parrot safe paint

[hev25]

Hi, does anybody know of any parrot safe paint that I can use on the wire of my cage? I am aware it needs to be zinc, lead and chromate free but am worried that some of these paints may chip off and also that some of the primers needed for this have zinc in them.

[Monica]

Krylon H2O is labeled as safe.... since this paint is labeled as safe too (for kids), it should be fine.

If the cages have rust on them you'd be best to try and get it off as good as you can. This may include having to get the cage sandblasted.

Paint - Birds can injest flakes of paint. Today, most cage manufacturers use safe paints and powder coating, but do ask questions when buying a cage. If you have a cage with chipping paint, you should get the paint flakes tested for toxicity. If it is toxic, then either strip and repaint the cage or replace it. Be sure to use paints which are both lead and zinc free. Many anti-rust paints contain zinc, so check with someone knowledgable. If you don't want to bother, then replace the cage.

Essentially you want something with low VOCs Organic Gases (Volatile Organic Compounds - VOCs) | An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality | Indoor Air | Air | US EPA

Bird Safe Paints - Non-Toxic Paint, Nontoxic Paint
Krylon H2O paint is said to be safe, as well as Rustoleum

Painting Cages - Bird-safe Paints

Paint / Cage Finishing: Fresh paint will kill your bird. If you have just finish painting your cage, make sure it is completely dry before placing your bird inside. Cages should be refinished as the paint or plating wears off.
Cage Safety

Cage Paint and Repainting

Question: I have some metal birdcages that I would like to repaint for my birds. How should I do this?

Martha Stewart: Birds, like many small pets, are extremely sensitive to toxic materials, and paint containing zinc or lead could prove deadly to them. Never keep a bird in an old cage that is in poor shape or is painted with an unknown product. Even if the cage's paint appears to be intact, it will deteriorate over time, creating a potentially dangerous environment.

Birds, particularly those of the psittacine family (parakeets, cockatiels and other parrots), use their beaks for climbing. As they do this, they can gradually damage the paint and cause it to flake off. When that happens, they are likely to chew on the flakes. Passerine birds (such as canaries and finches) may do less damage, but flaking paint can still fall into their food or water dishes.

An old cage with flaking paint can either be carefully repainted or replaced with a newer cage. Since a paint job can be tricky or costly to do well, you might choose to buy a new cage. When shopping, look for one that is either unpainted or painted with safe products.

If you do decide to paint the cage, make sure you first scrape off all the old paint from the bars using a wire brush. Then choose primer and paint that are nontoxic. According to Marc Morrone, host of the syndicated television show "Petkeeping with Marc Morrone," any paint that is considered safe for children will be free of both lead and zinc and so should also be safe for birds. Avoid any paint formulated to fight rust. Although this might sound like a good idea, these paints are made with zinc and can be very dangerous.

Apply the primer and paint following the manufacturer's instructions. Keep your bird far from the area (in a substitute cage) until the paint is thoroughly dry, so as not to expose him to fumes.

One other alternative to consider is taking the cage to a powder- coating facility. (Some auto-painting shops offer this service.) There, they can sandblast it and apply a durable powder coat. (Be sure to indicate that you want them to use a zinc- and lead-free paint.) Although this is more costly than repainting the cage yourself, the result will last many times longer than an ordinary paint job.

[swanwillow]

Okay, soo.. I have TRIED this, and in all honesty I can tell you...

the paint wears away. Quickly. Its not really safe to do. I got Quana in her painted cage, if you look in this forum somewhere there are pictures of it, and where the paint has worn away, and chipped away. Not good at all.

[pat36]

thank you i ended up geting it sand blasted and power coted for 150 just had to call a lot of plasesi to find this prise not a lot of plases have bisnes now.so you can get a grat prise.shoud be geting my gray in 2 to 3 months it will be 2 months old when i get him home now i nwd to think of a name sare for the spelling i have dyslexia i am in fl stuart

[pat36]

i just coudent dich the cage it is 6 fet high by 4 wide.this baby will be lost in it til he is like 1 yeri will only use the top secon til ne is 15 weeks.now i have to do a lot of reserch on rasing a 2 month old babe.any one have any goud articals or know any reel good bocks about rasing a gray from a babe. the eags hach ane day.so i ned to name him to.i will post picks wen he is home

[pat36]

wel my babe gray hached last night 2 out of 4 egs hached hached my frend sed they are very helthy and hungry cant wate to see then.i will post a pivk later to maro i will have to figer out how to post a pick her