Okay..so my uncle made me a cage, but he didn't bother to ask which materials were budgie safe..

Its a very nice cage, big and even pretty but he didn't use the right materials..

He used wood for the frame and he painted it.. and the wire mesh he used is galvanized zinc coated which I know is toxic to birds.

 

He expects me to use that cage.. I haven't put my birds in there yet with the excuse that I have to wait for the paint to dry for at least 2 weeks.

 

Is there any way I can make the cage safe? I read somewhere that if I scrub the mesh with vinegar it will take some of the zinc away.. is that true? and what about the painted wood? most of it is out of reach but they could still get to some and nibble it.

 

I also thought about putting enough ladders, perches and toys in there so they climb around the cage less and give them lots of time out of the cage as well. will that help?

 

The cage is indoors and my birds don't really nibble on things that much but still..

 

So is there anything I can do? My uncle spent his money and time on that cage and I really don't want to tell him I don't want it.

Almosy all mesh you use on aviaries is galvanised, wipeit down with vinegar and it will be fine As far as the paint it really depends what type of paint he used as not all is toxic??

I agree. wash down the wire with vinegar. let it sit 2 hours, then vigorously rub it as you rinse it off - both inside and out.

 

The paint is fine if its normal water based house paint. Is the wood untreated pine??

If the paint used isnt safe paint you have a couple of options....sand it off back to natural wood, or wrap the painted wood sections with some extra aviary mesh so the birds cannot chew it.

Very kind of your uncle to do this and to encourage your interest in birds. Can you post a photo ?

I agree. wash down the wire with vinegar. let it sit 2 hours, then vigorously rub it as you rinse it off - both inside and out.

 

The paint is fine if its normal water based house paint. Is the wood untreated pine??

 

 

Thanks for the replies :fear

I was really worried..

The wood is not pine and the paint is water based. I spent a whole night washing and scrubing the cage with vinegar inside and out, I really dislike the smell of vinegar but it was worth it.

 

 

If the paint used isnt safe paint you have a couple of options....sand it off back to natural wood, or wrap the painted wood sections with some extra aviary mesh so the birds cannot chew it.

Very kind of your uncle to do this and to encourage your interest in birds. Can you post a photo ?

 

 

The painted wood is mostly out of reach.. unless they climb to get it .. I put some natural perches and lots of toys in there and I put the birds in there too.. they seem so occupied nibbling on the perches and playing that they don't even try to get to the painted wood.

 

I will post some pictures later

Cory I just have to give you a pat on the back for simply knowing what is and isn't good for your birds. Although you were able to clean up the cage and make it even more safe for them with the advice of the members here, I have to say that the best step started with you having knowledge of good and bad... and not doing anything until you found out more. Some would have been so excited about the new cage or eager to please the uncle who made it, but you did what was best for your birds before any thing else and I'm proud of you. :fear Good Job. Hope all works out well for the birds in their new cage.

Cory I just have to give you a pat on the back for simply knowing what is and isn't good for your birds. Although you were able to clean up the cage and make it even more safe for them with the advice of the members here, I have to say that the best step started with you having knowledge of good and bad... and not doing anything until you found out more. Some would have been so excited about the new cage or eager to please the uncle who made it, but you did what was best for your birds before any thing else and I'm proud of you. Good Job. Hope all works out well for the birds in their new cage.

 

 

Thank you :rip:

 

Here are some pictures.. I took them with my cellphone so they are a little blurry..

The dimensions of the cage are: 48"Long X 24"Wide X 36"High.. plus the legs are 12"

The floor is made of a wooden sheet cut in half and it comes off for easy cleaning! I can just take one of the halfs off and get in the cage to clean it, move stuff around or get the budgies.

 

My uncle named the cage "Red Bob" because its a little shaped like spongebob lol.

 

 

My budgies are very happy. Sky, the oldest one is the only one that can fly so I would say she is the happiest, the other two.. Snowflake and Fiona still have their wings clipped and Louie is still in quarantine but all in all.. they seem very happy and make even more noise now! but its good, I like that noise :sadsorry:

Great cage... with the wood though, they will most likely try and eat it... regardless of how many distraction you put in there... they always get what you don't want them to!!! lol... Perhaps wrap it in wire if you're worried.

 

It looks like it's inside??? If not, I'd put some sort of roof on it, to stop weather and poo from wild birds. Also, you may need to use some sort of netting to step into when getting them out, to stop escapes...

 

If it's inside... forget everything I just said :sadsorry: Great size and it looks like your birds will be very happy!

I wouldn't worry too much about the paint. Lead base has been outlawed in Australia and most parts of the world for many years.

 

Great looking cage though. He must think highly of you to put in the effort. :sadsorry:

Great cage... with the wood though, they will most likely try and eat it... regardless of how many distraction you put in there... they always get what you don't want them to!!! lol... Perhaps wrap it in wire if you're worried.

 

It looks like it's inside??? If not, I'd put some sort of roof on it, to stop weather and poo from wild birds. Also, you may need to use some sort of netting to step into when getting them out, to stop escapes...

 

If it's inside... forget everything I just said :rip: Great size and it looks like your birds will be very happy!

 

 

They have been trying to nibble the painted wood in the corners and even though the paint is safe I still don't want them to! So I think I will wrap it just to be safe.

 

The cage is indoors

I live in Colorado so is not safe to keep them outside..it gets way too cold and we get a lot of snow even in spring and sometimes in summer! crazy cold weather.. we just got 4 inches of snow yesterday.. but its all gone now thanks to the sun :sadsorry:

Edited March 11, 200916 yr by Cory

Lucky you. That is a very nice cage. l bet your budgies are loving it :sadsorry:

I think your cage is awesome, and that it's great that your uncle made it for you and your birds. Is that plant hanging at the left side a Pothos? When I looked up safe vs. poisonous houseplants, pothos was listed as poisonous. It would be terrible if your birds got sick from your plant, especially if it was then blamed on the cage!

 

By the way, your birds are beautiful! I love the name Fiona. That's what we were going to name our bird, but we thought it was a boy, so we named him(her) Finn(Finnie), instead.

I think your cage is awesome, and that it's great that your uncle made it for you and your birds. Is that plant hanging at the left side a Pothos? When I looked up safe vs. poisonous houseplants, pothos was listed as poisonous. It would be terrible if your birds got sick from your plant, especially if it was then blamed on the cage!

 

By the way, your birds are beautiful! I love the name Fiona. That's what we were going to name our bird, but we thought it was a boy, so we named him(her) Finn(Finnie), instead.

 

 

Thank you

 

That plant is not a pothos.. I don't even know what it is called lol but I'm sure its not a pothos and thanks for pointing that out by the way.. because I don't even know if that plant being photos or not is toxic! so I will do some research on it. But the budgies can't reach it either way.

 

..and I see this is your first post?! ..Then Welcome to here ..and I think the name Finnie is really cute!

Edited March 12, 200916 yr by Cory