Doug Posted September 4, 2011 Share Posted September 4, 2011 For making my own toys, I am looking for chains. I know that I'm supposed to avoid zinc plating. What about: * Nickel plating * Chrome plating * Brass plating? I looked at the toys for sale in the local pet megamart. The chains are not stainless so they must be one of the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDS5607 Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 They're nickel played usually. Stainless steel is expensive, but resists rust... I have always used (and sell) nickel plated chain & it's safe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 Thanks, Jenn. I'll buy some nickel-plated chain to make my toys. (And yes, I will be careful about the type of chain to avoid claw snags!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Have you considered using plastic chain? I buy 2" plastic chain for my grey and cockatoo to chew on/play with and 3" chain for my Macaw. You can find it pretty cheap online I have ordered from here before (http://www.stanchiondepot.com/plasticchain.html) I would start with a 50' bag of chain and a bag of S hooks and you can cut them to length and string them up pretty much anyway you want. This is a few feet on a perch I built, we use a TON of it in our aviary outside and the birds love swinging and climbing on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 I was looking for very small chain to go through the center of blocks of wood, etc., to make hanging toys. As you can see to the right of that picture, I am using some plastic chain on its own for a toy. (In that case, I have three strands hanging together). One my play stand, I have one strand connecting two perches: I like your idea of using tie-wraps to attach stuff to the chains. (I use tie-wraps as much as I use duct tape in my daily life. I've already used tie-wraps in several of the bird toys that I've made...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) I gotcha, A good alternative to metal chain for toys is Cotton Clothesline, again you can cut it to length and string up just about anything you want with a knot in between each item. We make a ton of wood/plastic chew toys that we string with the clothesline and it works great. Plus its really hard for them to chew through. I also use it for wrapping foot posts on my PVC perches so they have something to dig their nails into and its cheap enough to just remove and throw away once its gets dirty or sticky! Almost forgot, those arent zip ties! they are actually straws haha all of our birds love playing with them for some reason so I just grab bunch and tie them together with another straw, and then tie the clump I just made to the chains! I used to use zip ties in the aviary but it got old reconnecting everything on a daily basis, our macaw finds great pleasure in disassembling anything I make and snapping zip ties is also a favorite past time so I try and make things that are easily reassembled. The s hooks are great for reconnecting busted chains. Edited September 12, 2011 by Mr. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Here's one to consider: http://www.mrchain.com/plastic-chain/ring-plastic-chain/2-ring-plastic-chain 2" diameter round links. You can get them in huge variety of very bright colors (including flourescent and alternating). Hmm. I just noticed this note: "All plastic chain from Mr. Chain is treated with U.V.-protectant coating for long-lasting color and quality." I sent them an email asking about that, but I'm not sure it is bird-safe. I only saw that noted on the "heavy duty chains" section - it was not mentioned on any of the other plastic chain categories. I wonder if that is a standard practice with plastic chain manufacturers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 thats odd, I have never heard of that. Plus that place is kind of pricey, if you dont care about color or shape, white chain here (http://www.crowdcontrolstore.com/8mm2plasticchainbagof50.aspx) is on sale for $25.98 for 50' thats only $0.51 a foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Well, it might be nice to buy it in less than 50' lengths to get a bigger variety of colors. The standard duty 2" chain from Mr. Chain is $0.85. (More expensive, but available in any length.) By the way, in the link that you provided, the orange is $0.60 per foot, the yellow is $0.70 per foot and the pink and green are $1 per foot. If you're buying multiple colors it is a bit of a toss... Once I hear back about the UV coating (if it is not an issue), I will probably buy 10' each of a half dozen different colors, just to mix things up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) I hear ya, just keep in mind it doesn't take long for them to chew through links so plan on your 10 ft section becoming two 5 ft section in about 24 hours... repeat that process everyday... I have yet to see my birds favor one color over another so Im usually buying a 50 ft bag of whatever is the cheapest every month or so for them to play with and chew up. right now they have 3" white chain for $33 for 50' and 2" black chain for $26 for 50' I just ordered a bag of both. Edited September 12, 2011 by Mr. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Gotcha! I'll wait a bit to see what Elegua does. (I pick her up in five days!) She's just a baby so I don't want to overload her... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 wow they are letting your take her young!!! we didnt get to take our CAG home until she was just shy of 6 months but fully weaned. good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Yeah. After reading through some of the older threads on this forum, there seems to be a huge range... From what I've read, TAGs in the wild leave their parents substantially earlier than CAGs. (I'm not sure it is scientifically established...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 that is very true, every bird is different! good luck on your quest for chains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 I got a reply from "Mr. Chains": The Ultra Violet Inhibitors we use is not a coating, it's actually formulated or encapsulated right into our colorant to protect our material. We have several companies that purchase our chain for bird toys. With the exception of our safety orange and safety green, our chain does not contain heavy metals. I hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any other questions. An odd reply considering their website clearly states "coating" on one of the pages. Please note the comment about the safety orange and safety green!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I am not sure whats more bizarre the "coating" or the "heavy metals" in orange and green.... I wonder if the safety colors are reflective and have metal flake in them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Yup. A bit odd... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 do you have any local bird stores that might sell plastic chain? I have one store by me that does but its VERY expensive ($3/ft) so I just buy in bulk online and have yet to have any problem with that chain I posted earlier but the birds have a tendency of making it expensive because I use it in the aviary and in all three of their cages/perches so 50 ft doesnt seem like much in a hurry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupid Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Gotcha! I'll wait a bit to see what Elegua does. (I pick her up in five days!) She's just a baby so I don't want to overload her... Well is today the big day? ? ? I cant wait to see Elegua. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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