rabbit safe wood

[SterlingSatin]

what kind of lumber is rabbit safe? for a project i've heard cedar isn't good, what about pine? treated, untreated? can i stain it?
i'm toying with the idea of making a "rabbit tractor" of sorts, for an old brood doe that deserves a good retirement. However, we have coyotes and raccoons in my area so i'm going to have to make it very strong if i want it to work. any suggestions?

 

[eco2pia]

I have used pine and fir with no trouble, and i have used treated lumber on parts that the rabbits can't really chew. They will go through a 1 inch pine board no problem though, so try to put wire between them and lumber of any kind...I had a roof support for snow loads on my hutch that was removable, and it got to be a game for them to wiggle it loose repeatedly and chew it up. I will replace it with something wrapped in hardware cloth I think...

 

[bearME]

I'd stay away from treated wood in any area that the rabbit could accesses. Even some of the regular ply wood contains some pretty nasty chemicals.

 

[akane]

Cedar as boards isn't too much of an issue. There's isn't anywhere near the surface area exposed as with shavings and if the cages are outside or in a building kept open it's unlikely to build up the volatile oils. I would never use cedar shavings or too much wood in an enclosed building such as making entire livestock stall sides out of it but framing a hutch probably won't concentrate enough of the oils to create any health risk. Pine has the same risks of cedar just in lesser amounts so it's not that cedar is unique. It's just the worst. Don't use treated or glued wood such as plywood and small boards that are made of other small pieces like some 2x2's can be where rabbits can reach it. I'm not sure I'd trust any stains or varnishes. At minimum you would need a long curing period before putting rabbits in the cage. I have used marine polyurethane. People use it to seal plywood for making coral growout tanks instead of having to use a glass or plastic material and if it gave off anything toxic all the sensitive saltwater critters would die quickly. It pretty much makes the wood equal to plastic. Waterproof, wipes clean, can be sterilized with bleach or vinegar.... However it's slightly expensive but with large cages, plenty of hay, and a few cardboard items my rabbits haven't chewed my polyurethane coated base for the indoor cage. I made that base over 5 years ago.

 

[SatinsRule]

A rabbit will chew thru any kind of wood if it's exposed to them. The key is to build your hutches in such a way that there is wire between the rabbit and the wooden structural members to prevent the chewing.

The old adage that it's easier to do it right the first time around than it is to fix it the second time around certainly applies. Once they eat thru wood in just about any direction, you'll find yourself having to tear most of the hutch apart in order to fix what's been eaten thru.

 

[akane]

Again my rabbits have not chewed my 5 year old polyurethane coated wood base and there is nothing between them and it. They seem plenty content with hay and cardboard. It's not 100% that they will but it is a good idea to plan for it. I found a source for metal strips I could line the top edge in if necessary. I'd be more concerned about urine. Even if you keep the rabbits from reaching the wood it's gonna stink within a couple years and it can't be sanitized well. If you don't put on a coating that is at least semi waterproof all your effort will be for nothing.

Since this is a tractor and not a hutch have you thought about using pvc or metal piping? You can attach the mesh to the pipe with wire, cable ties, or clamps. It wouldn't work so well in a hutch because the corners would have round pipe running to the ground so that the floor would have to be cut around them but since any floor on a tractor is going to be the bottom layer under the end of the frame it would not have to go around the upright sections of pipe. The fact they are round instead of square does not impact a building project like that. We did a movable 4x8x8'h aviary out of pvc and hardware cloth at the old house. Eventually in the weather pvc gets brittle which is where more expensive metal piping would be a benefit but it'll be good for 5 or so years depending on the grade of pvc and your temperature extremes while remaining light and depending on thickness impervious to predator damage.

 

[SatinsRule]

FWIW Akane, I wasn't directing any of that at you or anything you posted. I was just sharing an observation based on my experience with wood-framed hutches during my first go-round in the rodeo.

And you're correct. Wire will rust out when it's in contact with wood in the constant presence of urine and moisture from rain and such. Not so much of a problem when it can run out onto the ground, but wood will soak it up until it reaches its saturation point, then begin to rust afterward.