I know most of the common toxic metals for birds like copper, zinc, etc. im having trouble finding any definitive answers regartding carbon steel with a cold finish though. the few things i find just discuss it as a cookware. im wondering as a perch though. im making my conure a simple perch to look out the window and i have some carbon steel rods that would be perfect.
question regarding metal and safety for parrots
- Thread starter l0qo
- Start date
Free as a bird
Well-known member
- Jul 29, 2023
- 650
- 801
- Parrots
- 2 cockatiels
Good question. I can't give you a definitive answer regarding its toxicity for birds but I can't tell you this... Carbon steel rusts.
I'm not sure if that's a problem for birds but iv avoided using steel rods as perches just in case. Mild steel rods have a black mill scale finish which I don't know is ok for birds either
On the other hand cages are made from steel and painted so it may not be as big a problem as I think.
Stainless steel would be the safest metal to use. It doesn't rust and is the most hygienic metal
PrimorandMoxi
Well-known member
- May 29, 2015
- 524
- 747
- Parrots
- Max (23yo) Blue and Gold Macaw,
&
PRIMOR (8yo) Red Lored Amazon,
&
ABBA (33yo) Red Lored Amazon - RIP
What if you attached wood perches to the metal structure so the bird does not have to touch the metal?
Plain carbon steel rods, that have no rust or mill scale on them would be OK. Cold and smooth enough to not really give the claws a decent hold, but still OK. But - rust quickly forms on carbon steel and that is not good. And cages, tho made of steel, are not painted but powder coated, a process that leave a really hard and incredibly tough coating on the cage materials. Regular paint is too soft and can be chipped off easily, and paint chips are not on you parrots menu!
Similar threads
