I didn't get a very direct answer

 

Me:

I was just enquiring about what type of metal the rod is that is inside the

calcium perches that you sell for birds.

 

Them:

It is a standard threaded metal rod that all manufactures use. When the bird

gets to the center rod it is time for another or harder perch. The Calcium

perch is very soft.

 

That didn't really help, if anything, made me more suspicious

They aren't being very direct with us are they? It's frustrating.

Edited January 12, 200619 yr by eterri

Maybe they have something to hide.....probably!

i think mne arent a calciam pirch*becouse there not like a pirch its a swing

I didn't get a very direct answer

 

Me:

I was just enquiring about what type of metal the rod is that is inside the

calcium perches that you sell for birds.

 

Them:

It is a standard threaded metal rod that all manufactures use. When the bird

gets to the center rod it is time for another or harder perch. The Calcium

perch is very soft.

 

That didn't really help, if anything, made me more suspicious

 

write a politely sarcastic message back asking what the name of the metal is that it is made from.

 

and yes... a reply like that does sound like they are hiding something.

Well I've got a couple of replies.

 

Firstly Polly's managering director responded within hours with the below comments.

 

"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the material in our products. We use only Stainless Steel and Nickel Plated Steel. We have had all products tested for years with Avian Veterinarians, Breeders, the University of Georgia, and not to mention our own birds."

 

That's basically what I thought that Polly's as a premium brand do ensure that they use bird safe materials, their products are a little bit more expensive but they research their products.

 

 

The other company who I won't mention yet has been a bit vague and their legal attorney wanted details of this post, they wanted to call me within minutes of my email :fear: I don't currently stock their products.

 

 

Another link on metals in products.

http://www.synnovation.com/zinctesting.html

 

Just got a couple of others who I am awaiting replies from.

 

One thing to remember is that if the product is really cheap then it's probably a cheap import from China or the far east and the only way to make it at that price is to use Zinc. Therefore only buy premium brands which you know are safe.

Edited January 13, 200619 yr by Featheredpets

The other company who I won't mention yet has been a bit vague and their legal attorney wanted details of this post, they wanted to call me within minutes of my email : I don't currently stock their products.

They are trying to scare you away. :fear But for future reference, don't mention that you read it online. When I write to the companies, I just state my concerns/questions and send the email. There is no reason that they need to know that it's being written about in a public forum.

 

That said, unless we are slandering or bad-mouthing their company we, as consumers, have EVERY right to question their products. If we were spreading rumors it would be a completely different story. We are simply looking for FACTS so that we can judge fairly. There is nothing wrong with that and the attitude that some of these companies are giving us is really getting under my skin.

Edited January 14, 200619 yr by eterri

absolutely.

 

a company that really cares and believes in its products will do all they can to help a customer with their concerns. simple as that. if they cannot provide a straight answer then dont buy from them. anyone who recieves any positive info should continue to post it so we can put together a list of companies that are known to use bird safe metals in their products.

I just got a response from Polly's as well (I wrote my email before knowing that FP had already contacted them). Pretty much the same info, they only use stainless steel and nickel plated metals in their products. Are their products popular in the UK as well? I know they seem to be here and that's good.

Good to know Polly's is safe. They are readily available around me. Thanks everyone, for doing all this research and e-mailing the companies so we can all have good information and be able to make more informed choices regarding our birds. It's very much appreciated on my end!

Hi everyone, I replied to Penn-plax with a more direct question, may have come across as rude but I don't really care.

 

Their reply was simply

 

The metal is steel

 

... I thought that was a bit rude, that was all that they wrote in the email.

Lani he is probibly right. You see most metal threads. or threaded rods are metal. (Steel) Steel rusts so there are a number of treatments to stop the rust. Painting, using zinc oxide or lead cadmium. or to process it as stainless steel. If the manufacture of the item believes that the calcium or cement incasing the rod would stop the rust, then it is untreated.. metal.

 

This is quite safe for the birds until it rusts. Rusting occurs when bare metal hits air (oxygen). So the rod itself is safe until the birds gets to it and then it becomes unsafe. ...........or there is a fault in the casting and the air is allowed to access the rod. It would then rust from the inside out. Bad news to polly.

