Dig boxes

[erravensaddiction]

I’ve seen a lot of different ‘dig boxes’ I have a few bins and know about the balls and eggs but have seen rice a time or Twix is rice really an ok thing for dig boxes? Is there not a worry about them eating them?

[mermaidsirena]

Our dig box is dried beans. They love it and haven't tried eating them at all. They are a bit dirty, though. Ghost's nose turns dark when he digs with his nose.

[Sherry]

Long grain rice is excellent, especially as a dry "bath". The rice actually helps remove excess oils from the skin/coat.

[erravensaddiction]

Thanks I’ll have to see what kinds I have, was going to make rice bags for Xmas this year and bought the supplies only to remember I hate seeing and way. Worse comes to worse I’ll just have to bear threw some more sewing lol.

[LindaM]

We have done several kinds for our ferrets. Most recently I tried starch packaging peanuts.. everyone was very amused with licking them.. so that was stopped pretty fast. Dirt is a BIG winner.. and a BIG mess maker.. so try an enclosed box with a hole entrance. Long grain rice is nice too, never use any instant rice. Shredded paper works for some, but some ferrets may think "Potty box!".. and then it's over, LOL. Plastic easter eggs and ping-pong balls make great ball pits. Seasonal boxes are also well loved in our home, autumn gives dry leaf boxes and winter gives a snow box.

[erravensaddiction]

I had seen the dirt ones and all the exciting ways to keep the dirt in the box lol. I’m thinking I’ll have lots of boxes and be able to switch them up every day or two.
But snow? I’d have never thought of that one seeing as I feel it would just end in a cold bath lol.

[LindaM]

I even did a hail box the one day, had husband scoop fresh hail off the deck for the ferrets to play in.


If you have a spare bathtub, you can add snow to it and just make a way for them to climb in and out by themselves. Mine loved digging in the snow. Buckets can work easy, same as with water play, line around it with some open towels to help catch the wet and for the ferrets to dry off in.

[erravensaddiction]

Oh my gosh I love it and with winter coming!

[olenka]

Our fuzz butts have 2 rice boxes in their room (long rice) and we bring them some snow at winter time. They are not so much excited by snow. Dig for 2 minutes and go away. Spoiled american ferrets ) Also, we tried to walk one of them on a snow. He hated it. He was scratching our entrance door and begging to take him in!

We tried to make "paper balls" out of old magazines (did not want to use newspapers because the prints might be tocsick). They played for a couple of minutes only. May be because the paper was too harsh. Will try it again with "tissue balls" and leaves.

[erravensaddiction]

Is there any fear of them eating the paper? Or are all dig boxes a supervise until they seem behaved toy?

[LindaM]

It's always good to supervise everything with your ferrets, get to know what they do, and even then check up on things regularly. Because even a ferret who has never chewed or eaten something all their life, might suddenly feel like giving it a shot. Mine won't eat the paper boxes.. but they all seem to like trying to eat starch packing peanuts.. so that box is a no in our home.

[erravensaddiction]

Thanks I assumed it might be a personality thing. I am honestly getting so excited for just those lil moments to do things like learn what are there fav dig items lol.

[olenka]

Just bought pings pong balls as a X-mas gift for our fuzzies...they do not dig in it -?! Show no interest at all. Neither they are impressed with snow. Tried it again this year. After 2 minutes they turned away. Our girl likes rice. She climbs in the box and starts digging by herself. The boys need some encoragement to play with rice. We put them in the box and do "rice shower". They are trying to catch the rice that is falling on their backs, get hyper, and start digging.
What they absolutely love is digging out our plants. We had to get rid of a palm tree. Covering the dirt with stones did not help. They managed turn those 5 lb stones around!