Hey everyone
My 15 month old F BP is getting close to outgrowing her
bark half-round hide. Since she's pushing three feet in length, I'm
thinking that I probably won't find a big enough bark half-round. (> ten by ten)
Has anyone got any info on what kind of wood is safe to use for a hide box?.
I'm using aspen bedding...I know better than to use cedar etc. If my local lumber yard had aspen boards, I guess I'd use that....but they don't.
I'm told pine ( your basic lumber) is no good...I guess that's why I don't use pine bedding I bought some pre-cut oak, thinking that'd be that....but...it's got a very strong odor...really fills up the house. The lumber yard told me that's typical of oak...even told me that the oak in question had been there 'airing out' for quite some little while. I'm....guessing that, being a hardwood, oak doesn't have the phenols, and various other oils and irritants that make Cedar etc a no-no.
Still....this oak stinks . Does anyone know if it's a 'harmless' stink?.
I know that aspen is also called "Shivering Poplar". The lumber yard only has yellow poplar....which as it turns out isn't actualy Poplar ( Populus spp ) at all.
Rather, everywhere but America, what we call yellow poplar is marketed as 'Tulipwood'. ( Liriodendron tulipifera) It is described as 'aromatic and bitter'.....so I guess yellow poplar is out.....
So far, my research hasn't gotten me an answer, and I'm hoping someone here will have a ready answer for me. Regina ( yeah, I know...no imagination) really likes her bark half-round. If I can't find a bigger one, I figure I'll make one...I just need to know the right wood(s) to use.
Thanks in advance for your help

GMB
amergin@comcast.net