Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject: Building Aviary
Hi new to this so bear with me. Building an aviary and concerned about zinc/lead poisoning due to Galv wire and frame. I've spayed with vinegar and going to paint with water based roof paint. Is this ok? All so I've read not to use wire ties to attach the netting to the frame but I can't see why un less its because the birds can pull them off and get stuck in there throat's. Frame is 20x20 square Galv and mesh is 19x19 welded 1.2mm wire, I'll use 2-3mm ties.
I know of no one who has had Zn piosoning from Dalc wire, treated or untreated...thu curing with vinigar is a still a good idea...
Roof paint, I would stay away from as it may have a high metal content,
We use a dk brown water based interior paint applied to the outside only with a small sponge roller
Appli wire tires from yje outside so the ends are on the outside...stops birds getting feet caught up...
I assume u have a steel frame???
We use 50x50mm H1 borax treated wood frames wirh mesh stapled with 9/16 staples applied with an electric staple gun to the inside of the frame _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
kakariki are not likely to chew wire so there is not much of a problem. Large parrots are more likely to chew wire and I have heard of birds (usually Macaws and Cockatoos) dying from injuries caused by ingesting pieces of wire.
The best advice that I have to offer is:
1.) Never use brand new wire that you have just purchased, wash down the wire with vinegar and leave the wire outside exposed to the elements for a couple of months. This will get rid of most of the zinc and the traces that are left will be too small to harm your birds.
2.) Provide plenty of natural items for your birds to chew. If they have enough natural items, they are not likely to ever bother to chew the wire.
3.) Use lead free paint. Wait a week after painting before you intoduce birds.
Allen, or anyone who can answer this question, for how many months should the galv wire be outside? Minimum (me reeally wants to introduce them to a new cage!)
I have always had to build new avairies quick...so the mesh is new..
I do check for any galv dags on the wire that could break off
When built, the walls floors mesh get spayed with 50/50 vinegar and the birds put straight in. The acid of the vinegar oxides the galv on the mesh.
The chanes are , by the time the mesh has been hot diped in zinc, held in the warehouse, shipped to the wholesalers, held there, shipped to the retailer (who normally buys in rolls for customers) then gets to the end user , the galve has already a reasonable amont of protectve oxidation.
I have felt for many yrs now the issue of gave mesh is hgly over rated...
I have yet to actally know of anyone loosing birds because of the galv, if any dags are removed....a 30 meter roll I may find nil to 3 dags.
If you have any doubts, light spray with vinegar, that causes oxidation within 10 mins or so...then paint with a water based paint..dk brown or green or black.
I use a small 100mm sponge roller, only do the outside, dont have paint build up on the cnrs of the mesh, and often have the birds in the avairy at the time..I do it on a snny day for fast dry.
On a new avairy with new birds added I like to watch for a good 30 mins or so, with a coffee and comfortable deck chair...ths tends to keep them off the mesh when the paint drys _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
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