Safe types of wood?

[queenadreena]

I want to give my two young buns some natural bark/wood to chew on. So far, they've had chew toys that I've bought from pet stores, but they're always dyed a hideous colour, which tends to come out on their paws and fur (Green on a white bunny just isn't attractive!) I don't want them chewing something that's artificially coloured, so I was going to give them some wood out of my garden. Our main tree's are leylandii conifers, and I'm not sure if they'd be poisonous?
Also, It's getting pretty hot in England, I'm a bit worried about the girls as they live outside in a hutch (only coming in for playtime and cuddles) what heat can rabbits withstand? Its about 29C here. I gave them some ice cubes to lick on earlier, which they loved.

 

[naturestee]

This site lists safe wood, as well as leaves and veggies and unsafe lists also:
http://www.mckellier.com/archives/images/2006/RabbitMenu.pdf

It says that all evergreens not in the safe list are bad. So I wouldn't use your trees. My rabbits love apple and willow twigs, if you can get those. Pear is also supposed to be tasty.

This is a really good thread on rabbit heat tolerences and how to keep them cool:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=864&forum_id=1

 

[queenadreena]

Thanks alot. Theres a willow tree nearby that I can break some twigs off. Do you just give it to them as it is?

 

[naturestee]

I forget where I've seen this, but most wood except for apple wood should be dried before giving it to rabbits. I wasn't sure how long to bake them fore, so I put my sticks in the oven at the lowest setting for a couple of hours.

P.S. If it's a weeping willow, try braiding the thin, flexible branches together before you bake them. You can also wrap them into little wreaths. My buns love them! I have pics in this thread:

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=13940&forum_id=1

 

[queenadreena]

Your rabbits have super big eyes!How sweet. Do you braidthe twigsbefore you put them in the oven or after?

 

[naturestee]

Before they get baked. Otherwise they're too hard.

They like to chew on the thicker branches too. I switch it up on them to keep them interested.

Gotta love mascara bunnies!