Dwarf hamster diy cages

[Maz]

I may use pine but I know its not great for them so looking for safer alternatives, I would say im ok with diy I have done a few small things in the past using my parents tools but nothing this size before so it will be interesting to see how they come out lol

There is nothing wrong with using pine wood, as long as it's kiln dried pine - and I think that is all they sell as standard. Solid pine is not the same as pine wood shavings. There isn't the phenol risk with it - it's something to do with surface area. With shavings you have masses of exposed little surface areas. With a solid piece of wood it is just the one surface area. I have pine wood shelves in my cages. If you seal it as well - ie paint it with pet safe waterproofing paint inside, that makes it even better. The main reason to seal it though is to make it wipe clean so it doesn't get pee stained.

The only other issue with softwood is in case it could be chewed. I think that is more Syrians that chew their way out of cages though! And even then, if it happened the inside corners can be reinforced later if it's an issue. I have not heard of dwarf hamsters chewing their way out of wood cages.

People usually use plastikote waterbased enamel paint for sealing/waterproofing wood. It's only sold in little pots but it goes a long way and it's petsafe and virtually odourless.

It's this one

Amazon.co.uk

I've used it on a large wood shelf before, with two coats on both sides and still had half a bottle left!

 

[lindseymcf1993]

There is nothing wrong with using pine wood, as long as it's kiln dried pine - and I think that is all they sell as standard. Solid pine is not the same as pine wood shavings. There isn't the phenol risk with it - it's something to do with surface area. With shavings you have masses of exposed little surface areas. With a solid piece of wood it is just the one surface area. I have pine wood shelves in my cages. If you seal it as well - ie paint it with pet safe waterproofing paint inside, that makes it even better. The main reason to seal it though is to make it wipe clean so it doesn't get pee stained.

Oh thanks for letting me know i might just go with pine then and paint it

 

[Member ID2]

Personally, i'd choose kiln dried pine over melamine which isn't chew proof.

A friend's elderly hamster recently chewed his way out of his Ikea Platsa conversion.
One i rescued, oops.

 

[Maz]

I've s

Personally, i'd chose kiln dried pine over melamine which isn't chew proof.

A friend's elderly hamster recently chewed his way out of his Ikea Platsa conversion.
One i rescued, oops.

Really?! I thought the melamine was supposed to be chew proof! Lol! I suppose it depends if the corners are sealed - even then they can chew through sealant and if they get to the exposed edges, I can imagine it could be chewed as it's only cheap chipwood under the melamine. I've not heard of it being an issue before though.

 

[Maz]

Some hamsters would chew their way out of anything ha ha. I know some Syrians have chewed through plastic cage bases on 100cm cages! That seemed to be mainly the Skyline cages (Barney and Alexander) which had thinner plastic bases than the savic cages. But hamsters have chewed through Ferplast bases as well (maxi duna). Moral to that is I guess - savic bases are stronger!

 

[Member ID2]

The hamster's original name was Houdini so he's probably more determined to escape than your average 2 year old. I wonder if Melamine is actually safe when chewed.

 

[Member ID2]

Yes, this hamster is in a Barney now.

 

[Maz]

I shouldn't think it's particularly good for them. Chipboard is full of sawdust and formaldehyde. But I doubt they actually eat it. I bet he chews his way out of the Barney! The plastic base is quite thin. For big chewers, sometimes the only alternate is a glass tank. And even then they can chew the sealant and it falls apart!