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Hi guys,

I just got a new play gym at the bird fair. It's made out of 2 x 2's, wood dowl's and rope, but is is on a galvanized tray. A friend of mine said that they have zinc and I should wash it with vinegar water. But now I am worried to use it. Any suggestions? I don't want them to come in contact with the metal if it is harmful. I thought about taking it off of the metal tray and putting it on that laminate shelving stuff.

If we could all afford stainless steel, we'd have no use for galvanized-after-welding cages. But GAW cages have been used by most breeders for more decades than most of us have been around. Ask your vet how many cases of zinc poisoning s/he's treated in the last year, or 5 years, and how many were breeder birds. After 15 years and over 200 birds, the only one of mine who suffered zinc poisoning got it from the Zephyr Hills bottled water.

http://www.naturalbird.com/faq/

Yes, I would wash it with vinegar. I use hardware cloth that has coated in lead and zinc and I wash it with vinegar have never had any problems with it.

I have a playgym that is all wood dowels, too. I cover the bottom with newspaper for ease of cleaning. I'd wash it and then cover the bottom with paper and watch your fids have fun!