Carving for rabbits

[sappy]

My sister and brother-in-laws' new baby happens to be a rabbit. I want to carve something for the bunny to chew on but I don't want to carve it out of something that will make her sick. I have Basswood, but I think that is pretty soft for a chewing stick. I also have black walnut but I am a little leary of using that. Does anyone have any experience with rabbit chews? I looked at one in a pet store today, ten bucks for a wood carrot, and they don't tell you what type of wood it is! Also it was painted!

[toycarver]

I just googled and it looks like Apple wood is common for rabbits and other small critters.

[Soggy]

Not sure about rabbit "chew toys", but I do know that wild rabbits will chew the bark off both apple and birch trees in the winter, when food is scarce.

[johncarves]

Rabbits are nortorius for chewing and a delicate digestive system. A friend of mine got a "house" rabbit as a pet. And right away had to take him to the Vet for an upset tummy. The Vet recommended having several small blocks of Spruce around the house for the Bunny to chew on. This was as a digestive aid (fiber etc.).

It actually solved two problems. As long as there was Spruce available the bunny didn't chew on anything else.

That's Spruce as in your local lumberyard's un-treated framing 2 x 4. Buy a 8 footer and have it cut into 6 - 8 inch blocks; voila! a six month supply. (Spruce doesn't carve to badly, other than a lot of small knots.)

[sappy]

Thank you everyone! I don't have ready access to apple wood but I could get some birch or spruce. Thank you for the information! We will spruce up the bunny!

[Claude]

If you decide you want the wood colored, use food coloring - won't hurt the bunny.

Claude

[sappy]

Yes, I was thinking of food color. I wondered if it would rub off onto her fur, but then I guess that would just dress her up for Easter!

[hwallen48]

Hide the furniture!!!

[Soggy]

Originally Posted by hwallen48

Hide the furniture!!!

That brings back old memories................ Back in the 70's we had a couple of bunnies and at the time we were living in a mobile home. I had an 8 track stereo ( told ya it was a long time ago) One evening I tried to play some music and couldn't get any sound from my speakers which were located on the other side of the room. After we checked everything we discovered that the little buggers had chewed the speaker wires off in about twenty different places........
They sure were cute little devils, and very playful...........
Soggy

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by sappy

My sister and brother-in-laws' new baby happens to be a rabbit. I want to carve something for the bunny to chew on but I don't want to carve it out of something that will make her sick. I have Basswood, but I think that is pretty soft for a chewing stick. I also have black walnut but I am a little leary of using that. Does anyone have any experience with rabbit chews? I looked at one in a pet store today, ten bucks for a wood carrot, and they don't tell you what type of wood it is! Also it was painted!

Well.......this is a no brainer.....use a REAL carrot!

sorry, I couldn't help my self.