FINCHforum

This is an article that I found stating the above is true. This guy lays out an interesting article, although I wonder if there are contrary findings out there. anyway, i though it would be interesting food for thought. i enjoyed reading it.

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww14eii.htm

my start in birds was with budgies about 30 years ago from there I progressed through all different types of parrots (bourkes, conures, IRN's among them).
I have always used galvanised wire on my aviaries. haven't lost any birds to zinc poisoning.
the only reason That I do not use stainless wire is the price of it, maybe if I won the lotto then stainless would be within my price range.

I also have galvanized after welding wire, and have not lost a bird to poisoning. In fact the only bird that ever died on me was from egg binding. Finches just don't nibble on the wire, so I don't think it's an issue.

I don't beleive you need to worry with the wire, unless the birds are chewing. Any containers, feed, waterers, etc can cause hazzards. Most water dishes for birds are either plastic or stainless steel, which are safe.
Galvanized buckets are commonly used as feed buckets for horses and water buckets for dogs.... not wise.

I have noticed my Gouldians are running their beaks across the condensation on the tin roof part of the aviary. The only thing I could think of was they wanted the water, but there was three containers of fresh water available.
Also noticed when I put fresh water in the bowls and it runs down the wire a bit there are a couple of the Gouldians who cling to the wire and seem to sip the water off the wire. Wire not painted....yet.

Questions.

Is this safe.....if not any suggestions what to do?
Could they be missing any minerals vitamins that they find when the wire is wet. (Galv wire) I did read that article on Galv metal so Im not sure if this passtime would poison them or give them something they are missing.

I dont feed supplements, but I do give them a wide variety of food.
Seed mix, soaked and dry, canary seed, pannicum seed, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, fruit, boiled egg, crushed egg shell, grit, and the crumb mixture (I forget the name) the bird shop said the parents would feed it to the young. Also have been growing some kind of grass, grows in Queensland, the breeder gave to me when I got the birds. They also have cuttle fish and a commercial bird treat in the avairy.
I do get live food for the Senegal and Emblemas

Wow after re-reading that food list Im surprised I have room for the birds in there!

I dont think the Gouldians actually eat all this stuff, but its there if they need it.....maybe thats why my canaries are getting fat!

Diane