Safe Wood Shavings?

[Black_Inky_Eyes]

My last few weeks I've been researching what I can do to make my hamster's cage look more natural. The item I'm looking into currently is natural looking substrates. I've looked at Hugro Hemp and was planning to do half C&C and half Hugro but the main disadvantage was that is didn't hold burrows well which is an essential in my hamster's cage as I know he enjoys it since I've seen him push up against the perspex at the front under all his bedding. However, I am still on a tight budget as most people are and was recently recommended safe wood shavings for my current circumstances.

I was just wondering if anyone knows any safe brands of wood shavings and also some views on the Rodipet ZooDi Birch Bedding with some experience? I would assume it's safe as Rodipet is a very natural, knowledgeable and highly respected company. Any comments?

Thanks!

[Fluffagrams]

Most brands of wood shavings sold in reputable pet shops should be safe for use with hamsters and I buy mine from an equine store where you can get a large bale for about £7 (I use them with a guinea pig, in my show pens and for my diabetic Chinese).

A brand I have seen recommended is Snowflake: https://www.millbryhill.co.uk/equest...shavings-p3009

[cypher]

I did try the rodipet birch shavings when they first started selling them & found it extremely dusty, that was sometime ago but I've seen similar views on it more recently so probably best avoided.

[mangoandmimi]

It's the softwood shavings that there is some debate about regarding phenol levels and whether kiln drying actually makes them safe etc. As far as I am concerned there are more significant risks in hamster care than woodshavings, a huge number of German cages will use softwood shavings (eg allspan) and I still haven't heard of any issues with that over the years. I've actually heard of more health problems with carefresh than softwood shavings to be honest. Of course some shavings will be better quality than others and you will need to check the dust content but that goes for all beddings. The birch shavings are a hardwood bedding and are safe if the above concerns you. They are likely not going to be quite as soft but I know two people who use them now, one of which changed off of Fitch actually, and it's supposed to be decent for burrowing in too.

[Black_Inky_Eyes]

Are there any other recommended brands of wood shavings as the snowflake one seems to be out of stock.

[Black_Inky_Eyes]

Originally Posted by Fluffagrams

A brand I have seen recommended is Snowflake: https://www.millbryhill.co.uk/equest...shavings-p3009

Does anyone know how well this is at burrowing and odour control?

Edit: I've just looked into it and it says on the Millbry hill site 'softwood shavings' and 'kiln dried' aren't these unsafe?

[Fluffagrams]

Originally Posted by Black_Inky_Eyes

Does anyone know how well this is at burrowing and odour control?

Edit: I've just looked into it and it says on the Millbry hill site 'softwood shavings' and 'kiln dried' aren't these unsafe?

Kiln drying is supposed to remove a lot of the harmful phenols and as Mangoandmimi has said, shavings have been used by many hamster keepers for many years without problems arising but as with everything, there will be some brands that are of a better quality than others.

Obviously it’s up to you, if you’re not comfortable using them then you’ll have to find an alternative that is a better fit for your needs but I have yet to find a substrate that is perfect in every way unfortunately.

[Black_Inky_Eyes]

I think I may go for the Birch bedding from Rodipet as I won't be using all of it and can shake the dust to the bottom of the bag, sound alright?

[alpacassei]

I’m using Kaytee CC now but when I used woodshavings, i bought mine from a local farm shop . I’ve use the p@h shavings before but the last bag I got was damp so I don’t recommend them

I actually really like the way Kaytee CC looks in natural setups though, especially the camo one

[Ria P]

I buy the Snowflake wood shavings at B&M. They are dust extracted, inexpensive and most important, my hamster likes them. Don't buy the scented ones by mistake.