Degus love to jump and climb about all over branches left in their cage. Recreating the natural habitat will provide hours of fun and games, as well as providing materials for them to build nests and establish who is dominant. However, some woods can be harmful and irritable to your little friends. Here is a list of known safe and unsafe woods. Before using any, please read the warning at the bottom of the page. Also, in order to qualify as a safe wood, the wood needs to be:
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Organic
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Contain no pesticides
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Must not be chemically treated
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A non-manufactured wood (e.g. not bits glued together like plywood, it needs to be straight off the tree)
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Free from disease, mold and fungi
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Clean and dried
Sources:
Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document].
Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.
Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).
Please note:
As more research is made into the effect of different woods, species may change from list to another. We will try to stay updated with this, although if you are aware of any woods stated incorrectly please contact us at webmaster@deguworld.com and we will strive to provide the most correct information possible. Please also submit any additions. We would also like to point out that, although it is inevitable due to unknown effects, we are strictly against animal testing and clinical trials, and would like to remind all readers not to take the risk of placing an unknown wood into your Degus cage, leave the research to the professionals. Thank you.
