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Pebbles82 · 06-09-2020, 05:54 PM

Pine is fine when it’s a solid piece of wood. All pine sold in the uk is kiln dried as well. The problem with pine shavings is the huge surface area of all the shavings giving off phenols. But a piece of wood is fine. Mdf is probably ok but it does contain formaldehyde which offgasses but as Luna says it depends whether it is for in the cage or out. I would go with pine. Any plastic once hardened after melting should be safe but probably best not for inside the cage. An out of cage toy.

It sounds an interesting and difficult project. Hamsters aren’t great climbers but a maze type climbing toy could be good - ie with levels and entrances and gentle slopes. Can you use other materials for texture? Eg hemp mat or sisal string/rope? Those are safe to chew and you can make things interesting wrapping sisal string round things to give a texture. Someone on here wrapped it round Pringles tubes to make a tunnel with texture.

06-09-2020, 05:54 PM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Plastic/pine safe for hamsters? Pine is fine when it’s a solid piece of wood. All pine sold in the uk is kiln dried as well. The problem with pine shavings is the huge surface area of all the shavings giving off phenols. But a piece of wood is fine. Mdf is probably ok but it does contain formaldehyde which offgasses but as Luna says it depends whether it is for in the cage or out. I would go with pine. Any plastic once hardened after melting should be safe but probably best not for inside the cage. An out of cage toy. It sounds an interesting and difficult project. Hamsters aren’t great climbers but a maze type climbing toy could be good - ie with levels and entrances and gentle slopes. Can you use other materials for texture? Eg hemp mat or sisal string/rope? Those are safe to chew and you can make things interesting wrapping sisal string round things to give a texture. Someone on here wrapped it round Pringles tubes to make a tunnel with texture.