There are many unsafe and toxic woods that can damage theĀ healthĀ of your chinchilla or even kill it. Many considered chinchilla safe woods are also unsafe because they may contain pesticides. Some woods are toxic and poisonous by nature. There exists many resinous and aromatic trees that can damage the digestive and respiratory system and also liver. In general, the number of toxic and danger woods is much larger than the safe woods. However, do not assume a wood is safe unless it is specifically listed as such.
Woods should be washed in salt and water then thoroughly dried before use at sun. You could also heat them in oven for 30min at 150Celsius and this should kill anyĀ microorganisms. This is theĀ preferredĀ method.
Chinchilla Dust Bath | Cleaning Process
Here is a general rule for fruit trees.Ā All fruit trees that contain a stone, pipĀ areĀ not safeĀ woods becauseĀ releases Cyanide into the digestion.Ā Fruit trees that contain seed are safeĀ woods. However, this not a one way rule and it does not quite applyĀ completelyĀ successfully.Ā SoĀ it is still confusing which wood is safe and which is not but I will give you a chinchilla safe woods list that is checked by many chinchilla breeders and not only.
ChinchillaĀ SafeĀ Woods
- Any wood from a fruit tree bearing seeds (apple, pear, grape, etc.)
- Pine whiteĀ NOT red pineĀ (ONLY oven dried ā not fresh pine)
- Rosehip branches ā from the rose family and safe
- Hazelnut āĀ All fruit trees from this family (apple, pear)
- Arbutus
- Hawthorn
- Magnolia
- Poplar
- Willow
- Aspen
- Ash
- Sycamore
- Dogwood
- Cottonwood
- Crab Apple
- Kiwi
- Mulberry
