Making Willow Chew Toys?

[Gizi]

Hello! I saw some willow chew toys for guinea pigs on eBay for very cheap (1, 2, 3) pounds. But they only ship to America Asia and Europe and not Australia The chews are all handmade from Willow sticks and I thought I would be able to make some of those as-well. I do need some questions answered.

1. Where can I get willow sticks? Is there some sort of willow tree I need to buy?
2. How can I sanitize the willow sticks to make then safe for the pets?
3. How do I make the willow balls?

Thanks! If you want to go and buy some of those chews heres a link
- http://stores.ebay.com/Jenis-Small-Animal-Toys-And-More?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

 

[MrsSuzy]

I don't know yet but if no one else knows might be able to find out soon and will let you know. I am looking into it to make little baskets for my shop (The Piggy Lounge) and we make them from scratch at my workplace (I work in a animal rescue centre but fairly new so haven't learned it yet). It's a great idea, there are so many nice things our pigs could have if we let our imagination run wild

 

[Gizi]

Bump!

 

[Goth Mummy]

I dont know if willow is a tree that grows in Australia, (please forgive my ignorance) but I have a weeping willow tree that grows in my paddock and I regularly cut long wands of it to make willow balls, wreaths and toys for the piggies and bunny. My ponies also like it. I dont sanitize it in any way as its never occured to me to sanitize anything that I pick for the piggies from my own land but as the tree is on my (rented) paddock I know that it has not been sprayed with any chemicals and the tree is nowhere near a road either.

 

[Hermes]

You need to find a willow tree (goat, weeping or pussy) to cut some sticks from. They tend to grow near water but can grow elsewhere, have a look around where you are and ask permission where necessary. A quick google suggests willows are weeds in Australia so it shouldn't be an issue to cut some (it won't hurt the trees in any case). Make sure no chemicals have been used.

You want to cut the long, soft, young growth as it will be more pliable and you can weave it into a ball. If needs be, you can soak it in water to make it more pliable. To make a ball you just take a long piece and bend it round as though you were rolling a ball of wool and then tuck the end into the middle so it's held in place.

It can be washed in a salt water solution and sun dried or dried in the oven (carefully of course) to sanitise but I don't tend to do much more than wash them as my guineas graze on the lawn in any case.

You can just cut the sticks into short lengths and they'll enjoy chewing them as well as making balls.

There are other safe woods you can use so if you know what's in your garden (assuming you have one) then we may be able to help.