Dig Box options

[storm]

  I have had a rice box before but a certain ferret decided that it was a potty and wouldn't stop using it likewise so I had to scrap that idea. I have a box with packing peanuts but don't like the possibility that one might swallow a piece. Like with Snowball here;


She loves playing in them but she also wanted to chew on them. I have heard of using dry beans as an alternative. Has anyone tried this and have their ever tried to eat them? I have also seen (I can't remember where) where a plastic storage tub like this one;


  Was filled partway with dirt and had a hole cut into it and a small piece of pvc pipe put into the hole acting as a tunnel. I really liked that idea since they could have actual soil to dig in and I could take the lid off at times a bury toys in it. I am curious if anyone has ever tried something like this and did it work or did you just end up with soil all over the room? From all the ideas that I've seen I like this one the best.

[Aftershock]

I've heard of elbow macaroni being used too, I wonder if that would be a different enough texture for Twiggy (it was Twiggy that was going in the rice box, right?), and maybe putting favorite toys in it so that maybe she won't see it as a potty. I've heard of the beans too, and I've been wanting to try them, I just haven't gotten around to buying any.
I think I know what you are talking about with the dirt box, we have a tub that is our rice box, cut a hole in the small side, then attached tubing to it to make a 'ramp' of sorts. It actually keeps in quite a bit of the rice, I've been pretty pleased with it. I'd think dirt would get stuck on them and in their fur though, so that's going to be a mess no matter what you do.

[storm]

I thought that it was Twiggy but the mystery pooper turned out to be Snowball. I caught her in the act. I guess your right. Dirt can be messy no matter what. I'll see if I can figure out something for it. If not I'll try beans. Is there a certain type to use or just any kind?

[Aftershock]

They sure can be little butts. I know Klarissa for a tarp out and put it under her dirt dig box, I don't think she had it out every day though.
What about a 'ball' pit instead? I'm sure Amazon has cheap plastic Easter eggs, then you can put treats in them. And cleaning would be so much easier.
I'm not sure on types exactly, but the larger the better.
Also, have you thought about sand?

[storm]

That sounds like a good idea. I can probably get plastic eggs cheep off eBay and then just put them in a cardboard box. Thank you.

[raynebc]

One of the dig boxes my ferrets have has dry pinto beans. I've never observed or seen evidence of them eating it. To them, the beans are non-food.

[storm]

raynebc Pinto beans, I'll try them.