Aussie Finch Forum

GregH, I have learn that galvinised metal should cured for 2 months or scrubbed with vinegar, prior to putting birds in cages and/or aviaries, why is this.

When the vinegar is put on galvinised metal, it smells like battery acid, why.

Thank you in advance. Kind Regards.

From what i've read, you have to scrub the wire to remove any excess zinc that could kill the birds if they ingest it.
I used a diluted vinegar solution, 2 cups of vinegar to a bucket of water. Seems to have worked well.
Make sure you wash the vinegar off once you are done though, otherwise it'll just keep eating the wire.

I think this is all right, but i'm not 100%

Painted4 wrote:From what i've read, you have to scrub the wire to remove any excess zinc that could kill the birds if they ingest it.
I used a diluted vinegar solution, 2 cups of vinegar to a bucket of water. Seems to have worked well.
Make sure you wash the vinegar off once you are done though, otherwise it'll just keep eating the wire.

I think this is all right, but i'm not 100%

The white powder that gets on the wire is the stuff thats poisonous... (known as white rust)

There are a number of simple steps that can greatly reduce or eliminate the formation of white rust. These are:

1. Keep the packed work dry
2. Pack the items to permit air circulation between the surfaces
3. Stack the packed items to allow water to drain out
4. Treat the surface with proprietary water repellent or barrier coatings to prevent moisture contact with galvanized surface.

Thank you so much everyone. I did the vinegar scrub, and then went over with biodegradable soap. As well as everything else while I was at it. Again, thanks for sharing with me.

Vettepilot_6, you mentioned putting some barrier on the mesh. What would that be, and consist of?

Kindest Regards

BluJay wrote:
Vettepilot_6, you mentioned putting some barrier on the mesh. What would that be, and consist of?

Kindest Regards

I paint mine with enamel paint, (less poisonous then the zinc rust) but a lot of people use exterior acrylic paint, tried that doesnt last as long IMO Also finches dont seem to nibble on the wire (unlike parrots) although they will drink the water droplets of it (if left unpainted thats where the problem lies the white rust will condense in the droplets)

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for plants and animals but an excess dose can lead to problems. The "white rust" that accumulates on bright new wire is zinc oxide and in large amounts it is toxic to birds that chew on it. Washing it with vinegar is likely to convert it to zinc acetate which is probably more soluble than the zinc oxide but like the oxide it coats the wire and prevents further oxidation of the more toxic metallic zinc underneath . From what I've read zinc toxicity more of a problem for bored parrots than a problem for finches. The Vet Clinic in Melbourne has a good article on this topic if you'd like to read more (Heavy Metal Poisoning in Birds). If you are painting then make sure that the paint isn't toxic itself as parrots will continue to chew it. I'm not sure what Myzo's up to a the moment as he seems to have gone quiet since moving to Melbourne.

Thank you GregH, it is interesting what you say about parrots, and their chewing. I read the article. Amazing. Wonder if Harold the duck made it through. Kind Regards.