From P@H re woodshavings...

[Pompompoms]

I contacted P@H as I wanted to know whether their wood shavings were safe for my hams. I've read mixed reports here, and wanted to be sure, as obviously I would change if there was even the slightest risk. This was the response I got today;

Firstly, please accept my apologies for the length of time it has taken to reply to your email. I can assure you that this unfortunate episode is not an accurate reflection of the normally high standard of efficiency we seek to provide to our customers.
Further to your email, I can confirm that our pine wood shavings are heat treated prior to packaging to reduce the level of phenols to a negligible level.
I hope that this has helped you and I thank you for contacting customer services; if I can be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me.

So seemingly they are ok. I would be really grateful if those here that have read or think otherwise could provide more info as to evidencde against so I can get a fully balanced view and make an informed choice

[Erin Loves Dwarf Hamsters]

I have to be honest I have used P@H woodshavings for all of my hams and my brother uses them for his rabbit and so far neither of us have found any problems with them However I find that the stuff at the bottom of the bag is very dusty and has to be thrown away but all in all I'd say it was decent enough. Some hamster are of course naturally allergic to wood shavings but that isnt very common
There is only one reason I changed which wood shavings I use and that is because I found some cheaper stuff

[SarahJ]

I used to use P@H shavings on all my hamsters until i moved on the Megazorb a few months ago.
My ham's never had any health issues related to using them - but i did start to notice that i was finding tiny stones amount the shavings towards the end of using them :s

[racinghamster]

I would say if using shavings at all, rather than taking them straight from the bag and puting fresh shavings straight into the cage, I always get a plastic storage bin and empty the shavings into it at least two weeks before use. Rotate the shavings around each day by hand (preferably outdoors) to allow the fresh air to evaporate the phenol scent. This really does help reduce the `new` pine smell that you get from a newly opened bag of shavings.

I now use Aubiose. Alternative substrates are better if you can source them locally (farm/stable supply shops) or online websites. Aubiose, Megazorb and Bedxcel cardboard squares are all better than shavings.

Pets At Home shavings are PINE and even though they tell you they are treated and safe, try sticking your nose right up close to a newly opened bag and think about having to stay close to that on a daily basis. This is why if shavings must be used over alternatives, airing them in an open bin helps a lot. I used to do this when I had gerbils aswell.

[Gizmodo ^_^]

Glad that they replied saying its safe
I use woodshavings but im planning on moving my lot over to Aubiose

[Primble]

i use them but have noticed they seem to be a bit arsher feeling the last couple of times. my colleage has told me where i cn get megazorb near to work so will see how much

[souffle]

I've never had a problem with the shavings from this store either. We have been using different substrates for different hams and they all have their pros and cons.
We find megazorb very dusty and it does contain little bits of black ash from the drying process which can stain cage and hamsters. We have one who went very sneezy on this. It is absorbant though and quite soft. It tangles like mad in LH syrians. Velcrozorb!
Aubiose is not so absorbant but it does not tangle so much. We find quite lot of sharp bits in it and sometimes you get sort of fluffy fibres which we try and pick out. It does not mould that well for nests so you must have some bedding with this. It can be dusty and being a straw product you can get little things in it from the fields!

[debs]

i guess everything has its bad points.

[$hAzZa]

I find it ok with hamsters and rabbits, its rats and mice that shouldn't have it x

[CoolcatNatNat44]

i used to use it for my hamster and i found it dusty but apart from that it was alright to use. But i switched to megazorb anyway