Wood treatment

B

Buttonmoon

Banned

• Aug 19, 2005

• #1

Hi guys, I am building a new cage for my bunny, he's hopefully getting a girlfried in the coming week ( ) I've got a big dog cage and have made a shelf for it, but I'm quite keen to treat the shelf with something to make it waterproof and to just even out the colour. Anything that I use will obviously have to be safe for bunnies if they chew it, which they almost certainly will!!
Does anyone know of any treatments that are safe?
Thanks
Buttonmoon
xx

 

E

elve

Banned

• Aug 19, 2005

• #2

hi

well don't quote me on this, but I would imagine that a quick-drying, water-based, matt varnish or paint would be OK - there will only be a couple of thin layers on the wood and I don't think it would hurt them if they ate it (it's not like they're going to drink it from the tin :lol: ) I would steer away from colours, but you could always use non-toxic woodstain for fences before varnishing it if you wanted to make it prettier.

 

Tamsin

Administrator

Staff member

• Aug 19, 2005

• #3

If you look at the labels sometimes they safe whether they're pet safe. You could also try looking up the manufacturers contact details and give them a call to check.

The other option would be to stick lino to it. Thats good for being easy to clean.

Tam

 

E

elve

Banned

• Aug 19, 2005

• #4

hi

If you use lino though be sure and put some wood beading along the edge - if your bunnies are chewers and can get a grip on a loose bit - well they may end up like poor Pepsi did - he ate plastic, roofing felt, carrier bags - anything I couldn't snatch off him fast enough!

 

U

um20

Young Bun

• Aug 19, 2005

• #5

I've used B & Q and Ronseal wood stains on my hutches and fences. They're non-toxic to animals when dry and can be washed off surfaces (it's water based). Just don't let them drink it whilst it is still wet!

My 5 have chewed the hutches and fences and it's never bothered them. In fact I'd say they must like the taste the amount of chewing they do :roll:

 

R

rngpwelfare

Mama Doe

• Aug 19, 2005

• #6

We've used cupinol on our runs and the outside of the hutches and emulsion on the insides everything has been chewed with no problems.

 

B

Buttonmoon

Banned

• Aug 19, 2005

• #7

Thanks guys, I think cuprinol will do the job, I've got some of that for my fence!
Just got to wait now until I put him in his new cage! I figured I'd leave it until his new girlfriend comes home so it's new to them both, It's hard tho, I'm incredibly impatient!!!

 

K

Karly

Banned

• Aug 20, 2005

• #8

If you want brighter colours, I think there's a kid-safe Japlac paint, which I know people have used on and in rat cages. Rats are much more likely to gnaw at bars and wood etc. so I imagine it'd be safe for buns too. And it comes in a variety of different colours.