for your birdie babies. Enjoy watching them enjoy their new favorite hangout spot.