Question about types of wood

[Chinchilla63]

I'm pretty new to being a chin mommy, I've rescued three older girls in the last year. I admit to going a little crazy (okay,.completely out of mind) with toys and chewy things.
I am only buying wood from chinchilla specialists like Ronda's wood (love ya, Ronda!!!) so it's all organic and woods that are safe for my lil fuzzies.
What kinds of woods do you give in unlimited quantities? Do your chins prefer certain types, like apple or pear? And do you leave the sticks in once the bark is gone? My girls seem to strip the bark off and then be done with them.
I heard that willow should only be given in limited quantities, is that true?
Thanks for any any info! I've learned so much already from browsing the forums!

 

[DelightfulChins]

I give my chins unlimited amounts of sticks. It's good for their teeth. I remove the sticks about twice a week. And all of my chins prefer different types. I have one chin that will only eat willow. Anything else he literally pushes out of his cage.

 

[ChinnieMommy87]

I buy from Ronda as well. My chins get lots of sticks each night. We like to mix it up with about four different kind. Apple, pear, mulbery, willow and some others. I haven't found one my chins didn't like.

About the bark thing. Mine do the same with thicker sticks. I buy the twigs and they love them.

 

[jess32247]

I make my own sticks, I usually just throw a couple in her cage every night before I go to sleep. I leave the sticks in a pile in her cage. She doesn't chew on them much, but sometimes I'll wake up to find a few completely shredded. I throw them out when they get soiled or dirty. Not much help though :/

Kind of unrelated, but does anyone have a safe wood list? I've been going a bit nuts with preparing sticks, but can't seem to find a reliable wood list.

 

[Spirit Chaser]

I keep a large variety of wood in my cages, large chunks, coins, and some sticks. I don't give them very many of the twig types because we go through them to fast. Once in a while, I'll open up the container I have the wood in, and let them choose a piece, makes their night when I do that.

I bought a variety mix in bulk from an awesome wood supplier before they shut down the year I got my boys. I haven't had to by more wood since, but will sometime in the upcoming future. We're nearly out of their favorite chunky barked type woods and they are offended when they don't get their favorites along with all the ones they only like.

My boys strip the bark off, leave the wood sitting around for a bit, the suddenly they just devour the wood itself, or at least they chew it down to nothing but sawdust, so I leave the wood in there till it's been reduced to tiny pieces. Mine are strange guys, they seem to hate apple, and a few others that are usually favorites of chinchillas. Currently willow is the absolute favorite

 

[smhluvsmh]

Favorites here are apple, crabapple and pear. They do not like pecan! I take out the chewed sticks every night when I clean and refill their stick box. Once the bark is gone, it's trash.

 

[Shooper]

I have 3 boys who also like to strip the wood and leave it! I make my own and have apple, dogwood and grapevine. They love 'em all!

 

[Chinchilla63]

Thanks, everybody! It's helpful to hear what other chinnies like/dislike. I always feel a little guilty sweeping out the stripped branches, but the girls seem indifferent to my "aren't you going to finish that?" pleading' lol.

 

[Gumby and Elmo]

Mine hate apple sticks too for some reason, willow, pear and cholla are my boys's picks.

 

[summerdays]

mine love apple the best

 

[Roni Jasper]

Mine loooooove cottonwood... I really miss the store in Arionza where I could get the green cottonwood they loved best. I think it was Jeff & Barb. :/