That is a very unprofessional and rude reply.

Lani he is probibly right. You see most metal threads. or threaded rods are metal. (Steel) Steel rusts so there are a number of treatments to stop the rust. Painting, using zinc oxide or lead cadmium. or to process it as stainless steel. If the manufacture of the item believes that the calcium or cement incasing the rod would stop the rust, then it is untreated.. metal.

 

This is quite safe for the birds until it rusts. Rusting occurs when bare metal hits air (oxygen). So the rod itself is safe until the birds gets to it and then it becomes unsafe. ...........or there is a fault in the casting and the air is allowed to access the rod. It would then rust from the inside out. Bad news to polly.

 

Thanks Daz

I received a great reply from Prevue Pet (Hendryx) Products. As I originally thought their products are safe and I am happy to continue recommending them/selling their products.

 

Here's what they had to say.

 

"I wanted to address your concern about the metal content that Prevue

uses in all of our products, and specifically inside the calcium

perches.

 

We do NOT use any zinc metals or metal coatings in ANY of our bird

products, including the calcium perches.

 

The bolt that extends through the center of the calcium perches is cold

steel, coated in a nickel finish. Also, the washer and nut on the end

of the perch is also nickel, and is 100% safe for birds.

 

Again, we NEVER use zinc or galvanized coatings on any of our bird

products, and we guarantee all of content of our bird product to this

end.

 

As for the general subject of zinc illness in small birds, there has

been many studies done in the US on this subject, some of them funded by pet associations and the industry. The big problem is that these

legitimate studies are pearls in a sea of poor internet misinformation

and uninformed conjecture. Many vets in the US have been using the

specter of heavy metal poisoning as a blanket statement, when the cause of the illness is truly unknown. They have used "Sherlock holms"

reasoning, in that they can not find the zinc in the food or environment, so they deduce that it "must" be in the cage or toy metal.

 

This is faulty reasoning, and is not scientifically sound. In fact, studies have shown that poor nutritional balance has caused the body stop releasing zinc from the body, thus causing a build up of natural zinc. It is also easy to forget that zinc is a essential element for bodily function, and vast amounts of it are stored in tissue at all times.

 

In conclusion, as the subject is very controversial, Prevue goes through

great pains to insure that all of our bird products are free from all

heavy metals (including zinc). We also have all of our products tested

in independent labs to insure and document this fact.

 

I have to impress upon you again that there is a huge amount of flat out

wrong information on this subject on the internet. This is a product of

our times, when unqualified information can be released under the

premise of an "expert" when this is definitely not the case. I would

highly recommend that you get your hands on a legitimate study ( I would recommend the study done by the University of Tennessee or the

comprehensive study done by the American Pet Products Manufactures

Association) so that your customers can sift through the misinformation

more easily.

 

Of course I can not speak for any other bird products manufacturer, but

I can state on behalf of Prevue Pet Products, that we are very conscious

of these issues. We have taken the stance that we insure our products

to be free from all of these questionable materials. In reference again

to the calcium perches, we have insured that these products are made

from the "right" materials, but I have seen many competitors who have

not gone thought the research and testing to say the same statement.

There are a lot of bird products out there that are made by companies

whose main emphasis are pets other then birds. By Prevue Pet Products

being highly focused on bird related products, we have a high degree of

focus on bird health related issues, and incorporate this knowledge and

care into all of our products.

 

I hope that this answers your questions, and invite you to write me back

for follow-up information if you would like. In the meantime, you

should have 100% confidence in recommending our products in the face of these issues. In fact, you should have confidence in recommending

Prevue's products specifically due to these issues!"

 

I also querried the risks regarding metal rusting and they stated the below which is common sense.

 

"It is almost impossible to guarantee against rust on metal, not being aware of the environment of use that a product finds itself in. But, if no heavy metals are present in the base product, then a small amount of rust is only iron oxide (iron & oxygen) and is not technically harmful. We do recommend that any rusted cage or toy be replaced, as a point of general cleanliness."

 

So there you go Prevue Pet & Polly's Perches are safe.

yay polly is safe!

bring this back to life

thats good