Читать книгу Birds For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 90

Metal is the best material for cage construction. Wood is too hard to clean and usually won’t stand up to the abuse birds can give out. Some manufacturers are experimenting with acrylics; these components can make attractive housing for your pet, but they may not offer enough social interaction and ventilation to keep a bird happy. (Acrylics do make some of the best toys, though.)

Metal cages are made of stainless steel, brass, aluminum, galvanized wire, or iron and come in all kinds of designs, with or without paint. Choose a model without fussiness — an embellished lodging may look good in the store, but you’re apt to regret the purchase every time you try to clean poop out of the decorative elements. Pay attention to safety and practicality when you’re shopping for your bird.

Galvanized metal is fine — at least it won’t rust — but look for galvanizing material that’s electroplated on, not dipped. The latter process too often leaves beads of material that parrots can chip off and swallow, putting them at risk of zinc or lead poisoning or both. Powder coating is popular in many decorator colors and is fine for most birds. (Some dedicated chewers can remove the paint, though, and some paints can contain risky levels of zinc, lead, or other heavy metals.) If you think about it, nothing about paint should be acceptable for consumption.