Question about using cedar wood

[GuineasGalore]

I know that cedar shavings are not safe, but i have some cedar that i wanted to make a walkway out of, would this be okay? What if i used a varnish over it? or used another method to get rid of the smell - if that's the problem? or is it just a no go. Comments please

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by GuineasGalore

I know that cedar shavings are not safe, but i have some cedar that i wanted to make a walkway out of, would this be okay? What if i used a varnish over it? or used another method to get rid of the smell - if that's the problem? or is it just a no go. Comments please

Sorry but you can't use it. The cedar oils are dangerous, Varnish is an absolute no-no. Varnish is toxic if eaten and releases it's own toxic fumes as well. Even old/aged Cedar can be dangerous since moisture (from water or urine), chewing and scratching (running up and down the ramp) will release the fumes from the wood. It's best to avoid it altogether.

[GuineasGalore]

Dang, what sort of wood are most walkways built out of? What would you suggest- i would need to buy it so it shouldn't be too expensive

[VoodooJoint]

Oak or Pine would be best. Any wood you use must be untreated. It would be best to find an old piece of pine if you can...like a scrap you or a neighbor would have lying around. The sap will be dried up more and the aromatic oils much less.

If you can find apple or pear wood that's even better. You can sometimes find Apple wood in really nice lumber yards. Look in the phone book and call around. The benefit of using a fruit wood is it's okay if your GPs chew on it/eat some of the wood. I recommend getting extra wood if you buy a fruit wood as you may need to replace the ramp after a year or 2 if they chew on it.

[x0PiggyPerson0x]

Erm, this may sound really stupid, but I had to ask. Do you mean a walkway through your house or garden or a ramp in the pig's cages?

[Ly&Pigs]

If you want to make a ramp, you would be better off using bent grids or pvc pipe or that black corrugated pipe like voodoo has. I would stay away from wood completely as the urine will ruin it and it's hard to get germs out of.

[japo1204]

Another thing of using varnish is that it literally seal the wood, which mean no absorbtion at all!!!!!

[Ly&Pigs]

Varnish and other chemical sealants are harmful to pigs if they chew on the wood. It's best to avoid using them and use plain untreated wood only and NO CEDAR at all!

[The Magic Taco]

Hey, Ly, this is really off the topic but I've been wondering for a while, is that a taco shaped cavy cozy in your avatar? I really want to know because I would REALLY like to know how to make one!

[weaseldropping]

All my piggie kit is wood and I have always found it as easy to clean as the plastic shop cage we use for emergency isolation for sick pigs. I use a strong white vinegar solution and a scrubbing brush! When they move into the run in Spring I give everything a hose out with hot water, scrub with bleach, rinse very well and leave to dry.
Really, the most important thing with wood is to keep the hutch clean and tidy by scooping out soiled bedding daily. That way the wood itself doesn't get wet and the pigs really have very little contact with it.
Always make sure the roof is felted, though, for the rain, and put several thick layers of waterproof wood treatment on the outside to stop the rain seeping in. I usually add colourless bath sealant to the outside joints to make sure they are draught-proof, and I have a low wooden slat as a draught-excluder in the bedroom as they love to snuggle up against the door and one nearly fell out once when I opened the door!
I have had hutches almost destroyed by pigs chewing away the structural supports, so the latest one has bits of wood-turning practice made from apple wood - must be the only hutch in the UK with a portico round the bedroom door! If you make it look like it was expensive and tricksy to make, they tend to destroy it first, in preference to the walls!

[Ly&Pigs]

Taco, it's called a cavy cave and there is a sticky thread in the accessories forum about them. I make and sell them.

[littlebear]

Just get rid of it. You should not even try you never know though.

[The Magic Taco]

Oh, ok. Thanks, Ly. It looks a little bit like a taco!