Dangers of heavy metal poisoning in birds !

[nat]

I had a clean out of a big drawer of old budgie and parrot toys I have been given over the years the other day and it reminded me of the dangers of HEAVY METAL TOXICITY. I have been saving the toys in order to break them up and use the safe parts such as plastic beads and wooden blocks.

Most of the metal fittings on the toys had become rusty and even those that weren't are still deemed unsafe if birds chew them as they are made from galvanized metal which uses zinc in the galvanizing process.

This also applies to new galvanized aviary wire which hasn't been weathered, and to cages which have rust patches. The cages being the most dangerous as birds are more likely to climb around these using their beaks on the wire to climb.
The oxidisation process which makes the aviary wire eventually safe is caused by the weather, but the process can be speeded up by giving it a good paint over with vinegar.
Some metal attatchments on seed pots can become rusty too especially as they need washing so often.

Stainless steel is the safe option to use for toy parts if they need to be metal, and undyed leather laces are another good way to hang toys and swings safely.

The only place for a rusty toys, feed pots and cages is the recycling centre.

For those who let their birds fly free there are also dangers around the home...........a list of dangers in the cage/aviary and home along with symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be found here
www.avianweb.com/heavymetalpoisoningbirds.html

It is important to be aware of these things as heavy metal poisoning can make a bird very sick and cause eventual death.

[Marianne Marlow]

Thanks for this Nat. Something we should all be aware of.

When Bonesys Mikko died I got rid of most bells and parts that were not stainless steel.

Expensive, but necessary.

[samwiseg]

Could we make this into a Sticky Marianne Marlow? Think this is really valuable info for anyone wishing to start out or anyone who keeps birds for that matter

Good info nat

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

I was deeply affected by Bonesy's warning after Mikko died and I have nothing metal now except for a very expensive stainless steel tubular bell that Sonic loves- but what is the cost of a bell next to knowing they are safe? Nothing at all is it...
I have warned everyone I know with birds, and family members have had toys confiscated by me luckily they know my reasons are well meant...

[Hezz]

Stainless steel bells only, stainless steel key-rings for connecting the bells and a very wicked eye kept on all cage bits for any sign of rust. And natural leather strips for toys to be threaded ....... that is the norm in my house.
Sam, most of this has been mentioned in this stickie:
budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/2204/budgie-safe-materials-toys-etc

[BudgiesBuddy]

Great post Nat

[Marianne Marlow]

May 18, 2013 7:55:47 GMT samwiseg said:

Could we make this into a Sticky Marianne Marlow? Think this is really valuable info for anyone wishing to start out or anyone who keeps birds for that matter

Good info nat

As said by Hezz, it's already in a sticky, but thanks for the suggestion..

[samwiseg]

Ah. Cheers guys

[Deleted]

Well, I just removed a load of bells from Munchy's stuff. The problem is, he loves bells and stainless steel ones are really expensive :/ I think I can get away with buying 4 stainless steel quick links just to replace those I already have. I want to get some fairly large beads to replace a bell that was in one of the toys.

I don't know whether to just not give him any bells or buy some stainless steel ones. Since Kevin broke Munchy hasn't really been interested in any of the balls or many of his toys, so I'm not sure what will happen without having any bells either... He seems to have started trying to chew things like the string of his boing, and I'm not sure if that's just because he's moulting or because he's bored from losing Kevin :/ He's even started on the curtains again, after the sequins. Luckily we're replacing them sometime...

Do you think he'd be okay if I just removed the bells? I've only got two more to get rid of, so I suppose I'll see how he goes and then see if I need to order any.

[stace]

May 20, 2013 19:58:24 GMT Ira said:

Well, I just removed a load of bells from Munchy's stuff. The problem is, he loves bells and stainless steel ones are really expensive :/ I think I can get away with buying 4 stainless steel quick links just to replace those I already have. I want to get some fairly large beads to replace a bell that was in one of the toys.

I don't know whether to just not give him any bells or buy some stainless steel ones. Since Kevin broke Munchy hasn't really been interested in any of the balls or many of his toys, so I'm not sure what will happen without having any bells either... He seems to have started trying to chew things like the string of his boing, and I'm not sure if that's just because he's moulting or because he's bored from losing Kevin :/ He's even started on the curtains again, after the sequins. Luckily we're replacing them sometime...

Do you think he'd be okay if I just removed the bells? I've only got two more to get rid of, so I suppose I'll see how he goes and then see if I need to order any.

I'd get some stainless bells. Once you've got them you never have to worry about it again. You can wash them over and over again, even put then in a dishwasher if they're attached to a stainless chain. 

They do love their bells. 

[Hezz]

Bells are good - must budgies love a bell to bash. Quick-links are quite expensive too, relatively, so why not try some stainless steel keyrings? They are so easy to use, easy to transfer from one toy to another.

As Stace has said, buying your stainless steel bells is a one-off buy ......... save up and buy Munchy a couple for your birthday.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I think I will. But I think I'll ask my boyfriend to buy them and give him the money when I next see them, then I can pretend they just cost me £5 in a pet shop

I can't seem to find stainless steel keyrings, but I have a load of nickel-coated steel ones which I keep under my baleful glare. I might make a chain of those to replace the chains on this net thing I bought him the other day. I think I'll remove the clips but possibly keep them out of his way in case I want to hang it from a curtain pole, which wouldn't be very often and won't work on a thick curtain pole anyway...

I have some money saved in a box which I could use. Technically it's supposed to be for his vet fund but changing his stuff could prevent me having to take him to the vet for a metal poisoning problem.

I have some leather string left. Hopefully enough to do everything I want to because I probably don't really need another 5 metres of the stuff Otherwise I'll end up buying that and a load of beads and just making endless bead toys for Munchy to turn his beak up at

[stace]

Can you UK pet owners ask one your online toy suppliers to sell stainless bells, chains and perch attachments? There's clearly a market for it. Moogie might be able to ask the people at the Natural Bird Care Co maybe?

Otherwise you need to get them from the US or Canada.

Ages ago I bought a heap of bells along with small stainless steel washers and double ended screws which are used for toys, perches or for something noisy to throw off benches.

[samwiseg]

You can get one in the UK, and it maybe a bit pricey but as stace and Hezz have said it is a one off payment and can be used forever. Here is the link:

www.pine4parrots.co.uk/Pages/TOYSextrasmall.aspx

Scroll down near to the bottom to find it

[Deleted]

Thank you Northern parrots sell 4 packs of stainless steel cowbells, it's about £2 per bell plus postage. Not sure what you guys think of them: www.northernparrots.com/stainless-steel-cowbells-parrot-toy-parts-pack-of-4-prod371224/

And the Natural Bird Co sells stainless steel bolts, washer and wing nuts, but I can get those from Amazon easily enough. I need one set because I have 4 perches that need them and only three sets (because I bought a pack of two perches which are supposed to be chewed but Munchy has no interest in chewing them, so I don't think I'm going to be using the 'refill' perch ) and they're in multipacks so I can use those as toys. He's still playing with one of his first toys even thoug it now has no bell on the bottom. I put a keyring with some beads there just so it didn't look odd. I think he's taken a shine to the green ball at the bottom

When I eventually get my own place I'm getting some of these awesome looking safe things to hang from the ceiling (i.e., when I can put holes in walls and ceiling wherever I like )