Outdoor run, varnish/treat the wood?

**MelanieH** · #1 08-12-06, 11:39 am

Hi There

Im currently making an outdoor run, so my piggies can have a bit of grass time and fresh air. Should I varnish/treat the wood, Im guessing this would be bad for the guineas as they will knaw at this, but ones sold in the shops look like they've got stuff on them. What has everyone else done?

Many Thanks

Melanie

**jabberwock** · #2 08-12-06, 03:44 pm

We treated ours with an environmentally friendly wood treatment that is safe for horses and small animals (if you're in the UK I can tell you where to get it). If you don't treat it you really need to bring it inside when the pigs aren't in it or it won't last terribly long.

**MelanieH** · #3 08-12-06, 04:45 pm

Oh wow great, I didnt realise you could get animal safe wood treatment, thanks so much for that. Yes I am in the UK.

Thanks again

Melanie

**MelanieH** · #4 08-12-06, 04:49 pm

Hi again

I also noticed in your profile you have a C+C cage. Where did you manage to get the cubes from, I've spent ages on the net trying to find somewhere that still sells them?

Regards

Melanie

**jabberwock** · #5 08-13-06, 06:40 am

I got my cubes from Argos when they still sold them - I guess that's not much help though. Have you checked all the places listed in this link?
http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...-cubes-uk.html

Re woodstain: we used Auro 160 Woodstain for exterior use, because we it's one of the most environmentally friendly products available (water based rather than petrochemical). It's safe for pets, horses and children's toys. You can get it online from the Green Shop (www.greenshop.co.uk). Brands like Protek are also water based and safe for pets.

**MelanieH** · #6 08-14-06, 10:10 am

Thanks for that, much happier now I know I'll be able to treat the run and know my piggies will be safe.

Decided not to bother with the C+C cage as the cubes are hard to get hold of and quite expensive from most places. My hubby said he will have a go at building me a big cage for them instead.

Thanks again

Melanie

**jabberwock** · #7 08-15-06, 02:30 am

If you go into an Argos store and key in the code 875/9384 then they may be able to get the cubes from another store even if the store you're in doesn't have them (worked for me in Sheffield last weekend). They're only 7.99 at the moment. You can also use wire shelving panels which might be easier to locate. I found coroplast/correx hard to get hold of and expensive, but quite a few people seen to use lino successfully.

There is a section of "alternative cages" if you click on the photo gallery link to give you ideas if you decide to go the non C+C route. The main thing is to have the same space as a C+C would give you (and not to have a wooden base unless you line it with something like Correx).

**MelanieH** · #8 08-15-06, 07:48 am

Oh WOW, thank you so much, you've been a fantastic help, its really appreciated.

I've just contacted my local Argos store and off to collect my cubes tonight. hehe people must think Im crazy cause Im bouncing around the office cause I've managed to get some storage cubes

ccrunner · #9 08-15-06, 11:06 am

You should never put any type of stain or varnish on wood, no matter how safe it claims to be. It may still have some amounts of toxic chemicals. The gpigs will knaw on the wood and I don't think you want them to die that way.

**jabberwock** · #10 08-16-06, 06:19 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccrunner

You should never put any type of stain or varnish on wood, no matter how safe it claims to be. It may still have some amounts of toxic chemicals. The gpigs will knaw on the wood and I don't think you want them to die that way.

I don't think that's true. Wooden toys for children come stained and varnished and they are certainly chewed a great deal - there are treatments that are proven to be non-toxic. If a wood treatment says that it is toy safe then it must have been rigorously tested (unfortunately it will probably have been tested on animals at some point, but that's a different, albeit very important, ethical dilemma). If I am happy to give something to my children (when they were younger - they're well past the chewing stage now) than I'm happy to give it to my guinea pigs. Actually I was always happier for the children to chew on wooden toys than PVC ones because of the potential problem with leaching phthalates. I was more worried about splinters than about the wood treatment, but as they have a wooden hidey house indoors then I couldn't see that the run was any more problematic. Overall we are one of the most chemical-conscious families I know (all the guinea pigs veggies and their grass are organic because I worry abot pesticide build-up in such a small body mass) and we did our research very carefully.

Actually (and this isn't a basis for making a decision) my pigs are so busy gorging on grass outside they wouldn't dream of chewing the run.

ccrunner · #11 08-16-06, 08:38 am

Guinea pigs have a more delicate digestive system than humans.

**jabberwock** · #12 08-16-06, 02:14 pm

More delicate than human adults certainly - more delicate than human babies? (I'm not qualified to say scientifically)

I guess it's a matter of risk assessment. Having undertaken extensive research we are happy that the Auro woodstain is safe for guinea pigs, especially as it's an environment where they don't spend a large amount of time (has been either too hot or too wet for most of the summer). And, as it turns out, they don't chew the wood anyway. That is our assessment and we're happy with it. Other people on this forum give their pigs soft toys made from plush or other fabrics. I don't because I worry the pigs possibly ingesting flame retardants, azo dyes, formaldehyde or pesticides (specific hazard depends on exact fabric used) if they chew the toys. In this case the treatments have already been applied so one is generally less aware of them, but it doesn't mean they're not present.

**MelanieH** · #13 08-17-06, 01:52 am

Hi Thanks both for your thoughts on the subject.

I've decided I will use the wood stain that is safe for animals. Like you say Jabberwock its not like they will be spending a long time in there, and when they are in there, they will be too busy chewing on the grass. Plus they are not going to be out unsupervised so I can always see if they start to chew on the wood and take them out. I understand where you are comming from Ccrunner and I would never use it if I couldnt keep an eye on them and if they were going to be in a stained cage for a long time, I guess its like they say "guinea pig" food, but unless you buy the good stuff there is all sorts of rubbish in there. Same for our food really, I read somewhere there is an E number that isnt allowed in dog food yet here, they are allowed to put it in human food!!!!!!

BTW with regards to my C+C cage, I got the cubes and got some Coroplast reserved from a sign shop which Im going to pick up today, whoooo.

Many Thanks

Melanie

**MelanieH** · #14 08-18-06, 02:02 pm

Yipeeee the C+C cage is complete and the piggies look soooo happy in there

. Thanks for letting me know where I could get the cubes from.
Just incase you are interested as to what the cage looks like I've put it in the photo galleries under 100_2423 MelanieH

**jabberwock** · #15 08-19-06, 07:15 am

Well done - it looks great! It's the same layout of grids we used, but ours sags more - yours looks very sturdy. What bedding are you using?

**MelanieH** · #16 08-19-06, 01:17 pm

It probably only looks sturdy because they have not been up there yet, give it a couple of weeks

. Although I saw on someones photo that they had a piece of wood pushed through the grid just below the second level supporting it so I'll do that if it starts to sag.

For the bedding I have used dust extracted wood shavings. I've got some soft shredded stuff that I use for the hamster but frightened to use that incase they try to eat it. What do you use?

**jabberwock** · #17 08-20-06, 09:04 am

We hav a thin (3mm ish) bit of wood underneath the top level and also a 2 x 2 cm bit that goes through the top square of the top levels.

As for bedding, I use Megazorb which I get from a local horse supplier. I couldn't find any wood shavings that had definitely been kiln dried - I found some dust extracted ones but they still smelt of pine oils so I don't think they were kiln dried. The man in the pet shop clearly had no idea at all what I was talking about when I asked him, shavings were shavings to him.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password