Are 304 grade stainless steel bird cages safe for birds?

If you’re wondering if 304 grade stainless steel bird cages are safe for birds, the answer is definitely “yes!” In fact, it is the only material used in bird cages these days that I feel 100% safe to put my bird in.

With the increasing number of powder coated brands that have toxic levels of harmful components, the safest bet is to get a 304 grade stainless steel cage. Aside from powder coated and stainless steel, the only other option I know of is bamboo or wood, and that makes me nervous to even think of putting my bird in a wooden cage. Whenever I think of wooden cages, I worry that my bird has splinters, or worse, that it finds some type of bacteria inside the wood that could make it sick.

The only caveat you would give about the safety of a 304 grade stainless steel bird cage is to make sure you are purchasing a stainless steel cage constructed of genuine and authentic grade 304 stainless steel. If you purchase a generic stainless steel cage from low price, supposedly made of 304 grade stainless steel, you never know if it is genuine or not.

It is impossible to tell if a non-authentic grade 304 stainless steel cage is non-toxic tested for your bird without having it in a professional laboratory. To do this, you would have to send a piece of your cage to a lab, and this would damage the cage for analysis. There is always the possibility that, to save money, the factory would put filler components into the steel mix to replace the expensive components in the genuine grade 304 mix, and it is highly likely that those replacement components will be toxic to birds. Your best bet is to make sure you buy from a reputable cage manufacturer that you can trust.

So that brings up the question; “Is a stainless steel cage worth buying?” The answer to that question is; “definitely.” If you look at the property benefits between a stainless steel cage and a powder coated cage, the best option is obvious. Stainless steel cages are much easier to keep clean and hygienic. You can pressure wash them without the powder coating falling off, and you can also scrub them with a vinegar / water mixture to quickly and easily completely clean them. The process is as simple as covering the surface of the cage with the mixture, waiting 5 minutes and then scrubbing or washing it with a hose. Then simply pat the cage dry with a dry towel if you don’t want water stains.

Although ease of ownership is a great benefit, the biggest benefit is the lifespan of the stainless steel cages. If you get a truly authentic grade 304 stainless steel cage that is well built, that cage could last a millennium if properly cared for. On the other hand, you can buy a top-notch powder coated cage and take good care of it, and you’ll be lucky if it takes more than a decade before it rusts completely and becomes unsuitable for your feathered friend. I highly recommend stainless steel for all of these reasons, and if you can afford to buy one, you won’t be sorry you did.