Painting a cage

[Tx mommy]

Ok I'm getting my 1st parrot and we got a great deal on a used cage I want to repaint it though since its showing rust. What can I use? We don't get him till December. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! I just have to get his room set up and I don't want to do anything wrong so I've been researching everything I just can't find anything on repainting a bird cage.

[donnakris]

Both of my vets said that I could use H20 based paint and that it would be safe for the birds since it doesn't have the dangerous chemicals in it. WalMart carries a Krylon brand H20 paint that is about $4 a can. Hubby just scrubbed the rust and cage, sanitized it then took it outside to paint. We let it dry about 4 days to be sure everything was good and dry. The H20 paint doesn't have the horrible smell like other paint.

[MicahEspudo]

I still wouldn't use the H20 based paint... it has less chemicals, it doesn't lack them.
For the safety of your birds I would say you have to get it powder coated!

[joshbirdlover]

hey I have the same thing I have a somewhat rusty cage and I was wondering can you spray paint it with rustoleum paint?

[Kachina]

There is no such thing as paint that's safe for a bird cage. When they climb those bars, or if they chew, they're going to ingest chemicals. The only safe method for refinishing a cage is to have it sandblasted and re-powdercoated, something not usually cheap unless you know someone.

[Monica]

Powder coating a cage can cost upwards of $400, however if you shop around someone might be willing to do so for under $100. I don't know who all would powder coat, but there are companies who paint cars and perhaps companies that work with metal.

Either way, I'd recommend checking out the following thread for info about painting...
parrot safe paint

[MicahEspudo]

Paint chips... even if it is safe.
I would probably go with rustoleum since it is considered safe... it lasts long.

I personally, still would NOT paint a cage myself. But to each his own I guess.

[teenab]

OMG DON'T use rustoleum!!! It is NOT bird safe. While nothing is truly bird safe - the Krylon H2O is a much better choice. I use it on my cages. I've read pros & cons of oainting & pros & cons of powder coating. I got a lot of rescued birds in a short period of time - most unexpectedly & they came with icky cages. I've had to make due. My vet said I could pretty much use anything that is child safe. He said to look at it like this: everyone thinks powder coating is the safeest - but when it chips off, it DOES NOT break down & can kill a birds who might ingest it faster then ingesting flakes of child safe paint would. He said that the paint chips would at least break down into smaller pieces.

He also said that for my bigger birds - greys & up - I should seriously consider getting a new cage every 5 years or so because they are rough on their cages & rust at all is not safe...so I'm saving up to change out all my cages & will never buy a used one again!

[MicahEspudo]

Originally Posted by teenab

OMG DON'T use rustoleum!!! It is NOT bird safe. While nothing is truly bird safe - the Krylon H2O is a much better choice. I use it on my cages. I've read pros & cons of oainting & pros & cons of powder coating. I got a lot of rescued birds in a short period of time - most unexpectedly & they came with icky cages. I've had to make due. My vet said I could pretty much use anything that is child safe. He said to look at it like this: everyone thinks powder coating is the safeest - but when it chips off, it DOES NOT break down & can kill a birds who might ingest it faster then ingesting flakes of child safe paint would. He said that the paint chips would at least break down into smaller pieces.

He also said that for my bigger birds - greys & up - I should seriously consider getting a new cage every 5 years or so because they are rough on their cages & rust at all is not safe...so I'm saving up to change out all my cages & will never buy a used one again!

I didn't think rustoleum was safe (I don't think any are really safe), but it said it was considered safe from what monica had given us... and I trust monica!

[seagem]

I'm not too bird savvy but I am chemical savvy and I can tell you this. Although acrylic or H2O based paint is considered child safe it does contain residual chemicals that could be harmful. As for solvent based paints stay away from them totally. They can even be harmful to people.

I personally would just purchase a new cage if need be.