zinc on GAW wire mesh a concern?

[RJLchippie]

I am finaly getting some chippies! And due to wanting to give them bigger cages off the bat, I have decided to try my hand at making them myself, I am planning to use 1/2"X1" 16 gauge wire mesh held together with J clips, no wood frame as I am not good with a saw,  but on looking at the two types of mesh available, GBW= galvanized before welding and GAW=galvanized after welding, It seems GAW is reccomended as it holds up to urine and resists rust. But it is coated in Zinc and I am wondering if it might be toxic to the chips as it is to birds? I was just wondering what kind of mesh people in the UK use on there outdoor aviairys and if it is coated in aything?

[RJLchippie]

So I went down and picked up the wire, so far not too happy , first off I had to get 100' of it, then I was going to get the none galvanized type so I could use it for birds but was told it would not last long, and as there was serval rolls of it with rust wile the other was new looking I figured it was the better choice, found out though that it is coated in Zinc! but it is made for use on rabbit cages so? Then when I got home and took off the plastic found the edges were very sharp on the sides and there are lots of sharp bits on the one side were the welds are wich I thought the galvanizing was too eliminate? As I cant return the mesh and am pressed for time I have started make the first cage, 36"X18"X36", by bending the wire into a square then fastening on a top and bottom and probably a few shelves as well for added support, so far I have the sides bent and the top/bottom cut, mabie I should document it with pics? Can anyone give me any advice on the following;
If the rough/sharp sides of the wire is faceing out should it be safe?
Do chips tend to shew on the mesh a lot?
Is a wire bottom ok for them or could they develope foot problems?
Can babies get threw 1"X1/2"??

[Marci]

James -

Look at martinscages.com and their construction.  The material used is the correct stuff for chippie cages.

Marci

[RJLchippie]

Marci

I looked at martin's cages, theres are made with galzanized after welding wire though, and it seems mine is not, wich is why it has the sharp edges to the welds, how do you like Buddy's cage? what is it held togeather with J cips, C rings/clips? I cant tell from the pics on there site,

Also the zinc can come off either type and I worry that as chips spend so much time on the wire a fair bit might come off? But I cant find anything on Zinc for chippies most is on birds as there so sensative to it, plus a bit on dogs wich did warn about zinc in wire mesh, though it  seems hardware cloth/mesh also has a lot of Zinc in it as well as some is coated in it, and its what is mostly used for chipmunk aviarys in the UK so mabie just not a ig cocern with them as it is for birds and I am worrying over nothing  , would still be great if someone could say yes or no that they have used Zinc coated mesh on there chippie cages/aviarys?

[dazarooney]

I would have suggested getting your wire mesh from Cadisch, I got some from them last year.

http://www.perforated-wire-mesh.com/

[Marci]

Martins cages are awesome, they are a small company here in PA and have been making animal cages for decades.  I would bite the bullet and buy one of their chinchilla cages (I have the townhouse, the largest). 
I am debating on buying another one for the new chippies.

They will ship via fed ex.  They are extremely knowledgeable too.  The owner, Diana, knows me.  You can see photos of my cage on TSB forum under Buddy's threads.

Marci

[pinkpill]

i'v just looked at martinscages and as they are great cages  shipping to uk would probably cost more than the cages 

[pitkin03]

1/2" x 1" is too large I would say you really need 1/2" x 1/2" or smaller.  Having just put a dividing wall into my aviary I used 1"x1" mesh as that was all I had left, I knew the babies could get through but thought it would be fine for the adults......they squeezed through it like it wasn't even there.........

As for the cage I think your going to need a basic wooden frame to support the mesh, doesn't have to be anything fancy and if your not handy with a saw you must know someone who is reasonable one.