Stainless steel chain

DRB · Jul 15, 2016

I'm planning on getting a stainless steel chain to lock up my bird cage when I'm gone. There's been an uptick in break ins and theft where I live and a few cases of pets being taken in those thefts.

Anyone have any experience with stainless steel and their birds, outside of the bowls for their food and water?

She'll see the chain and eventually be curious and nibble at it, I don't think it would be a big deal, just want to double check in case someone has a thought I haven't come up with on my own.

Allee · Jul 15, 2016

Stainless Steel chain is safe.

SailBoat · Jul 15, 2016

As stated, stainless steel chain is safe. It is also expensive. Based on the thickness of the chain link and the length of the link, the larger Bolt Cutters with a handle length of 40" (1016 mm) or greater will cut most common size chain links on the market unless the chain material is 'Hardened' like the high-end 'MasterLock' products.

Reality: Crime is everywhere today and there is little sign of its decreasing in the near future! If you are seeing a clear increase in crime very near where you live, sadly you should consider moving! Distances is a clear factor in reducing the likelihood of your being broken into!

Understanding that is not always possible:
Your first defense is to harden your apartment /home by upgrading your door and window locks!
A Security System that is 'Cell' based like SimpleSafe is your second line of defense! This type of system is easy to install by yourself!
Specific to your Parrot: If your medium to larger Parrot does not have a Micro Chip, make that happen ASAP! It is the only way you have to assure that you are your Parrots Owner!!!!
Understanding that a good old fashion hammer can easily separate, break, and open the bars on nearly any medium to larger Parrot cage. A chain is of little help in stopping a professional thief!

The products listed are common names in the North American market and are provided as examples only! Other like products are available with like or equal product offering. This is not meant to be a recommendation of any specific product!

Kiwibird · Jul 15, 2016

Stainless chain is safe, but be careful where you source it and get high-grade stainless. I ordered some apparently low grade "stainless" chain a while back and after washing it ONCE, it rusted! Stainless shouldn't rust. I have high quality stainless chains on some acrylic toys that have been washed countless times and beat up on by him that still look new.

DRB · Jul 16, 2016

Allee said:
Stainless Steel chain is safe.

SailBoat said:
As stated, stainless steel chain is safe. It is also expensive. Based on the thickness of the chain link and the length of the link, the larger Bolt Cutters with a handle length of 40" (1016 mm) or greater will cut most common size chain links on the market unless the chain material is 'Hardened' like the high-end 'MasterLock' products.

Reality: Crime is everywhere today and there is little sign of its decreasing in the near future! If you are seeing a clear increase in crime very near where you live, sadly you should consider moving! Distances is a clear factor in reducing the likelihood of your being broken into!

Understanding that is not always possible:
Your first defense is to harden your apartment /home by upgrading your door and window locks!
A Security System that is 'Cell' based like SimpleSafe is your second line of defense! This type of system is easy to install by yourself!
Specific to your Parrot: If your medium to larger Parrot does not have a Micro Chip, make that happen ASAP! It is the only way you have to assure that you are your Parrots Owner!!!!
Understanding that a good old fashion hammer can easily separate, break, and open the bars on nearly any medium to larger Parrot cage. A chain is of little help in stopping a professional thief!

The products listed are common names in the North American market and are provided as examples only! Other like products are available with like or equal product offering. This is not meant to be a recommendation of any specific product!

My concern is low level thieves, heroin or meth heads that take anything they can carry that they can sell. Those type aren't taking the time to try to figure out how to get a bird cage unchained. They are the ones that want in and out as quickly as possible.

It's non violent crime and I will not run from it.

plumsmum2005 · Jul 17, 2016

I applaud your strength in saying you will not run from this type of behaviour. Probably sensible to keep an open mind on this though.

If it is what you are saying then doing some of the precautions already mentioned could well hold you in good stead as they probably cannot be bothered with the extra agro.

Additional precautions such as being careful when having things delivered (new TV etc) as you do not know who is watching. Also simple things like leaving a radio on a timer and lights and drawing blinds and curtains at dusk. If Perjo is having an all out shouting session then close any windows etc. All common sense stuff.

Funny story:-
One time we couldn't get the car near the house as the road was being dug up and loads of workmen around and we needed to go away for few days with Plum. I am pretty OTT regarding him being observed coming and going. Anyway the only way I was happy was to put poor Plum in his travel cage and then him be carried over to the car in a black plastic sack so he couldn't be seen. He kinda messed it up a little as he was calling out "hello, hello" from inside the plastic sack. Best laid plans! It did come straight off in the car!

