linseed oil finish… toxic?

[babybunsmum]

i’ve been browsing all of the NIC condo’s & planning a new set-up for baby bun.  i have this piece of pine (1×8 shelf) that i want to cut to use for 2 ramps.  i bought several unfinished shelves & rubbed linseed oil on them for finish maybe 5 yrs ago & then decided i didn’t need this one.  would this finish be toxic if she nibbled on it?  she may not even go at it but i want to be safe.  thanks in advance if you have any idea about this (a google search turned up un-informative to me)

[Gravehearted]

Well, I didn’t know anything about the safety of linseed oil, but in googling it sounds like some people feed it to their show rabbits to get glossy coats, linseed meal is listed as an ingredient in some pellets and another site recommended it as a laxative. So my guess is it isn’t likely to be toxic. None of the info was from what I consider trusted sources, so if you’re nervous you may wish to sand off the oil.

[babybunsmum]

thanks gravehearted!  i ended up finding some info (not necessarily from trusted sources tho) about it being toxic to rats & horses when fed ‘large doses’ daily.  i don’t know why they were doing this & i don’t know what quantifies ‘large’.  i think it would be fine unless she really goes-to-town chewing it, but i’m avoiding it just incase.  i browsed through some of the pics under ‘cool habitats’ and have decided i don’t really need ramps anyways.  maybe if piggies were living in it… but baby should manage the levels fine

[Gravehearted]

you can always put a short, squat box between the first and second floor while she’s getting used to things. I ended up making a step using, one grid and a bunch of zip ties. However, they have no issue hopping from 2 – 3rd floor without a step.

Just last night I saw Viktor leap from his litterbox (opposite side of their house) diagonally up to the 3rd floor perch. He made it look effortless, it was like a surreal Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – float, flying thing! he he

[babybunsmum]

lol!  i can picture that…. viktor the great!

[Scarlet_Rose]

I ended up making some steps up to each level because they are shy about making the leap altogether. Originally I had ramps for my buns but felt they needed more exercise with the jumping. When they get older though and have a hard time jumping, the ramps will go back up.

[babybunsmum]

thats a good point.  thats partially why i’m re-arranging baby’s area.  right now she uses a cage for her litter that opens on the top which was problematic after her surgery.  i have NIC thingy’s anyways, so i’m going to build another condo (have a better design in mind than what i have now) and try to transition her to a new set-up in it with her food & water & a smaller litter pan.  i think this will be MUCH easier to clean than her cage which is currently a bit of a production.  also, since she’s become VERY adventerous after her surgery, i need to be able to close her in when i’m out & about and would rather leave her room door open so she’s less isolated. 

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