Are MDF & Roofing felt ok to build a hutch with?

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DavidEscapes

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Hi everyone

I am hoping to build a hutch using 3/4 inch MDF since it is very easy to work with. I just wanted to check it will be ok for piggies.

Also, I am planning on lining their ramps with roofing felt for grip. Again. Will this be fine?

Thanks

David
 
Mdf shouldn't be used, as it gives off harmful fumes.
 
DavidEscapes said:
Hi everyone

I am hoping to build a hutch using 3/4 inch MDF since it is very easy to work with. I just wanted to check it will be ok for piggies.

Also, I am planning on lining their ramps with roofing felt for grip. Again. Will this be fine?

Thanks

David
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Hi David, MDF contains formaldehyde & shouldn't be used especially as the piggies may chew it - roofing felt on the ramp is fine.

My hutches (home-made) are made from 1/4" sheeting ply but you can get thicker & are insulated on the outside eventhough they are in a shed.
 
OK. Pity. I have seen it being used for smaller items in hutch's, but I guess building the whole thing out of it would be too much.

I wonder if it possible to seal is somehow. PVA maybe? I will look into that. It is a great building material for a job like this so it would be a pity to not be able to use it.
 
Niki said:
Hi David, MDF contains formaldehyde & shouldn't be used especially as the piggies may chew it - roofing felt on the ramp is fine.

My hutches (home-made) are made from 1/4" sheeting ply but you can get thicker & are insulated on the outside eventhough they are in a shed.
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Yes. Ply seems the way to go. I will use 3/4 inch though.
 
I would use Marine Plywood.

I would be jubious of using the roofing felt as they will probably chew and the roofing felt I used to use on the shed was paper with tar and chippings on I'm assuming this is what you mean. How about just using small slips of wood across the ramp for grip.
 
Modwyn said:
I would use Marine Plywood.

I would be jubious of using the roofing felt as they will probably chew and the roofing felt I used to use on the shed was paper with tar and chippings on I'm assuming this is what you mean. How about just using small slips of wood across the ramp for grip.
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When i had ramps, some of mine had strips of wood across, others had carpet but all had sides to prevent them falling off :)
 
There seems to be mixed feelings in this thread about roofing felt. It does seem like it will be ok to be. It's main ingredient is tar. My guess is that it will be horribly unpalatable and the piggies will leave it alone.
 
DavidEscapes said:
There seems to be mixed feelings in this thread about roofing felt. It does seem like it will be ok to be. It's main ingredient is tar. My guess is that it will be horribly unpalatable and the piggies will leave it alone.
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Some of my pigs chewed the wooden sides of their ramps but none chewed the wooden strips or the carpet that was on them. I still have 2 ramps being used; one is carpeted the other is covered with an old bath mat & neither pigs have chewed the covering, however i cannot say that all pigs wouldn't chew :)
 
Yes. I'll keep my eye on it, but I very much suspect roofing felt will be great for keeping ramps grippy :)
 
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