Chewing powder coating on cage, HELP

PaperLantern · Jun 2, 2013

Chubby, my GCC, gets 4-5 hours out of the cage every day. He has a plethora of different toys, fresh food and water, and lots of attention. Lately he has begun picking at one corner of his cage. I think he likes the sound. It's a new cage with black powder coating. I checked today and noticed that the coating where he is chewing has worn down. Now I'm panicking. Is the coating poisonous? What about the bars underneath?

How can I discourage this behavior, or at least put a stop to it until I can afford a stainless steel cage? They are VERY expensive and I just don't have the funds right now, but I'm saving up. Any ideas? I'm really freaking out as I don't want him to get sick.

Nocturnal · Jun 2, 2013

The coating should not be poisonous. That stinker. I have a sun conure who has effectively removed a large amount of the powder coating on the bars of his king's cage as well. He started doing it when I started attending college classes and nothing will dissuade him (no amount of toys).

I don't notice the behavior so much now, but he has chewed off a good portion of of the paint. I'm considering taking the cage to be re-powder coated. The powder coating itself should be harmless, considering it is supposed to be an inert plastic.

weco · Jun 2, 2013

Nocturnal's right, the power coated finish starts out as an inert plastic powder that flows onto the cage surfaces when electricity passes through the cage metal, attracting the powder & causing it to adhere to the metal.....

PaperLantern · Jun 2, 2013

So should I worry about the bars underneath if he continues chewing? I estimate I'll be able to afford a stainless steel cage in two-three months. But I don't want him to get heavy metal toxicity before then. Is there anything I can do to discourage this behavior? What about one of those bitter sprays that's supposed to stop parrots from picking at their feathers?

weco · Jun 2, 2013

PaperLantern said:
So should I worry about the bars underneath if he continues chewing? I estimate I'll be able to afford a stainless steel cage in two-three months. But I don't want him to get heavy metal toxicity before then. Is there anything I can do to discourage this behavior? What about one of those bitter sprays that's supposed to stop parrots from picking at their feathers?

Powder coating is normally applied over a steel, tin,iron & copper base metal, however a zinc primer coat might have been applied prior to the power coating.....without stripping samples & having them tested or knowing the cage manufacturer, there's no way of knowing whether zinc primer was used.....the new government regulations against lead in paints (U.S.) does not apply to factory applied paints/coatings.....can't help with the sprays...never used them.....

WannaBeAParrot · Jun 3, 2013

How about trying vet tape wrapped around the bars in that corner. you can wrap it around a number of times. you could even cut out some squares of cardboard and put it over the areas of chewing, then wrape the vet tape around that, so that there will be some layers between him and the powder coating.

Also, see about little bells, maybe he'd like a different and new noise.

dragonlady2 · Jun 3, 2013

Another alternative to SS cage might be aluminum. It's cheaper so you might be able to afford it sooner. My Sennie did the same thing re: chewed the powder coating off and then it looked like whatever the base metal was, it was rusting. He does not chew the aluminum at all and it is a dream to set up and clean as well.

PaperLantern · Jun 3, 2013

Dragonlady2, I was looking at aluminum cages but then I came across online articles that say these are dangerous too if chewed. You haven't had any problems with yours? I'll have to do more research, thanks!

As for the vet wrap, I might try that while I wait. If he decides to chew the vet wrap is that safe? I see that it's pretty cheap online so I'll order a roll.

Thank you!

dragonlady2 · Jun 3, 2013

My Sennie began chewing where the food dishes were and then slowly progressed up the whole side of his cage. It looks and feels like the bars are a little thicker on the aluminum cage and so far he has shown no interest in chewing them. Just my experience so far.

Chewing powder coating on cage, HELP

PaperLantern

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Four month old GCC has started biting.

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