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Post by Heather on Apr 16, 2009 23:07:59 GMT -5
I don't find that the dig boxes present a huge mess. I use sand, rice and dirt. I've also used beans for a different sensation and plastic balls. This is a pic of my outside dig box and the guys swimming pool  This is lady "B" enjoying digging outside in her own dig box. They had quite the tunnel system going in there last year.  Here are the guys looking out of one of the inside dig boxes. These are also well played in and don't make much of a mess either as the hole is large enough for a ferret, but small enough to keep most of whatever they're digging in to stay in the box  This is Ghenghis playing in the rice box.  and the guys playing in the plastic ball box.  All provide plenty of stimulation and allow them full range of digging skills as well as offering places to hide and stalk each other   ciao |
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Post by Steffi Loves Her Fuzzbuckets on Apr 17, 2009 9:58:50 GMT -5
Omg, . . .Now THAT'S a Digging box! The image that was in my head, wasn't anything at all like that, I mean, I was thinking of a tall plastic container, I dunno' what I was thinking, Hahh. But, What you have there is like.. a bigger sand box type thing. That's ALOT of digging room too, I just love it! And, that photo with all three of them sticking their heads out of the inside box, is off the charts adorible! I'm so getting Colbert the plastic ball pit, I love that idea. ;D |
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Post by mindfield on Apr 20, 2009 23:50:09 GMT -5
Right now I only use big balls and shredded paper on 3 huge rock band boxes. I want to get them play sand/rice/corn strach peanut but I think Jack is going to eat all of these things.
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Post by Steffi Loves Her Fuzzbuckets on Apr 21, 2009 14:10:28 GMT -5
Yeah, I think I'm going to stick with Dirt, Balls, Rice, and Packing Peanuts.
We have this wooden bed frame (We're getting rid of the mattress) and I'm going to use that frame, to put dirt, grass, pebbles, and MAYBE rice into. For an outside digging box. ;3 And, I'm getting one of those HUGE rubbermaid tubs for a plastic ball pit! ;D Lol, You can get all shapes and sizes of plastic balls pretty 'cheap'ish. So, I think that's an awesome thing.
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Post by crystalineshadow on Apr 21, 2009 17:11:11 GMT -5
So OK, I've got what sounds to me like a really stupid question. When your ferret plays in a dirt filled dig box, does it get dirty? Spaz loves to dig more than just about anything and keeps tunneling under the cushions in my couch and I think that she'd love a dig box but I just can't decide what to put in it. I have a box full of crumpled paper, but she's not too interested in that one. I have no idea where to get starch peanuts and rice would be kinda expensive (although I'm thinking about getting one of those in the future) so I've been considering dirt. Would it be better to put the hole in the lid of the box or in the side at the top with a tube leading into it? And, as my main question was asking, will she come out all covered in dirt and need to be brushed off before I let her have the run of the house or will the dirt mostly stay in the digbox?
Thanks, CrystalineShadow (hmm, I really need to make a siggy)
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Post by Steffi Loves Her Fuzzbuckets on Apr 21, 2009 17:19:10 GMT -5
Well, When Stewart digs in the dirt outside he shakes off any dirt that's on him whilst he's digging. So.. No, surprisingly he doesn't get very dirty. They only thing is his claws, but I wipe some of it off and he cleans the hard parts later. :3 I'm not really sure about the whole 'boxed-in' dirt digging thing. I've seen pictures and everything, I just can't imagine that would be a good digging thing though,  The outdoor box that Heather has (Scroll-up for Photo) is a nice one though, And great if you don't want your yard all dug up. ;3 I don't know if this will help, But here is a Natural Ferrets Digging Box link: www.naturalferrets.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=316&sid=50352efd8a24ebed5590a8ef1bc90484 |
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Post by crystalineshadow on Apr 21, 2009 23:18:55 GMT -5
Yeah, I would LOVE to have a box like that for my girls. Unfortunately I live in an apartment so I don't have a yard of my own for them to play in and all the dirt on the apartment's property is covered up by parking lot except the small space where the dumpsters used to be (and which some people still park on) that has no grass on it so I can't even take them out for walks.  I'm hoping that I can find a way to get my own place come January, but that's aways off still, so we'll see how that works out when it gets here. Thanks for letting me know that Stewart stays mostly clean, now I should be able to convince my BF to let me try out a dirt filled dig box and once I have it the ferrets will tell me if they like it and where they want an access hole (or if I should just leave the top off). |
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Post by Heather on Apr 21, 2009 23:43:58 GMT -5
I put a blanket at the entrance of the guys outdoor tunnel system. It's like offering them a floor mat to clean themselves on .  You could place towels or blankets at the entrance of your dig box and this would limit the amount of dirt tracked around. I know that sometimes my guys come in covered in mud but they love playing in the fresh mud after a rain, even during the rain or playing in their swimming pool and then playing in the dig box  It's just a couple of ideas on allowing your furbabie to play in a dig box. You can also use sand, which tracks just as bad but doesn't show up on light coloured carpets ciao |
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Post by cristina on Apr 22, 2009 18:37:11 GMT -5
Oh my gosh....can I come live with you and be a ferret!!! You have inspired me to build an outdoor (large) area such as your's!
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Post by Steffi Loves Her Fuzzbuckets on Apr 22, 2009 20:34:34 GMT -5
That's what I was thinking, cristina! Doesn't it look awesome? I'm totally going to do that with my backyard. |
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Apr 22, 2009 20:41:18 GMT -5
Me too! I want to come play with your furrbabies  My kids are so jealous... we live in a condo and it's too hot to be outside even if there was a place to go I am definitely going to have to work on improving their dig boxes. They are already tired of the boxes of wadded and shredded paper. How deep are your dig boxes filled? My kids love their rice bucket but I think enclosed with more rice would be better... teri |
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Post by cristina on Apr 22, 2009 21:02:49 GMT -5
I just get big tupperware or storage plastic tubs and then cut a hole in them with a dremel and stick in a tube going into it and fill them with lots of rice, beans and sand (I have 3 different bins), you can also connect them all with tubes if you know how to cut a hole through the plastic.
I also have a blow up baby pool for them for when its warm and sometimes ill put dirt in it when I have to bring it inside when its too cold.
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Post by Heather on Apr 22, 2009 23:54:54 GMT -5
Hey, you have to remember that my guys can only play in their play area during the summer . During the winter they play inside in their rubbermaid buckets just like your guys .  We also have beach parties in the middle of the living room. I just use the largest litterpan available fill it with water put it on a large comforter in the middle of the floor, fill it with all sorts of stuff and let them play.  ciao |
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Post by Steffi Loves Her Fuzzbuckets on Apr 23, 2009 16:02:01 GMT -5
Awwh! I love that! ;D
GAWSH, I need to get Stewart some stuff. I want to try to do some of the things you've got for you kids, But unfortunatly we'll have to wait a month because of all the remodeling going on around the house, Hahh, x3
SOON though, Soon. By June everything will have settled down and he'll be happy as a clam with his sister and all their play areas.. x3
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Paprika
Gnawing on bones
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder[/b]
Posts: 87
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Post by Paprika on Apr 24, 2009 15:50:28 GMT -5
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