Painted Cage

[grandma]

Anyone know if should paint cages?

I have a friend who wants to paint her bird cage. I told her I didn't think she should. She said if you use a non-toxic paint it would be o.k.
I told her she was crazy but maybe I'm wrong.

Any advise?

[Buteo]

Even if it's non-toxic paint, it won't last very long against a beak (as you well know).

A more expensive, but much longer lasting route would be to take it a shop have it cleaned, sandblasted & powder-coated.

[The Outlaw]

Ah, but there's the rub: by the time you have it sandblasted and then powder coated, you're looking at the cost of many new cages.

If this is an everyday cage, its impractical to paint it. If its a spare and the bird will only spend limited time, its worth doing IF the cage is a good cage. Use acrylic, child safe paint. Don't use Rustoleum. If you use a childsafe primer, you'll get better "traction" for the new paint to bond to. I tried spraying an extra cage and it was a waste of paint. I then switched to using two different rollers, and it worked just great. I had a small one for tight places and a wider one for the big spaces. Of course, this was a large cage. When selecting paint, be sure to look for low VOC ratings and never place a bird in a cage if you can still smell the paint. Let the paint cure and air out. I'd say a week would be adequate.

[CALVINS MOM]

I heard Krylon is safe if cured for a week or so. Has anyone heard different? I actually was told this by Kings Cages years ago.

[Buteo]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Ah, but there's the rub: by the time you have it sandblasted and then powder coated, you're looking at the cost of many new cages.

Yeah, it depends on where ya go, but getting anything PC'd isn't cheap.....
I did say it was the more expensive route.

[CALVINS MOM]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

When selecting paint, be sure to look for low VOC ratings

Nancy - what is a VOC rating? I'd like to know, as customers oftentimes ask me what is safe. Thanks!

[denmor55]

Epoxy Coat II is a food grade Epoxy paint used in many food processing plants and when cured Should be safe. But I contacted the company and they would not guarantee that if the bird was to ingest the coating that it would be safe.

[jimpierce7]

I did extensive search and destroy on this topic last February. The final result pretty much was if it can be ingested don't do it. I called the major paint companies and talked to them and if you have a bird that likes to chew the cage there are no safe paints. The main reason is ALL pigmants have metal in them. My quest ended after talking to a Kelly Moore employee whose mom lost her Macaw after painting the cage with non toxic (child safe) paint.

[grandma]

Thanks...I'll let her know all this. I still tell her no. It's for a Macaw. If it wasfor a budgie maybe.

[Mlewis]

My friend painted their cage for a goffins cockatoo. it was really old. I don't remember what paint she used, but it was the nursery/child safe paint. This was quite a while ago. Paint has held up fine and so is the bird.