Refurbishing Your Bird Cage By Abi Strachan Whether it’s an indoor companion bird, or an outdoor aviary bird, the one thing they have in common is the need for adequate housing. There are many products listed as “pet safe” many articles with differing guidelines, many opinions on the matter. The bottom line is, only two methods of finishing a cage are proven safe to birds. Powder coating and Electroplating. While some paint may in fact be “pet” safe, it is not designed for a pet that spends its days climbing, mouthing, and often chewing the bars of the cage, as a parrot does. Bird’s bodies are so much smaller and more sensitive than other animals. Their air sacks are highly developed and process fumes and toxins much more rapidly and intensely than most other animals. Their organs operate more efficiently, allowing poisons to overcome the body rapidly. The slightest trace of toxicity could be lethal to your pet bird. Only stainless steel is 100% safe if left untreated. The alternative metals used in the production of bird cages and aviaries are toxic. The only thing standing between your bird and metal poisoning is the coating you choose to put on the metal. Galvanizing is not safe. Even the “safest” paints contain harsh chemicals that can be lethal when ingested. Beyond that, the fumes of some treatments linger far beyond when our noses can detect them. The only tried and tested methods for finishing a birdcage are electroplating and powder coating. Comparatively speaking, a decent direct-to-metal paint, or primer and paint, does not work out much cheaper than the safer options, and the difference in price is less than a Friday night take-out dinner most of the time. Commercial paint available at hardware stores will chip, and your bird will ingest the pieces, which is incredibly harmful and often fatal. You wouldn’t snack on paint chips, why should your bird? Powder coating and electroplating also offer longevity and resilience that you won’t find in paint. Metal poisoning is often fatal, and even when it isn’t, it comes with lifelong health complications. Is the price of a cheeseburger worth your bird’s life?
We recommend Neale’s Powder Coating (Uitenhage/Kariga, Eastern Cape)- https://www.facebook.com/NEALE.Powdercoating Midcor Powder Coating (Meyerton, Gauteng)- https://www.facebook.com/Midcor-Powdercoating-102619961476318/ A&A Powder Coaters (Cape Town, Western Cape)- https://www.facebook.com/aapowdercoaters Durban Powder Coaters (Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal)- https://durbanpowdercoater.wixsite.com/dpcsa
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