I have some questions regarding PVC safety.

Hi, I got some PVC pipes and fittings and I’m going to make a really simple perch for my green cheek conure hybrid.

I’ve included a photo of my concerns and would really appreciate any help.


I saw on Etsy a shop that sells PVC bird perched and they say that plumbing PVC could give off toxins and be unsafe due to lead etc. and they use only specialty food safe PVC. I called the manufacturer of the hardware store PVC pipes (Charlotte plumbing) and they said there is no lead in the pipes.

With that being said, I’m still not sure if the markings on the pipes are safe or if they need to be sanded off?

I noticed the joints and caps are not completely smooth. There are parts that have rough plastic. I’m worried that it could easily be chewed. There is also embossed inscriptions on the plastic that can be chewed.


Thank you for an help!!

If you feel you must...


(I am also pretty picky about these things, and I think you plastic is just fine)


Plastic can be sanded smooth, just use very fine grain sandpaper.


(I would use a file (even an nailfile/ the cardboard ones will bend -better to follow the shape of the pipe) first, just to get a quick headstart)

crackerjack said:

I saw on Etsy a shop that sells PVC bird perched and they say that plumbing PVC could give off toxins and be unsafe due to lead etc. and they use only specialty food safe PVC. I called the manufacturer of the hardware store PVC pipes (Charlotte plumbing) and they said there is no lead in the pipes.

Click to expand...

When PVC 'type' products first came on the market a very long time ago, they where known to release an oil used to extrude them from the molds /dies. In addition that product aged quickly via, hardening and then cracking. Just for a time line, that was late 1950, the 1960 and gone before the mid 1970's. Tons of law suits and major pay-outs. Even way back in those bad old days, there was never lead as part of that product. I'm thinking the folks at the shop have confused older copper piping and mixed it with older PVC piping to create their scary story.

Surprise, its 2018 and the PVC piping your buying at the hardware store today is both food and drinking water safe.

As covered above, sandpaper and/or metal files quickly remove the bits you don't like. Remember that the rapid cutting sandpaper and metal files leave groves. So, use with caution and have fine sandpaper and/or metal files to leave a smoother surface.

Enjoy!

FYI: Do not buy plastic conduit piping, its totally different and not to be use for food or drinking water applications.

Dont forget to wrap any perch area with natual twine or other natural rope like product. PVCpipe is way too slippery for parrot feets. Vet tape also works well.

I've been making perches, stands, and gyms out of regular, old, white plastic plumbing PVC from Lowes for years. I would never, ever use anything that wasn't checked as being safe for my birds, and I can guarantee you that there is no lead in any plumbing PVC, there can't be, it's the same as using lead pipes for your plumbing, it's not done anymore and hasn't been for quite a while.

If you notice the ridiculous prices the sellers on Etsy charge for their PVC perches/stands, they are saying this to try to justify the cost of their stuff. It's ridiculous to think that any piping used for plumbing would knowingly contain lead in this day and age, unless labeled as such. Again, they're trying to rationalize paying $200 for a play-gym that cost them around $20-$30 to make.

Ok, I sanded the inscriptions just fine. The plastic itself also got sanded down. I have white powder on my hands and sandpaper. , but the joints are too hard to be sanded down. Do you think they are fine as is? (I did include the joints in my photo).