What acrylic type sheets will withstand the chewing by African Greys?

[minou9]

I need to mount 13” tall acrylic type sheets around the base of my CAG’s cage. It’s meant to keep him from poking his head out through the bars (he teases my cats) and to help keep down his mess.
However there are different types of materials out there and I want to get something that would not harm him when he chews on it.
Am planning to see what Home Depot & Lowe’s carries. Any suggestions?

 

[rheashard2]

I am interested too. My CAG throws food to cage bottom as chum to lure dogs & cats! I did get a sheet of plexiglass glass from HomeDepot. While large enough I don't trust it because of the length of time it's taking oder to vanish.

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

I've gotten to the point where I really just don't trust any plastic if there's any risk of consumption. Trying to eliminate it bit by bit. It's more difficult than it should be. What about untreated safe wood?

 

[TiredOldMan]

You should be safe with any commercial poly-carbonate. Except if your bird is ingesting the pieces. Also if you can afford it stay away from thin material as it is easier to bite and destroy. Think 3/16 to 1/4 inch.
Also if you can find a industrial plastics supplier near you the price should be less and they can cut, drill, bend , etc to your specs.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Plastics like Lexan are VERY hard. Its unlikely a parrot will be able to chew off a pice. I have ice scrapers made of Lexan and they dont chip.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I use 1/8 inch for panels 24" wide or less and 1/4" thick for wider panels so they don't bow. My acrylic cages made by Pennzoni Display Company specifically for larger parrots are 1/4" acrylic. They have a website that describes their products including their bird "cages". No way any parrot could damage these cages.

 

[bridgetkeys]

I found that if I have sheets with a bend at the edges away from the cage they can’t really chew the flat surface and cannot reach the edges? If that makes sense

 

[TiredOldMan]

I found that if I have sheets with a bend at the edges away from the cage they can’t really chew the flat surface and cannot reach the edges? If that makes sense

That is a great idea

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Plastics like Lexan are VERY hard. Its unlikely a parrot will be able to chew off

I found that if I have sheets with a bend at the edges away from the cage they can’t really chew the flat surface and cannot reach the edges? If that makes sense

Like a bevel with the angle tip pointing out?

 

[wrench13]

Thats the thing, really. If a Grey can get to the edge, theres a chance he will be able to chip/gnaw/crack a tiny piece off a sheet of plastic, and then its all over. However, it would depend a lot on the individual parrot. Many parrots including my own, don;t find much pleasure in chewing plastic. Salty has toys and tricks made of plastic and he pretty much leaves them alone except to get the treat or do the trick. So there is that. As far as a 'safe' plastic itself, I dont think there are any that are 'safe' if ingested. Not biochemically - plastics are pretty inert to digestive juices and don't breakdown readily. I would think the real danger would be from blockage of digestive tracts or perforation of tissue from sharp edges on little shards.

FOr this kind of application, I think thicker is better - think of how hard it would be to maim or take a chunk out of those 1" thick separators at bank teller stations! But the thicker Plexiglass or other clear plastic sheets are, the more expensive they are, almost exponentially.

 

[rheashard2]

I like these ideas and will check them out. My CAG has the have beak will disassemble attitude! Nothing is safe except foraging toys, vet and me. If you were in a cage w a stong 300+ PSI and sharp beak what would you do? Yup, chip, chisel, chew in short form a disassemble company. The only things w guaranteed safety is vet, me and foraging toys. Look at these food dishes. I don't even know when or how she figured out chip bottom wing and dish will pop out easily creating a boom hitting cage bottom! The other always at same spot; she hangs w beak, using her weight moves side to side. Eventually a crack forms and then it's disassemble time! Metal dishes are no problem either. Her beak is used like an old time can opener. A dent then a hole and it's lost. My local pet shore manager has promised to keep an eye out for titanium parrot dishes.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I understand your concern about safety wirh your grey but these sheets of particularly lexan are extremely hard. I think 1/4 inch would be fine. You could get a small piece and try to chip it with some workshop tools to test it. Put a piece in a vise grip and try to break a piece off with a pair of pliers. Surely you're stronger than a one pound parrot.

 

[rheashard2]

My 14.5 ounce parrot isn't stronger. But she understands leverage, pressure & angles better then me. She chews, pulls at angles, using her body weight. Then apparently strong items develop stress points. She then focuses on the stress point. That's my worry. Unfortunately for me she thinks one nip, chew, pull, repeated will destroy what ever. She perfectly mimics me complete with a sigh; What have you done now?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

That is a great idea

I think a bevel edge would weaken the edge because it would taper to nothing and the edge would be much more fragile. A blunt but polished edge would be stronger.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

You ought to look at Pennzoni Display Company's website at their bird cages. The company primarily makes acrylic display cases for sports memorabilia and other such uses but the owners of the company have large parrots so they designed their cages to withstand their bite force, and they use 1/4". I have four of their smallest cages which are 24x24x32. I'd love to have one of their larger cages but they're $1500 each not including the stand.

 

[SailBoat]

Plexiglas has long been used around parrots with varying results. The equation is: The thicker the better with single panels on the side of the cage starts near 10 mm and up. for Mid-size parrots. larger parrots, the bigger Amazons and smaller Mac is 18+ mm with the larger Mac's nearing 25 mm. The reason is found above. The compression their bill can create is in the 300 to 1200 psi range. on a spot the size of a ink pen tip, which can cause cracks.

Combine the pressure with a brilliant mind and hours of time and it is amazing what they can do.

 

[rheashard2]

You ought to look at Pennzoni Display Company's website at their bird cages. The company primarily makes acrylic display cases for sports memorabilia and other such uses but the owners of the company have large parrots so they designed their cages to withstand their bite force, and they use 1/4". I have four of their smallest cages which are 24x24x32. I'd love to have one of their larger cages but they're $1500 each not including the stand.

Thanks. I've gone to their site. Looking at cages. Yes on the pricey side but price comparable to cage purchased over 4 decades ago! Awaiting response about ventilation and ability to attach additional perches, toys etc. Thanks again. And nope, it never would've occurred to me to look at a display case company for bird cages and carriers!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Thanks. I've gone to their site. Looking at cages. Yes on the pricey side but price comparable to cage purchased over 4 decades ago! Awaiting response about ventilation and ability to attach additional perches, toys etc. Thanks again. And nope, it never would've occurred to me to look at a display case company for bird cages and carriers!

I have four of the small cagesband love them. I even put two end to end together to makevone 48x24x32 cage. The cool thing is there are many predrilled holes in the sides and top to attach toys and perches. I hang a lot of stuff from the top piece. The ventilation fan is really great. I put a piece of prefilter pad from my Honeywell air purifier over the fan exit and it catches the bird dust as it comes out.
I also hang things from the top so the birds can climb from stainless steel hardware.
The plexiglass muffles bird noise about 30 to 40% and the design with the deep bottom tray keeps bird debris inside. The tray pulls out easily to cleaned.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

You can also prop sextions of bird cage bars against the insidevto assist in climbing. I found that you need to be creative and adapt them to your bird's individual needs.

 

[rheashard2]

Good thing to know. My CAG is a climber. She prefers that to flying. Thanks for the info.