How to Prevent Paint Chipping in Pet Bird Cages

The paint on pet bird cages can be dangerous to your pets. If it contains zinc or lead and the bird chews on the paint, it can cause poisoning that will need to be treated by a vet and can result in death. Many paints will chip easily, especially those that aren’t made to adhere well to the metal. You can take steps to reduce chipping in pet bird cages, and also to keep your bird safe.

Step 1 - Cleaning

Put your bird in another cage, preferably in another room, if at all possible. When you use paint there will be chemicals, and these can affect the bird. Do the work in a well-ventilated room for your own comfort and safety.

Empty out the old pet bird cage and discard the contents. Wash out the interior to remove any loose paint chips and debris. Take you wire brush and begin to scrub the bars of the cage. Use a small brush as this will offer the greatest flexibility for you as you work. Remove as much of the paint as you can with the wire brush. Wear safety goggles and a dusk mask as you work to protect yourself from any small chips and rust in the air.

Step 2 - Sanding

Once you’ve removed all the paint that will come off easily, you’ll need to use sandpaper on the bars. This is a long process. Wrap a piece of sandpaper around the bar and rub up and down until you reach bare metal. The alternative is to take the cage to a place where it can be sandblasted. This will be thorough, but it will also cost money.

After you’ve sanded the cage completely, you’ll need to wipe it with a damp cloth. This will take off any particles of dust or paint that have landed in corners or on flat surfaces and will clean it prior to painting.

Step 3 - Painting

You can leave the cage as bare metal, and this will cut out any paint chips in the cage. Most people prefer to paint pet bird cages as it looks better. For this you’ll need to use special non toxic paint. Look for one that’s safe for babies. It needs to contain no zinc, no chromate, and no lead. This is vital. You also want a paint that’s classed as high adhesion, as this will prevent chipping because the paint will bond well with the metal, and hard wearing. Don’t buy paints that are meant to fight rust. You can use either a spray paint or apply with a brush. If you spray, keep a large piece of cardboard behind the area you’re spraying to catch overspray.

Step 4 - Drying

Allow plenty of time for the paint to dry before you return the bird to the pet bird age. Ideally you should give a week’s drying time, especially with solvent-based paints. This allows the vapors to disperse completely. Don’t ever put a cover over a bird in a newly painted cage.