pvc

[marian]

I've been doing alot of reading up on building a playgym for Hiram.I've saved some great ideas and pics too. takes me forever to decide.I read and read before doing something.One question I have is pvc poisonous to our parrots? I was reading an article where it said pvc can be posionous.I need your opinions. I've saved some great ideas I just want to make sure.

 

[lotus15]

Personally, I avoid giving PVC to my birds whenever possible-- the only things that it's on are the ends of their rope perches and boings, but I watch those for chewing obsessively. According to the EPA, it releases a toxic fume when it is stressed or chewed. Here is a brief thread that touches on PVC from posts 3 to 5 I believe: http://forums.avianavenue.com/safety-avenue/17837-lexan-polycarbonate-bpa.html

 

[Birdasaurus]

I remember seeing previously that the soft PVC is what is a problem, not the hard pipes. I don't have time to find it right now, but I'll look later.

 

[atvchick95]

from my understanding the Pipes used for homes water are fine - those would be the Hard ones you'd get in the plumbing Isle.

its the "soft" pvc that isn't to be used with the birds, which I am thinking is what a lot of out side toys are made with (like the Ladder ball game my kids have it and its made from PVC, and the once piece on the bottom Broke very easily - just by one of the balls hitting it - that would of not happened if it was made from the same pipes used for our water)

 

[Bokkapooh]

From my understanding its the soft PVC that you want to avoid. Hard PVC is safe.

Its what most water companies use for our drinking water, etc!

 

[marian]

Thanks everyone Just want to be safe

 

[zoomama]

Do a search here on PVC gyms or PVC playstands. You'll see that tons of us have made them, along with instructions, ideas, pics etc. The only safety concerns I remember hearing about was 1) to sand the numbers/letters that are printed in ink on the pipe, and 2) when sanding, do that away from the birds so they don't breathe in the fine particles, and 3) you might want to cover it with vetwrap, hemp, etc., or put small scratches on it because it will be slippery for your bird. Good luck!

 

[lotus15]

I know that hard PVC is supposedly safe for water pipe purposes... but I haven't read anything about it being different from soft PVC when it is chewed or stressed?