Metal poisoning

[Squawksx3]

Well, we just got back from the Vet. Lola(Scarlet) took a dive this morning to the floor... beak first!. She was bleeding, not bad, so we took her in right away just to be on the safe side. She was fine, they also did a physical, blood work and we are having her sexed, since no one is sure if she's a she or a he. Cant wait to find out!.

Also, my vet said that the main problem he's seeing in birds is metal poisoning. I had no idea!. He said to keep all metals away from the birds... this includes rust on cages, the metal wires that are in hanging toys and bells. Aluminum cans are also a no no. He said if they chew on these metals over a long period of time it will slowly poison them and they will die from it. Soooo... we are off to buy more toys without the wire in them.....

[teri]

that is because it is from the Zinc, and in the wild parrots aren't in contact with Zinc so their little chemistries are made up if their beak touches metal it tries to absorb as much of it it can, so when you bring a parrot into the house it comes in contact with all kinds of metal, and it can get Zinc poisoning. a galvanized cage is best with washes of vinegar and water.

[crazeemama]

well i am sorry for your BEBE's beak - glad she'll mend in time. I too have heard that zinc poisoning is very common due to galvanized metal cages. So be sure to buy powder coated cages! Don't even mess with galvanized metal. Especially bad is hardware wire.
Also if you live in an old house chipping paint can be as much of a problem for the feathered kids as for the two legged bebes! Lead poisoning is most often associated with paint, but paint can contain zinc too. if you are using an old wire cage, and it is down to bare metal, either repaint it or buy a new cage. i have heard of people having cages powder coated a second time. It probably wpudn't be cost effective on the smaller cages, but the larger ones it definitely is . i think it is about 100 $$ for a large cage. So keep that metal away from the fids!

[crazeemama]

Aluminum leaches from aluminum dishes also. Better to use stainless steel dishes..... ok i am done!

[Mrs.Birdy]

Crazeemama:

My Snickers (Tiel) loves to pick the paint off of our window sill and frame. My husband told me that the house is fairly new and there isn't any lead in the paint these days. I am still worried about it so I put up some clear contact paper and she seems to be deterred. What do you think about this. I am so worried about lead poisioning. Any advice?

[Squawksx3]

I was surprised about the wires in the toys.... and the pet stores sell them.... guess it all comes down to the all mighty dollar :(

[crazeemama]

Most all wire is galvanized, to stop rust. Zinc is used in the galvanizing process. I think as far as the wire being concealed (as in boings) there is no problrm If the wire becomes exposed than toss the item. i do wish more of the chain and quick links thyat we see on the toys was the surgical steel instead of galvanized, or anodized aluminum. I have replaced alot of chain and quick links with the surgical steel. But i don't think that all is ss yet.
I do believe that alot of the zinc toxicity is from galvanized cages. especially used in breeder cages.

[crazeemama]

Sorry things have been hectic here. If there is any question even a small one about the paint theb ird is chipping i would some how work to deter him from doing it. I know even today oil based paints are considered toxic to birds also. I guess i wouldn't feel comfortable having my babies ingest any paint chips at all. But then i am rather a zealot! LOL

[crazeemama]

The reason Hardware wire (i think that is what it is called) is worse for birds is the galvanizing process itself. If you look closely at the hardware wire you will see some globs of stuff in the corners where wires cross. This is leftover sludge from the galvanizing process. Birds of course like to pick at stuff so alot of it ends up in the tummy's! I beleive there are different grades of hardware wire but i would not use any type myself. For me the only choice is NON-TOXIC powder coated wire or surgical steel,

[pionuspasion]

Ya know, I once found a website that sold bird toys with only SS wire and quick links. I will have to look it up again and post the URL, maybe it will help ease some worries.