Help needed for safe and unsafe materials list

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

Hi all!
I'm attempting to make toys and climbing frames for my hamsters playpen.
I'm a newbie at this but am very crafty and creative. I've got lots of ideas and inspirational photos and am collecting resources. Can someone please review my list of what is safe and possibly add anything to it? Thank you.

Safe resources:
Aspen
White birch (lolly sticks)
Willow
alfalfa
Rocks (sterilised in boiling water and baked in an oven to dry. large enough so the hammies are unable to pouch them)
Toilet rolls
Plain papper (no ink or colourings)
Plain card and corigated card (again no ink or colourings)
Non toxic glue- pva, glue gun etc
Toilet roll
Poplar plywood
Birch plywood (more difficult to cut than poplar but more readily avalible) plywood is NOT suitable for chinchillas due to the glue used.
Egg cartons (clean and free from raw egg stains)
Toilet roll paper mache (wet toilet roll with water molded over glass bowls/cups etc and left to dry to create tubes and dome shaped homes. Removed from glass before being given to hamsters

Unsafe materials
Ceader
Pine
Oak
Cotton
Paints and glues without a "non toxic verification" lable
Cotton
Straw-(as in the substrate) sharp and possible damage to cheeks (by demecat)
Hay (mites)
Net fabrics where feet may fet tangled

Can anyone add any fabric to these lists? Fleese?
Or add any woods to either list?

Just to add these toys are for my playpen and hamsters are to be supervised at all times. Thank you

(ps) To anyone using this list I do not claim to be an expert by any means and all advice or action taken as a result of this list, is done so at your own risk. Models made by hand may show signs of wear and tear and should be checked regularly to ensure they are still safe.

[Demecat]

Straw, as in the substrate straw. It often has sharp edges that could damage the pouch.

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

Oh yes! Thank you and I forgot hay- mites. Thanks demecat.

[Gamina]

Hay that has been frozen to eliminate mites and is soft like a good quality timothy hay is loved by hamster though.

[BaileyandBeth]

Is it okay If I add this list to my site? It'll be amazing!

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by BaileyandBeth

Is it okay If I add this list to my site? It'll be amazing!

Sure thing. I'll try and update it as I find more infomation.
Ps) can you post a link to your site?

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

Ps if this already exists in the wiki I appologise. I couldn't find this information when i searched.

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

Originally Posted by Gamina

Hay that has been frozen to eliminate mites and is soft like a good quality timothy hay is loved by hamster though.

I didn't know that. You learn somthing new every day. If its ok though I won't add it too the list as it may be confusing to see hay in both safe and unsafe categories. Thanks for the tip however, I may do that some day as hay is an easy medium to work with.

[TheFeldhamster]

Well then put hay into some third category if you don't want to put it into the "100% safe" category. Hay is a staple over here because it is necessary for a diggable subtrate - just shavings are not sufficient for a hamster to dig a stable burrow. Hay also makes a nice nesting material and herb hay is a very healthy snack.

And btw. mites can be in many other things, too, like aspen shavings or other natural toys, even in hamster food. It depends on where you buy the things and how it was stored. Pet shops that don't have live animals are usually a safer source to buy any bedding or natural toys.