stainless steel cable safe for birds?

[Pierced Soul]

i got a redtail black cockatoo and put him in an old cage i have. this cage has a flat top but the top doesnt actually screw in or lock in, and thus can be lifted up by humans. since i want to protect my investment,i'd like to lock the top of the cage to the main frame. i was thinking of using a stainless steel cable and then padlocking it.

i know SS is safe for birds in general and logic tells me that a SS cable would be as well but was wondeirng whetehr anyone knew for sure?

i went to the hardware store and saw these things:

2011-01-29 12.51.52.jpg (80.56 KiB) Viewed 3470 times

[entrancedbymyGCC]

If it is just stainless steel, it should be fine, you could wash away any surface residue. Wire or chain might be better than cable in that respect -- twisted cable could harbor more debris and those often have plastic sheath.

[zazanomore]

I asked a similar question concerning stainless steel wire: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=4700

[mrstweet]

I don't see why it wouldn't be. We use stainless for everything else. Like entranced said, the wire would be my choice over cable.

[captwest]

The cable should be fine, the crimps used to make the loops might be a different story though, you rarely see SS crimps because they are too brittle , most are nickel over copper ,alum, or steel . also i would stick with cable that is 7X7 construction instead of one that is softer because it's made from many smaller strand that a larger bird might be able to break and ingest. If it were i i look into using 304 or maybe a 309 TIG rod that you can get from a welding shop for less than a dollar, maybe 1/8 or 3/16 in Dia. you TIG weld the loops or twist in a vice with vise grip pliers . there's nothing wrong with the 316 SS ,it's just stiffer and has a tendency to rust quicker than the softer 309 or 304.