Zoey's Cage Results!!

[MoluccanZoey]

OK, here are the results on Zoey's cage, I got them on the phone just seconds ago.
Zinc- Fine 35 ppm
Lead - 530 ppm

They said that was: "above acceptible"
SO... What now? :confused:

[Julie]

I know you were shopping around for a SS cage.... Have you ordered it yet?

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Great news.

The lead is a tad on the high side - but it is still within safe levels. The fed standards for lead in household porducts and toys is 600ppm. Your cage is close to that at 530ppm.

Now let me clarify --- the 600ppm is the fed standard for HUMANS - no one knows exactly how much is toxic for birds. No one has fed parrots toxic paint chips to see how they would react.

Dr. Peter Jowetter at LSU says he would like to see cages test below 300ppm for lead and zinc below 200ppm.

If your bird is not a bar chewer --- you should be okay.

But - always check and double check if your bird starts to chew on the bars. What they do today is not a gaurentee what they will do the minute your back is turned.

Breath a sigh of relief.

I will add - my A&E cage tested at 3,200ppm for lead. Others have tested from a low of 500ppm to a high of 19,300 ppm... with most in the range of 3,000ppm.

Lar

[MoluccanZoey]

I'm still shopping- (i have it narrowed down to a few brands and types) but now that I know she's not in one that's in the 1000's range I can use a month to save and maybe upgrade her to a larger one (she was going to have to go to a smaller one, so now WILL get the same size or possibly larger). So I'll take a month or two to save (since she's not a chewer) and see if I can't find her the PERFECT cage! Here's what I'm looking at:

http://birdcageportal.com/inc/sdetail/2067

http://www.freedomcage.com/original/wekiwa.htm
Or something in their "custom" line

http://www.animalenvironments.com/luxor.html

http://www.kingscages.com/shop/view_product.php?product=506%20SS

So- which one gets your vote?

[Dot]

Heather, if your bird is not chewing on the bars, then you have a grace period. I get the feeling your mind is made up on SS now. I will add this - SS is just easier to clean. If someone thinks different, please tell her. Could be my imagination.

Now you can save for the cage of Zoey's dreams! ;)