Is Galvanized sheet metal safe for buns?

[Shaelutah]

Hello.
My slide out tray got too rusty, so instead of buying a new cage, I purchased some glav sheet metal and bent it into a tray.

I just asked the best way to clean it on a 'sheet metal ' subreddit, and was told that it is not food safe and could be poisonous to rabbits.

I was unaware of this. I have read through a few posts and noticed people saying most wire and some cages are made from galv, but could not find a definitive answer.

So my question: Should I remove the tray right away, or is it nothing to worry about?

The cage is a large chinchilla cage where they walk on the trays constantly.

 

[Blue eyes]

Do you put anything on top of the metal flooring (mats, beds, bedding)? Could you please post a photo of this cage? I can't picture a chinchilla cage that would be near large enough for a rabbit. Are they in the cage all day?

 

[Shaelutah]

Do you put anything on top of the metal flooring (mats, beds, bedding)? Could you please post a photo of this cage? I can't picture a chinchilla cage that would be near large enough for a rabbit. Are they in the cage all day?

They spend half the day each in the cage, there is only hay for bedding.

I was unsuccessful in bonding them, so they have to be split up, which is why they spend half the day in the cage.

 

[Preitler]

They aren't going to eat the floor. Or the metal. It's not going to be a health issue.

You don't know what is in the coating of the wire either, etc, if you start to worry about everything that hypotheticly, under very special circumstances might maybe have a slight potential to be interpreted as a possible risk, you'll run out of options quickly, and it wouldn't make anything better.

 

[Blue eyes]

They spend half the day each in the cage, there is only hay for bedding.

I was unsuccessful in bonding them, so they have to be split up, which is why they spend half the day in the cage.

Oh. I see. It's a Critter Nation cage. We had one for our pet rats. As @Preitler stated, they'll be fine just laying on the floor. However the new metal will be slippery for them, even with hay on it.

Perhaps you could consider providing a more roomy enclosure for the one that has to be confined while the other is out. Take a look at the following link that shows the enclosures of various members. It could provide some inspiration. There's even one that shows two rabbits separated-- each in their own enclosure (side-by-side). (That one's about the 5th reply down)
https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/2022-indoor-cages-add-your-photo.103444/

 

[Diane R]

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/indoor-housing/

 

[EdwardV]

Galvanized is fine. Our original rabbit hutch came with a galvanized floor for the upper level which rusted out after 10 years. I replaced it a new one.