OutlawedSpirit · Jul 17, 2016

plumsmum2005 said:
Funny story:-
One time we couldn't get the car near the house as the road was being dug up and loads of workmen around and we needed to go away for few days with Plum. I am pretty OTT regarding him being observed coming and going. Anyway the only way I was happy was to put poor Plum in his travel cage and then him be carried over to the car in a black plastic sack so he couldn't be seen. He kinda messed it up a little as he was calling out "hello, hello" from inside the plastic sack. Best laid plans! It did come straight off in the car!

I bet the neighbors were really curious at that point! Carrying something out in a black plastic bag as it calls "Hello" from inside! I bet that was hilarious!

Kiwibird · Jul 17, 2016

Just a thought I had, but you may want to anchor the cage to the floor or wall as well as chaining it shut. That way they can't simply roll the cage out and cut the chain off later. Some of these guys have trucks, so it isn't outside the realm of possibilities for some deranged meth head to steal a bird, cage and all. I am still bitter about it to this day, but we got a huge (used) cage given to us for free not long after we first got Kiwi, as he was living in a small temporary cage on loan from my parents. I set it right outside our front door overnight because I needed to wash it first. It was stolen, a macaw sized cage wheeled off into the night by tweekers. It wasn't too long after that we moved out of that place.

Have you also been looking into security doors and window bars? If you are going to try and ride out a crime wave, the best protection is to make it next to impossible for the drugged out losers to break in in the first place.

Scott · Jul 17, 2016

One of the most effective anti-burglary devices is a dog! Thieves would prefer to burglarize in silence and "safety." Having a dog that barks generally sends the message of "try the next house."

Of course not everybody wants or can have a dog, but if your area is experiencing an uptick of crime it may be something to consider!

wrench13 · Jul 17, 2016

Listen, if someone wants to steal your bird, and not the cage, all the chains in the world are not going to prevent them. A petty burglar is not looking to take a parrot, they want stuff the can move easily and quickly.. jewelry , electronics . Imagine a thief showing up at the fence with a grey bitting the crap out of his hand. Unless you got a hyacinth or a spix parrot I don't see a bird as a worry. Now, exactly where do you live? Just kidding.

MonicaMc · Jul 18, 2016

There is one bird at work that is locked up with a chain. There are two locks on the cage (one that came standard with the cage, the second that was added on afterwards), plus a metal tab that hangs down to keep the door closed, but not locked, this particular bird can still get out!

Currently using chain and a quick link to keep the door shut, but if the bird tried hard enough, the bird could still get that opened! There was a padlock on the door previously....

Another bird also had a (huge) chain and combo pad lock on her cage, but since upgrading her cage, she hasn't figured out the new cage lock yet, so no chain required!!!!

And these are to keep the birds from getting OUT of their cages when they aren't supposed to come out!!!!

DRB · Jul 18, 2016

Kiwibird said:
Just a thought I had, but you may want to anchor the cage to the floor or wall as well as chaining it shut. That way they can't simply roll the cage out and cut the chain off later. Some of these guys have trucks, so it isn't outside the realm of possibilities for some deranged meth head to steal a bird, cage and all. I am still bitter about it to this day, but we got a huge (used) cage given to us for free not long after we first got Kiwi, as he was living in a small temporary cage on loan from my parents. I set it right outside our front door overnight because I needed to wash it first. It was stolen, a macaw sized cage wheeled off into the night by tweekers. It wasn't too long after that we moved out of that place.

Have you also been looking into security doors and window bars? If you are going to try and ride out a crime wave, the best protection is to make it next to impossible for the drugged out losers to break in in the first place.

This cage isn't gettign wheeled out of the house, it's a King Cage, it was very difficult to get it in fully assembled and now the lower guards are bolted on it. Won't fit into any hallway or out any door now. I'm not putting bars on windows or getting crazy doors. The uptick in crime is just that an uptick in crime, but it's petty crime in that the typical incident is in and out quickly grabbing what they can carry and run. Kind of like a kid stealing from a corner store.

Some day in the future I will have a second large cage on the second floor for Perjo to sleep over night or stay while I'm gone during the day. I'll get a special security gate/door for said spare room.

Stainless steel chain

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