Spruce?

[eycamry]

There is a kind of kiln dried white pine shaving available at a local feed store. It only says white pine in the front, but when I did some research online, I found that it is a mixture of pine and spruce, kiln dried though. Is this safe? If not, why? If spruce is kind of pine, why is it not safe to the chins? I am fostering guinea pigs for a local rescue group. They are using this bedding with all of their guinea pigs.

One more question: does aspen need to be kiln-dried also?

Thanks.

 

[Sasha]

Spruce is toxic to chins, kiln dried or not.

And aspen doesn't need to be kiln-dried, just not treated with anything.

ETA: "Certain types of wood are poisonous to chinchillas and should be avoided. These woods include cedar, cherry, eucalyptus, fir, plum, plywood or spruce." http://www.petmag.co.uk/chinchilla/care.html

 

[Idgie]

I use the site www.chinchillas2home.co.uk/safewoods.htm Technically, a spruce is a kind of conifer and so is a pine. Some conifers are safe and some are not.