Last year I sprayed my budgie with water (he prefers this then baths) and the water had touched a bell.

Later on i noticed RUST!!!

I quickly removed it and i now be carefull with metal.

Please be carefull with metal aswell! :excl:

excellent tip thank you

Sure is, and a good way to see if the bell is stainless steel or not (as it should be).

 

Feathers.

I was going to say that it should be stainless steel anyway and not rust.

mine in copper.... i think.... i will replace it with a s/steel one now... thanks for the info

I don't think copper is bad.

hmmm

must be care full when buying toys.

I don't think copper is bad.

I think it's alright too. Copper bells are on all the Penn Plax playgyms...

Are they copper or brass.. Copper turns green with tarnish.

It hasn't change color and I have had it for over 1 year???

I thought that was brass (Laughing out loud) I will look it up and see myself and will be back with info. I know that reading stainless steel is the best you can use but of course is the most expensive.

The poisonous heavy metals include lead, zinc, copper, and brass. Metals you can know are safe include stainless steel, iron, and ungalvanized tin.

okay I am back according to Wikipedia

 

Brass has a yellow color, somewhat similar to gold. It is relatively resistant to tarnishing, and is often used as decoration and for coins.

 

Copper is extensive use as an electrical conductor, thermal conductor, as a building material, and as a component of various alloys. Copper is an essential nutrient to all higher plants and animals. In animals, it is found primarily in the bloodstream, as a cofactor in various enzymes, and in copper-based pigments. In sufficient amounts, copper can be poisonous and even fatal to organisms.

 

Upon more research most bird toys are made of steel which does rust unless is coated with something. The least expensive coating is zinc. (Zinc is used to coat metal trash cans.) Other coatings for steel (more expensive) are nickel or chrome plating. Stainless steel does not rust.

 

Toys are also made with aluminum (may be too soft for larger birds).

 

To test your toy you can:

 

Use a kitchen magnet. Aluminum and stainless steel will not stick to the magnet. Aluminum is much lighter and softer than stainless steel.

 

You can also call the manufacter to see what they coat their toys with if they don't tell you they may just be using zinc and don't want to get sued if your bird gets sick.

 

Stainless steel is MUCH more expensive than zinc and more expensive than nickel or chrome plating. If a toy maker has used stainless steel (or nickel or chrome plated steel) they will tell you! It cost them more, they're going to charge you more for the toy than if they used zinc. When manufacturers use zinc it's because the bird toy industry is competitive and many customers select toys based primarily on price.

 

What is even more interesting upon reading the article I found is that there is some Zinc that is plant based and that is NOT harmful to your bird. This zinc is used to make thisngs from wood, like paper and cardboard.

 

Anyways by doing some research it is interesting what you will find. I do remember we had a conversation about calcium perches and the metal inside of them on this forum. I will try and find it and do a search.

 

okay I found it I always bumped it up

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....7723&hl=perches

It depends what it is made of , not like you would know anyway. If your budgies does like a spray, then take out the bells first. THe rust might be ingested or something, if your bird likes to peck them like mine does.

Excellent tip thank you