Bird Safe Oil (Lubricant)

[WeimerHeimer]

I pressure washed ALL my bird cages this past weekend. I noticed today that some of the food door latches are sticking a bit. These latches are the a&E cages type, which have a latch bolt with a return spring in them. I'd like to place some sort of lubrication on the lock assembly becasue they are hard to operate now that they got wet and are now becoming rusty inside, but was afraid of using any type of Petroluem lubrication for fear of possibly poisoning the birds.

Does anyone use any tpe of lubrication on the locks/latches to keep the moisture/water from rusting the inner works and to help with smooth operation?

I was half wondering if a food grade oil might work and be safe (i.e. vegtable oil, coconut oil, olive oil, etc...)?

 

[Mayden]

I pressure washed ALL my bird cages this past weekend. I noticed today that some of the food door latches are sticking a bit. These latches are the a&E cages type, which have a latch bolt with a return spring in them. I'd like to place some sort of lubrication on the lock assembly becasue they are hard to operate now that they got wet and are now becoming rusty inside, but was afraid of using any type of Petroluem lubrication for fear of possibly poisoning the birds.

Does anyone use any tpe of lubrication on the locks/latches to keep the moisture/water from rusting the inner works and to help with smooth operation?

I was half wondering if a food grade oil might work and be safe (i.e. vegtable oil, coconut oil, olive oil, etc...)?

I was going to suggest a food type oil! Anything that losens it a bit and food grade oil is safe if the birdies are going to have a lick

 

[forbey]

Peanut oil at 350 degrees works great ...

OH, I'm sorry, got confused, thought it was "The Joy of Cooking" Forum, LOL!

 

[weco]

Food grade oils will dry out, leaving sort of a sludge, but the oil and/or sludge may invite insects to dinner at the hinge and may even totally clean up your Au Natural lubricant...eventually.....

I'm afraid that you have started your cage on a path to self-destruction, not tomorrow or next week, but the water that got inside to square frame tubing will have begun to rust the inside of the tubing.....it would be pretty labor intensive & require you to do some dis-assembling, but you might be able to stop or at least slow down the natural course of things.....you could inject phosphoric acid into the hinge holes, turn the side panels all around so as to coat all of the tube's interior surfaces, pour out any excess, allow it to dry out & re-assemble your cage.....