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What is the best wood for making small animal houses and toys?

593 days ago • 2 likes • 1 comments • 0 votes • 0 follows
Asked by Annie Laurel | Question date:  Aug 14, 2022 | Member since:  Aug 14, 2022

Question Asked:

I like making things for small animals and would like to start a little business making wooden houses, hides and toys. I have been making little houses out of cardboard for my hamsters and mice and it is a lovely prototype, but I would like to start making them out of wood for more durability. I was wondering what would be the best wood to use that is safe for animals? I understand that a lot of small animals like to chew on wooden items, so they absolutely have to be safe for them.

I know that there are some types of wood that are unsafe for small animals. I kind of know what not to use, but would like to know the safest option out of what I can use. I have been recommended untreated plywood by a couple of people, but it is proving difficult to find some online with a full description of the product. I need to be 100% certain that it is safe.

Also, I was exploring the possibility of buying a laser cutter to help me with cutting the house shapes and details, as that would enable me to make so many more designs. And even do bespoke designs if pet owners wanted something specific or to personalise the pet houses and toys with their pets names.

I have also been thinking about offering painted options, or paint yourself ones. So if you have any pet safe paint recommendations, that would really be appreciated also.

I have added a little picture of one of my hamsters in one of the cardboard prototypes. I would consider making these a little bigger when making the wooden version, and making some large ones with multiple spaces inside. I would like to make different sized ones for pets including; mice, hamsters, gerbils, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. Eventually it would be fun to make very large ones for dogs and cats.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read.

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Woodwork Woodwork Pets Hamsters Pet Toys Pet Houses
What is the best wood for making small animal houses and toys? image one
Asked by Annie Laurel
Question date:  Aug 14, 2022
Member since:  Aug 14, 2022
1 Comments
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Clare Jones(592 days ago)

The best wood for small pets such as hamsters etc would be an untreated plywood that is formaldehyde and chemical free. Please let me know on here if you manage to make some. I would be very interested in buying some for my hamsters. Good luck lovely.

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