Bird owners. Is your bird cage made in China? Our local news, WLEX

[alfredo]

had a story about birds in a local bird sanctuary that were getting sick. They tested them and found they had lead in their systems. They found the Chinese cages have lead in their paint. At least one bird has died.

I will try to find a text copy or video of this report.

[Kali]

1. shouldn't use painted cages for live birds anyway

[alfredo]

2. True, but many new bird owners may not know that.

They should figure out that they will eventually chew off the paint.

[alfredo]

3. Found a link to the story

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=7043217


"Several of the birds were getting thin and not acting just right," said founder and president of the sanctuary Mary Ann Tobin.

That's when Dr. Michael O'Bryan started suspecting the cages the birds live in.

"We all know that there have been reports of lead in the paint of children's toys, so we had some wondering is there lead in the paint of these cages that were made in China," O'Bryan said.

And his intuition was right. He sent off pieces of the cages and the test results came back positive for lead.

[mopinko]

4. you can get test kits at the hardware store.

lead test kits are inexpensive, and easy to come by.
but just to be a little more accurate with language- bird cages are not usually painted. they are powder coated. some birds do manage to chew bits off, but powder coating is a lot sturdies than paint.
most that look like they are brass or stainless, or some other metal are not, tho. they are also coated. an actual stainless cage would be in the $5-600 range for a small cage, if you can even find them.

[alfredo]

6. The cages in the story looked like the powder coated style.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. That's why I make my own, out of depleted uranium.

I don't trust foreigners to care for my birds the way that I do.






:dunce: