Question about parrot cages

[RioTheMacaw]

So I just bought YES4PETS 161 cm XL Corner Bird Cage Pet Parrot Aviary Perch Castor Wheel and the bolts that came with it are magnetic and I think brass or something, isn’t this toxic to parrots or are they just coated and not actually brass? The door lock is also the same design

The company sells a ton of cages and even sells them on Bunnings store, Australia hardware store.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Well brass isn't magnetic so it is a coating or plating most likely for corrosion resistance or possibly just decorative.

 

[RioTheMacaw]

Well brass isn't magnetic so it is a coating or plating most likely for corrosion resistance or possibly just decorative.

What would you say they are then, just worried to use them if they aren’t safe since my parrot has free roam of outside his cage.

 

[wrench13]

THose are zinc plated, with a yellow trivalent chromate on them. 100% certain, that is my business, fasteners. Personally I would replace them with stainless steel ones. Zinc is toxic if ingested by birds, and there is a small but real chance the yellow is hexavalent chromate which is a known carcinogenic agent (banned in US and UK, but not so much in CHina).

 

[RioTheMacaw]

THose are zinc plated, with a yellow trivalent chromate on them. 100% certain, that is my business, fasteners. Personally I would replace them with stainless steel ones. Zinc is toxic if ingested by birds, and there is a small but real chance the yellow is hexavalent chromate which is a known carcinogenic agent (banned in US and UK, but not so much in CHina).

I ended up replacing all the bolts and door lock, well door lock isn’t the best design but it works without drilling new holes. All of them are stainless 316. I do know my parrot gonna love the door lock as a toy tho since he always played with the half circle sliding lock design.

Tho I bought off Amazon with at least 200+ reviews of perches but the stainless steel is very magnetic is that bad? I know stainless steel can be magnetic but the bolts I got aren’t as strong on magnetic compared to the perches.

 

[TiredOldMan]

304 or 316 stainless are both good. The more magnetic the stainless the stronger it is but it lowers corrosion resistance. Personally I would stay away from 316L as it contains a small amount of lead to make machining easier. However I really don't believe that our birds could get any lead from it.

 

[wrench13]

Any stainless is going to be fine. The ones containing lead are not an issue as the lead is locked on molecular level and beside, leaded stainless is used for parts machined on lathes and milling machines, quite expensive compared with parts made by other methods. The more magnetic alloys, like the 400 ones, are used for cutlery! The feebly magnetic ones, like 302, 304, 316 etc, are the most common and used for fasteners.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Thanks Wrench,
It's nice to know someone who knows hardware. My experience is mostly machining and welding stainless.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

THose are zinc plated, with a yellow trivalent chromate on them. 100% certain, that is my business, fasteners. Personally I would replace them with stainless steel ones. Zinc is toxic if ingested by birds, and there is a small but real chance the yellow is hexavalent chromate which is a known carcinogenic agent (banned in US and UK, but not so much in CHina).

Wow! How "fastenerating"!
I didn't know we had a metals and fastener expert on board!

Wouldn't it be great if all of us wrote something about ourselves that other members don't already know (like, we all have birds)? There may be others among us with specialized knowledge that we could learn something from.

 

[RioTheMacaw]

Any stainless is going to be fine. The ones containing lead are not an issue as the lead is locked on molecular level and beside, leaded stainless is used for parts machined on lathes and milling machines, quite expensive compared with parts made by other methods. The more magnetic alloys, like the 400 ones, are used for cutlery! The feebly magnetic ones, like 302, 304, 316 etc, are the most common and used for fasteners.

Thank you I only can buy 316 stainless steel, so is it like birds couldn’t get to the part where there is lead?

 

[TiredOldMan]

316 will be good no problem