Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Housing

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-18-2016, 06:39 AM   #1
SugarFairy123
Hamster Pup
 
SugarFairy123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ireland
Posts: 149
Question Softwood Bedding

I have seen softwood being at my local petstore but I never bought it as I know its bad for them . I just don't know what it is and why is it bad for them ?? Like how is it different from regular wood shaving beddings that are safe ? Just curious...
__________________
_____________________
🐹❤️Proud Owner of Minnie the Hamster❤️🐹
SugarFairy123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2016, 06:41 AM   #2
Sm_banks
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posts: 293
Default Re: Softwood Bedding

Pine and Cedar are bad for them because of the dust that can cause eye problems and respiratory problems. However, Kiln dried aspen is 100% safe.
Sm_banks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2016, 10:45 AM   #3
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Softwood Bedding

Softwoods contain high levels of the phenols - most hardwoods (including aspen) are fine and don't have these phenols but most hardwoods don't make for good shavings (with the exception of Aspen). Spruce is supposed to be ok (a particular variety of fir tree) and has the same very low levels of phenols as Aspen hardwood. But almost all other softwoods have high levels of phenols that it is believed can cause various serious illnesses with hamsters, particularly respiratory illness and possibly some cancers. Cedar has the highest levels and is not recommended at all for hamster bedding. But Pine that has been kiln dried is supposed to be safer. In the Uk all pine shavings are kiln dried by law.

My own view on this is - although kiln dried pine is much safer than non kiln dried pine, there does not seem to be any specific regulation as to how long it is kiln dried or at what temperature or how much phenol remains. I just think it's easier to use something else. But no bedding/substrate is perfect. Some are dusty, wood pulp beddings have various chemical processes and so on. Organic hemp bedding is a good option. I go with the paper bedding.

When you smell that fresh pine smell - that is the phenols. I believe there is something else as well as phenols but not sure what.

There are so many good alternatives now (Fitch, Carefresh, Hemp, Aspen) that I prefer just not to use softwood shavings any more. Costwise Fitch (recycled paper) works out very cheap, but needs to be sent off for. Hemp in bulk isn't that expensive either, and neither is Aspen. Carefresh can work out a bit expensive maybe.

Some of the German wood shavings are made from Spruce, which is the 'ok' softwood, (or a mix of Spruce and kiln dried pine) but generally it doesn't seem to be available.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2016, 09:40 AM   #4
SugarFairy123
Hamster Pup
 
SugarFairy123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Ireland
Posts: 149
Default Re: Softwood Bedding

Oh ok thanks
__________________
_____________________
🐹❤️Proud Owner of Minnie the Hamster❤️🐹
SugarFairy123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2018, 08:06 AM   #5
ArcherMylin Hamster Care
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 20
Default Re: Softwood Bedding

Is it ok to add tiny amounts in a hamster cage?
ArcherMylin Hamster Care is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2018, 05:02 AM   #6
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Softwood Bedding

If it's kiln dried and dust extracted and not cedar then yes All pine shavings in the Uk are kiln dried by law and the same in Germany where the kiln drying regulations are more stringent. If you live in the US and it doesn't say kiln-dried on the packet then don't use it.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-20-2018, 10:32 AM   #7
minijeva
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 33
Default

its bad because they have harmfull oils which smell nice to us but not to hamsters. kiln dried pine is ok i belive but only by it if it specificly says kiln dried its not worth the risk

if you have to use ceder only use it if there are no other beddings avalible an fo a short period of time. i wold never use it though

Last edited by Fluffagrams; 03-20-2018 at 10:50 AM. Reason: Consecutive posts
minijeva is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bad, bought, curious, local, softwood, bedding

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:44 AM.