Acceptable material for dig box?

[edikit]

I’m working on putting together a dig box for our bun. He’s quite a digger already, and I’d much rather him dig somewhere more appropriate than our rugs or my pant legs.

I’d like to create an environment that is as close to “natural” as I can get, so I’m hoping to use some kind of dirt/soil rather than shredded paper.

I went to a local nursery/hardware store and asked if they had a natural soil with no additives, chemicals, or fertilizer, and they said this product is the best that they’ve got: http://www.redi-gro.com/products/pr…ioner.html

The bag lists the only ingredient as “composted greenwaste”, whatever that means. It’s also marketed as “all natural”, but it’s called a “soil conditioner“, which makes me a bit nervous.

The page also has this Safety Data Sheet: http://www.redi-gro.com/products/sd…122018.pdf.

Does anyone know if this should be safe as a digging material for our bun, or can you recommend another brand/material to use that is safe? Admittedly, I have absolutely no idea what I should be looking for here. There was a huge lineup of products at the store and I was totally out of my element.

Thank you!

[Azerane]

Your question is a very good one I know that sand should be avoided as a digging medium as it has been known to get stuck and cause infection in the genitals. I am told that plain garden soil can be used, but of course you have to be sure that there is nothing else in it.

The main thing that concerns me about this one is that it contains chicken manure. Of course it’s hard to say whether it’s “as is” chicken manure or whether that has been composted too. But chicken manure can pass on coccidiosis to rabbits, which you don’t want.

As to what to suggest as an alternative, I’m not sure. It’s pretty hard to fine a plain product like that these days I think.

[Dface]

An insane way of doing it(which i did do) is to sterilize soil in the oven, in batches.

I used worm cast, which was the closest I could get ti 100% organic with no additves andsieved it to remove the worms before putting it in the oven.

That being said I did that for a few batches and eventually stopped as I moved my soil outside, so it was only a wasted step.

[Tony's Mum]

But chicken manure can pass on coccidiosis to rabbits, which you don’t want. 

I actually didn’t know this! I was p[lanning on getting chickens when we finally move, so I’m glad I found this out first 

[Kiki]

I just use that cardboard color paper that amazon and chewy pack stuff with. I was too nervous to try dirt or soil just because of all the pesticides out there nowadays. Indie loves the paper though, she can “dig” , hide, and eat it.

[edikit]

Posted By Azerane on 3/01/2019 4:54 AM

Your question is a very good one I know that sand should be avoided as a digging medium as it has been known to get stuck and cause infection in the genitals. I am told that plain garden soil can be used, but of course you have to be sure that there is nothing else in it.

The main thing that concerns me about this one is that it contains chicken manure. Of course it’s hard to say whether it’s “as is” chicken manure or whether that has been composted too. But chicken manure can pass on coccidiosis to rabbits, which you don’t want.

As to what to suggest as an alternative, I’m not sure. It’s pretty hard to fine a plain product like that these days I think.

Thank you very much for the information! I was nervous about sand because I thought it might potentially be too dusty or too clumpy, but I hadn’t even considered that it can cause infection, yikes! Definitely going to avoid that! I had no idea about chicken manure either, that’s scary.

For what it’s worth, the product that I was looking at specifically is the “Redi-Gro Premium Soil Conditioner”. I believe that fact sheet actually covers 4 different products from this brand. In “SECTION 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients”, where it lists steer manure and chicken manure as possible ingredients, I believe that’s referring to two of the other products that this fact sheet covers — Redi-Gro Steer Manure and Redi-Gro Chicken Manure, respectively. I believe the Redi-Gro Premium Soil Conditioner only contains “Green Waste Compost”. At least, that’s the only ingredient listed on the bag itself.

I’m finding more and more that it’s hard to find just plain ol’ soil without a bunch of additives. Even the products listed as “organic” and “all natural” seem to have some sort of strange ingredients.

I’m wondering if I would just be better off using shredded paper after all. It’s not the natural habitat that I envisioned, but at least I can be sure that it’s not going to be toxic.

[arwen]

Hey! I’m actually surprised to see this post. Our bunny tends to dig at most things. We created a box, that was going to be for litter until we discovered she didn’t use it as a litter box, but more for sleeping in. So we got her some bedding/hay mixture and put it in there and didn’t bother with litter (as such) and after about two days she started emptying out the box and now it’s practically empty with the hay mixture all over the place ?? Bunnies are quite stubborn and tend to do as they please. I’d say it’s trial and error whilst trying to choose the right thing. But for our bun she prefers a mess and at present I’m vacuuming four times a day ? The only way you can ever be sure of a product these days is to grow it yourself, or ask other consumers for their suggestions. We use a product imported from Germany that is natural bedding in the form of soft shaved wood. I had used it for my previous bunny without any health problems arising.

Good luck in your search ??

Cheers
Trudy

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