Safe Wood for Chinchillas

Wooden shelves, toys and chews are perfect for chinchillas and a great way to wear their teeth down. However you must ensure any wood given to your chinchilla is from the safe list below or it can seriously harm your pet.

Please carefully check labels on any wooden pet shop toys, as often they can be made from wood that is unsafe. This is also the same for kiln dried wood shavings - you need to know exactly what types of wood are used to tell whether they are safe. For example Snowflake's wood shavings contain cedar which is toxic to chinchillas!

Making your own wooden shelves, toys and chews

If you're struggling to find safe wooden items for your chinchilla then you can always make your own shelves, toys or chews. You may be able to buy safe cuts of wood from local DIY Centres or Wood Yards, however please ensure you know exactly what the wood is made from and that they are untreated. You can also use wood you have in your own garden if it's on the safe list.

Preparing your own wood

Never give your chinchilla fresh wood, you must prepare it first. Make sure you know the wood is free from pesticides and chemicals, then first scrub down the pieces with a brush to clean them. Next boil your wood for 10-30 minutes, then bake in the oven for 20-90 minutes at a temperature between 120-150 degrees (250-300 Fahrenheit). Larger sections of wood may take considerably longer, you can tell that your wood is ready when it stops steaming.