We often hear about washing down our aviary wire when new with a solution of vinegar and water to "neutralise"the zinc coating on the wire. What isnt usually mentioned is, it is a process we must repeat constantly, and even then we may not be solving the issues.

Some good quality reading to enlighten us about zinc toxicity is here in these articles.

 

http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/zinc.html

 

http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/index.php/Zinc/109

 

http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/metals.htm

 

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww14eiii.htm

 

http://www.avianweb.com/heavymetalpoisoningbirds.html

I have never washed wire in my life.

I did that with my aviary I just got. I also took all the clips off the toys that I have built and purchased and gave them a good dousing too

 

I am well aware of the risks. I once had a beautiful little sky blue spangle cock who got zinc poisoning. The vet said he didn't have long to live and sure enough died not long after That was when I was about 8 and no one told us when we were starting out with budgies what we were meant to do.

I have always washed my wire too when its new. When you do it, you can smell the zink coming off... it STINKS!!

I have always washed my wire too when its new. When you do it, you can smell the zink coming off... it STINKS!!

The point being made is, its a continual process and the wire needs washing often. Once is not enough.

 

Zinc is a metal coating and cannot be washed off with vinegar and water

Galvanized means iron (steel) coated with zinc. If it is coated with something else then it is anodized or plated. Galvanized implies zinc. The two most common methods of galvanizing are electroplate and hot dipped.

 

There is still a problem with the after weld wire though, and that is rust. (Of course zinc rusts, it just keeps the iron underneath from oxidizing.) And any wire exposed to the outdoors will rust faster than an indoor cage. As it oxidizes it will look duller and duller and eventually will start to turn whitish in color. You can touch a piece of galvanized metal that has been left outside, and have the oxidation come off on your finger in one pass. If it comes off on your finger that easily, a bird can lick it off while climbing on the cage. Breeders scrub their cages with vinegar and water a couple times a year. The scrubbing washes off some of the old rust and the vinegar somehow retards new rust, but can't stop it completely. And of course the vinegar wash won't last long if the cage is left outside.

 

The primary use of zinc is to coat iron or steel in a process called galvanization to prevent rust. Zinc protects steel and iron from rusting it also dissolves in aqueous acids or bases.

 

Some common aqueous acids, from strongest to weakest:

 

hydrochloric acid (HCl)

 

carbonic acid (H2CO3)

 

acetic acid (CH3COOH)

 

 

Some common aqueous bases, from strongest to weakest:

 

sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

 

ammonia (NH3)

 

sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.wibrow.com.au/0/1/11/Zinc-Plating.html

Edited January 11, 201015 yr by KAZ