The question of safe wood

[Jamskin09]

Hello Hamster lovers!

I've recently been scouring the internet looking for all the information I can find about Hamster safe wood. My main question is about Pine wood. As I'm sure most people know, pine is abundant in DIY stores in the UK and is a cheap and easy to work with wood, but is it safe for hamsters?

As bedding I've read that it's not, and that's fine. There are many better options for bedding than shavings anyway, but as climbing toys, hideaways, cages? What about then? I would choose kiln-dried and untreated timber of course, but I still need to hear from the experts! It's driving me nuts.

If anyone has any suggestions other than Pine then I'm all ears, as I just want to find something that I can buy fairly cheap and find easily in the UK (but must be safe to chew or if pee'd on!), as there is the possibility of making things that I can sell.

Thanks! xx

[Drago]

Untreated, kiln dried pine is safe for hamsters to have their toys and huts made of, but kiln dried pine bedding is more debated. I personally wouldn't risk it, especially since there are much better options out there. However, normal pine is totally safe for toys and hideouts

Poplar is also another very common wood and is perfectly safe given its kiln dried This list goes over the safe woods for hamsters and similar rodents

"Pine
Poplar
Willow (not white)
Apple
Pear
Ash
Aspen
Cholla (not true wood)
Bamboo
Arbutus
Cottonwood
Crabapple
Grapevine
Hawthorne
Black currant
Dogwood
Elm
Hazelnut
Magnolia
Quince
Pecan
Sycamore
White birch (popsicle/lolli sticks)
Acacia
Ribbonwood
Chinese gooseberry
Chinese fir
Loquat
Longan
Lychee
Horse apple
sicklebush"

If you ever have any other questions, please ask

[Jamskin09]

Excellent! Thanks so much I would much rather go for poplar but all I could see in the three places I went to was pine. I shall keep looking though but good to know I can use pine if need be.

[DennisJones]

Dennis-Sama's home is made entirey of pine and he has had no issues so far

[Drago]

Originally Posted by Jamskin09

Excellent! Thanks so much I would much rather go for poplar but all I could see in the three places I went to was pine. I shall keep looking though but good to know I can use pine if need be.

Have you tried ordering online? Or better yet, checking a lumber yard? Both are good options granted they're untreated (a majority will be kiln dried already as it's better for building purposes). Good luck with your DIY

[Rayven]

Is it possible for me to sterilize Sycamore branches to put in my hamster cage they have been cut straight from the tree in the back of our house no pesticides or car fumes thank you

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by Rayven

Is it possible for me to sterilize Sycamore branches to put in my hamster cage they have been cut straight from the tree in the back of our house no pesticides or car fumes thank you

I wouldn't risk it, but that's just me. Not sure how you would sterilise them fully without using something which, in itself, might be dangerous. I don't think you could ever guarantee that they were completely free of dirt, germs etc.

[Rayven]

I was thinking of washing them then using the baking method would this be enough to get rid of pests and the like ??

[AmityvilleHams]

Honestly even then it's far too risky to try.Using items from the outdoors is never recommended and can never be completely guaranteed as safe,but you can definitely look for safe woods in pet stores instead.

[cypher]

Originally Posted by Rayven

I was thinking of washing them then using the baking method would this be enough to get rid of pests and the like ??

That should be fine, baking will kill bugs & or eggs which are the main issue if the wood has grown without any pesticides, other chemicals or traffic fumes.