galvanised metal bird baths

[BrianM]

hi guys
i have been useing galvanised metal bird baths now for 5 years with no problems,, but i had a guy round from a local center who i was buying a bird from ( i was impressed that he wanted to check out my set up before selling me a bird,, more people should ) any hows he was well chuffed with my set up but noticed the baths and said that a vet had told him that there are chemicals in the galvanised baths that are harmfull to the birds. and advised that i replace them with plastic... anybody heard of this before???

[Goldie]

Wouldn't be surprised Brian, but i recall reading an artical with regards disinfectant. Virkon S in particular has a detrimental effect on metal but I can't remember the facts, but it was definately an issue.

Who was the guy and which centre ?

[OutFlying]

Didn't harm the Clampitts :butthead: Wouldn't want my hawks to have talons on bare metal though. I think zinc (galvanizing) does react with certain chemicals though, it isn't used on eating utensils.

[Goldie]

[quote="OutFlying"]Didn't harm the Clampitts quote]

It sure harmed Jethro, or was that just inbreeding :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Tim Laycock]

Galvanising is basicaly coating the parent metal with Zink.
zink is to an extent poisonous and as such prolonged physical contact with zink galvanised items is not recomended as it can pass into the system by absorbtion through the skin. :vom:
Also although galvanising is carried out primarily as an anti corrosion barrier the zink coating will still oxidise in the same way as mild steel just at a greatly reduced rate.
This oxidisation will not be apparent but will definatly exist, as such it cannot fail to contaminate your birds bathwater to some degree.
Without an analysis of water that has stood in the bath for a week the extent of this contamination is difficult to guage. :?
It would also be a very expensive exercise thats for sure! :lol:

Hope to of provided food for thought :wink:

[RabbitHawker]

A newly galvanised bath is much more dangerous than one that has been allowed to weather. Hard water is also safer in a galvanised bath than soft or acidic water, so the risk depends on where you are.

[Tim Laycock]

A newly galvanised bath is much more dangerous than one that has been allowed to weather.
This is not strictly true as a rule.

Hard water is also safer in a galvanised bath than soft or acidic water, so the risk depends on where you are.
This however is and is a more than valid point :D

[Mary Quite Contrary]

I have read in several books about aviary construction that you must weather the galvanized mesh before use or paint it.
So i would suspect it must be the same for a bath.

I wouldnt use one for a BOP myself as when you grab anything galvanised it seems to leave a black mark on your hands from the metal. I did use them with the chickens and found after years of using them that i still got black stuff on my hands from them.

[RabbitHawker]

Blackbird, sorry to disagree, but newly galvanised steel does pose a higher risk of zinc toxicity in birds than weathered galvanised, this is well recognised, as the re is not a layer of zinc oxide on the surface.

[Tim Laycock]

Blackbird, sorry to disagree, but newly galvanised steel does pose a higher risk of zinc toxicity in birds than weathered galvanised, this is well recognised
Yes I suppose that on reflection, a newly galvanised bath would present a greater risk from the point of view that chemical residues and such may still be present on the galvanised surface. Washing and an amount of weathering will no doubt remove this.
But then by measure of this, as the bath is still at weather the surface will continue to oxidise as I have previously mentioned, thus to some degree contaminating the water.

you must weather the galvanized mesh before use or paint it.
So i would suspect it must be the same for a bath.

This is probably the best solution.
If a steel bath was polyester powder coated on top of the zink galvanise
you would then have a bath that would not only outlast your hawk, It would probably outlast you and your kids to boot.

[Arthur]

you can paint galvanised metal with Calcium Plumbate or Billingham Chromate and YES it shold be allowed eighteen months to oxidise

[OutFlying]

The best and cheapest baths are the plastic black lids for 45 gallon drums, good diameter, easy to clean, 4" deep. No danger to the wallet or hawk. :shock:

[Tim Laycock]

There are some good ones at all B&Q garden centres.
Green plastic 3" deep and 18" diamiter for £2.50.
They dont shatter like the B&Q plant pots either!