Dig Boxes

[monicaexplosion]

What ingredients are safe for dig boxes and what ingredients arent?

I know you cant use styrofoam peanuts but I know you can use long grain rice and beans

thank you =)

[sherrylynne]

Many things! Any long grain rice, basmati, jasmine, plain white. Ping pong balls, packing peanuts made from starch(you can tell the difference easily- put them in water, and if they melt, they're safe), beans(they have to be big enough not to cause a blockage), sand, dirt, leaves, shredded paper, plastic bags(with the handles cut off, and holes ripped in).
Basically whatever you can think up that they can't/won't ingest!

[monicaexplosion]

I think I'm overly paranoid about blockage

thats pretty much one of my biggest fears

I really couldnt believe you could use rice ha.

thank you =)

[luxuriousferret]

like potting soil? do you have to do anything first?

[glynus]

I had some starch peanuts in a box that my babies absolutely loved playing in. I think they liked it more than anything else I have found. I took it away from them, though because Melinda seemed to think the peanuts were an alternate food source and I was worried that too much would cause problems.

Does anybody know about this? I really felt bad about taking their best toy away but wasn't willing to risk their health. If it's ok, I would love to get them some more.

[sherrylynne]

Sitting and chowing down on the starch peanuts probably isn't the healthiest thing for her to eat , but if all she's doing is having the odd nibble here and there, I wouldn't worry too much! Lucrezia's done that, too. If she starts eating a bit to much for my comfort, I simply remove them for a week, then it's a brand new playtoy again

As for the rice, as long as it isn't instant, it's fine. The problem with the instant is it can swell in the stomach, or intestines, and cause a blockage. The regular rice simply passes through intact. I have found a few grains in their stool before, but no problems!

For the soil, you can get it from outside, and bake it to kill off any bacteria, but I wouldn't use potting soil. It frequently has fertilizers, or styrofoam pebbles added for moisture retention.

[Jaycee]

I know it isn't exactly a dig box, but I recently purchased a few hundred ping pong balls off of ebay....and my guys love it! It is a little ball pit for them, and it is fun to watch them swim and jump around in it. You can get hundreds of them for about 30 dollars, which is much cheaper than going to walmart and buying them 6 at a time. Plus, you don't have to worry about any of those annoying items that could potentially become a blockage.

[sherrylynne]

I've got one of those, also! Two of mine adore it, two couldn't care less . Unfortunately, I had to get mine 6 at a time!

[cristina]

How long do you bake the soil from outside and on what temp? also will baking kill of fertilizers? Im not sure if mine is totally clear of fertilizers since I have a small backyard pressed up against my neighbors who frequently use chemicals on their lawn.

Also what about puffed rice cereal and dry oatmeal, do you think these would be ok?

[gan]

I don't know about the whole dirt question, though I'm curious myself, but I did accidentally stumble on a dig box filling my fert ADORES- paper from an easter package my mother sent me.

I don't know how expensive the stuff is, but it's very easy to find anywhere they sell birthday cards, it's very light and translucent, and crinkles quietly enough that my somewhat timid fert was interested rather than startled away. I woudn't suggest the kind with waxy prints or designs on it.

You can also take it out of the box, and make a little crushable mountain range on the floor for them to stomp through!

[cristina]

yea I've done paper and they are "over that" lol. So I need to switch it up with alota variety and Im running outa ideas....Im thinking oatmeal is ok though (I mean its natural and seems to be a good idea?) puffed rice cereal Im still unsure about though


Suggestions anyone?

[sherrylynne]

I don't know that I'd do oatmeal or cereal, since they'll probably consider it to be treats and eat it

[tss]

I do easter eggies, I even put a piece of kibble in a few of them to intice them.. I plucked a chicken so I'm also planning on washing the feathers and adding them to the egg box.

[bluedove]

Apr 14, 2009 11:38:16 GMT -5 cristina said:

How long do you bake the soil from outside and on what temp? also will baking kill of fertilizers? Im not sure if mine is totally clear of fertilizers since I have a small backyard pressed up against my neighbors who frequently use chemicals on their lawn.

Also what about puffed rice cereal and dry oatmeal, do you think these would be ok?

You want to bake soil in a shallow layer (like no more than 3" deep) at about 300 degrees for an hour to be sure you've killed off any critters or microorganisms, but it would not destroy any chemicals... unless they are broken down by heat. As long as you use soil from the middle of your yard and dig down at least 6" to get your dirt, it should only contain minimal contaminants. Just be aware that your ferts might mistake it for a litter box!

Whole oats would be much like rice, and I imagine rolled oats would be pretty dusty and might be ingested, as might puffed rice.

I love the ping-pong ball pit idea! I'll bet that's a fun show!

[Steffi Loves Her Fuzzbuckets]

Dig boxes sound like a HUGE mess.
I let Stewart outside to dig, it seems easier that way, for both of us, because, I'd have to pick him up to put him in that huge box full of dirt and misc. etc., then after he was done I'd have to vaccum and clean everything up, which isn't fun for him because I'm not playing with him. And then that's all for nothing when he does it again later, Hahh.
When it's outside there's no mess at all (unless you like a good-looking yard) and he can run around having a blast then go back to digging all by himself and just have a good time rather than the big mess inside the house. x3

Just my two cents. ;3