Safe Wood for Degus

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:

 

Organic

Contain no pesticides

Must not be chemically treated

A non-manufactured wood (e.g. not bits glued together like plywood, it needs to be straight off the tree)

Free from disease, mold and fungi

Clean and dried

 

Safe Woods

 

Apple3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Hazelnut3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Kiln - dried Pine3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Pear3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Ash3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Grape3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Loquat3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Medlar3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Strawberry3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Hawthorn3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Rowanberry3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Rose hip3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Blackberries3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Willow (except white)3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Pecan3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Elm (ensure it is untreated)3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Ribbon wood3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Mulberry3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Sycamore3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Bamboo3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Unsafe Woods

 

Air - dried Pine3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Elm2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Horse-chestnut3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Oak3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Yew2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Laurel3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Cedar3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Beech2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Birch2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Rose2Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Plum4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Maple2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Cherry4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Apricot4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Peach4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Almond3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

White Willow2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Cashew2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Lemon4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Orange4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Lime4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Grapefruit4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Walnut4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Black Lotus2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Mahogany2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Balsam Fir2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Beech2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Cedar4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Ebony2 Woods, B. and Calnan, C. (1976) 'Toxic woods.' British Journal of Dermatology, 94 (13): 1-97.

Eucalyptus4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

Prune4Parrot Island, Inc. (2004) Harmful Foods and Plants [www doc]. -http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/article_info.php?articles_id=55- (accessed 21 April, 2010).

MDF3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Balsa3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

Plywood3 Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).



Sources:

Chincare (2010) Safe wood vs. toxic [www document]. (Accessed 31 August, 2010).

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.
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