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Post by eastcoastcages on May 29, 2018 9:25:08 GMT
So I have a question... Something I have not yet dabbled in is tree branches as I have always found anything other then Apple branches and Java to be a big grey area. On Degutopia it states that Silver Birch is toxic but many people seem to give it to their Degus anyway, in the past I have in the form of a log filled with treat which was bought from Pets@home and it's sold as perfectly Degu safe, yet as mentioned many places say it's toxic but many also say it's okay for them, it's seems to be a very conflicting area. As I've been so unsure in the past I never have given them any as I always err to the side of caution with my little guys. I have been a Degu owner for many many years and my oldest boy Dougal is at the ripe old age of 8 years and still going strong which is amazing! This is a very curious topic to me and I'd love to be able to give them some sizable branches to climb on, what knowledge do you guys have on this? Would be great to know. Thanks. This list shows birch to be safe also. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/15617/safe-tree-wood-list?page=1
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Post by bouncy on May 29, 2018 9:30:14 GMT
Not only have mine clambered over birch branches, but they get regular fresh twigs and leaves from my mum's silver birch in her garden, which they devour!
Unfortunately, our experience is that Degutopia is rather out of date, and hasn't been updated yet to reflect developments in degu care, so it's always worth asking!
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Post by savvy on May 29, 2018 9:38:53 GMT
I sprinkle birch chips over the substrate in my cages and also use birch discs, birch bark as a treat, and birch wood, all of which is devoured.
I'm super cautious with my too and regularly check the safe lists on here.
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Post by eastcoastcages on May 29, 2018 9:54:19 GMT
I sprinkle birch chips over the substrate in my cages and also use birch discs, birch bark as a treat, and birch wood, all of which is devoured. I'm super cautious with my too and regularly check the safe lists on here. So if I was to get some Birch branches, would it be best to cut them fresh or fallen? And what's the best way to prep them? Roast? Air dry? What the general consensus on that?
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Post by eastcoastcages on May 29, 2018 9:55:25 GMT
Not only have mine clambered over birch branches, but they get regular fresh twigs and leaves from my mum's silver birch in her garden, which they devour! Unfortunately, our experience is that Degutopia is rather out of date, and hasn't been updated yet to reflect developments in degu care, so it's always worth asking! Same again... So if I was to get some Birch branches, would it be best to cut them fresh or fallen? And what's the best way to prep them? Roast? Air dry? What the general consensus on that?
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Post by savvy on May 29, 2018 10:30:39 GMT
I sprinkle birch chips over the substrate in my cages and also use birch discs, birch bark as a treat, and birch wood, all of which is devoured. I'm super cautious with my too and regularly check the safe lists on here. So if I was to get some Birch branches, would it be best to cut them fresh or fallen? And what's the best way to prep them? Roast? Air dry? What the general consensus on that? To be honest, I have to buy mine in as I don't have access to a living birch tree. But I do have acess to a living apple tree (my neighbours) I clean them with water to make sure there was no bird faeces or anything nasty on there and then dry them in a warm oven to make sure. But others may do things differently.
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Post by moletteuk on May 29, 2018 12:53:21 GMT
The degutopia list shows so many things as toxic because they looked at studies that involved inhalation of dust particles of the wood. Basically, most things inhaled as a fine dust are toxic, so it's no surprise that many woods caused a problem in this way in the studies. In real life situations, with experience going back probably a couple of decades now, the woods on our safe wood list have been shown to be safe.
Fresh branches are best, but fresh fallen from a storm is fine, just avoid old, decayed wood. Wash off any bird poo and algae, scrape of any lichen, although I don't tend to worry about any small amounts left on. No need to heat treat. I just wash and then leave outside to dry. Leave the leaves on. If you pick fresh, clean wood, you don't need to do anything, you can give it straight to your degus.
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Post by bouncy on May 29, 2018 17:00:06 GMT
As long as it's clean, I don't think it matters. If you want to dry it (such as larger branches), then an airing cupboard or very low oven will be fine. The bits I give mine for eating are literally broken off from my mother's tree, taken back stuffed down the front of my jacket (motorbike), then given to them!
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