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Post by Wolfbane on Oct 26, 2012 20:11:49 GMT
So this may come off as a stupid question but I just want to make sure nothing toxic comes in contact with my dynamic degu duo. Apple branches are okay for them to climb on, and in Nova Scotia we have a lot of farmers who have apple orchards but I just want to make sure that trees that grow apples in general are okay to snag branches from, or if there is a specific apple tree that i'm supposed to use. I know I have to clean the branches by washing/oven(if they are really dirty) but yah. Thank you
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Post by ntg on Oct 26, 2012 20:14:26 GMT
As far as I'm aware, all apple trees are fine, as long as they haven't had pesticides or anything similar used on them.
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Post by Wolfbane on Oct 26, 2012 21:28:05 GMT
Okay, thanks. ^^ I'll collect some apple/crabapple branches tomorrow probably but at the moment I gathered oak and silver birch because I saw it on the safe list on the site. So we clipped it from the tree directly and its been after first frost if that means anything xD But now its down to washing them/heating them. I'm thinking of filling the bathtub with warm water(or do you need to use boiling water?) then scrubbing them down. Since branches absorb what they are left in do I use soap, and if so what kind is safe for the degus, dishsoap/handsoap? D: Then just heat them in the oven until they are dry. Does that sound okay? xD
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Post by Lrak on Oct 27, 2012 9:05:22 GMT
I use boiling water and pour it over the wood, then i will scrub all the moss and stuff off. Not sure about useing soap on it, i'm really not sure whats safe. You could heat it on a low heat in the oven, are you planning on drying it out completely or just to dry out the water that you washed with?
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 27, 2012 10:37:01 GMT
You only need to wash them if they have moss, lichen or bird poo on them. If the wood looks fresh and sound, you don't need to wash them or bake them, and this allows you to leave the leaves on and let them enjoy the whole thing and in any size you like.
When I've washed branches, I've used hand hot water and a scrubbing brush and the odd spray of pet safe disinfectant or kettle full of boiled water poured on, but I don't think the disinfectant is really necessary. I tend to think if the would looks too manky, discard it and find some better wood!
If you do want to wash/ scrub them, doing it in the bath or even outside is a good idea, the water and spray from the brush seems to go everywhere.
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Post by Wolfbane on Oct 27, 2012 14:13:48 GMT
I was planning on putting the sticks in the oven for 20 minutes on each side so 40 in general since i'm not sure how long is too short or too much. x.x I took pictures of the birch/oak I collected though :: The three large branches are the silver birch and oak than the little mini twigs are some I took from my grandmothers grapevines. But do those look safe/use-able?
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Post by jenowuk on Oct 27, 2012 16:48:46 GMT
Birch & Oak are both woods which are OK for goos, but you will need to clean the lichen/moss off. Beyond that, the wood looks to be in good nick, so after a clean and a cook, should be good to go!
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 30, 2012 2:33:20 GMT
Even just a really stiff brush will work great to get the lichen and mosses off. No need to use water, and then warm it through in the oven to make sure there are no bugs in there.
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