Digging is a natural behavior for rabbits and provides them with exercise and necessary mental stimulation. A digging box can be a great way to encourage your rabbit to dig, and it’s easy to make one yourself. This article will show you how to make a rabbit dig box. Let’s get started!
Rabbits are brilliant animals that like to stay busy. They want to dig, jump and run around. A rabbit digging box is a great way to let your pet bunny do some of these natural behaviors appropriately while staying indoors with you.
Contents
What Is a Rabbit Dig Box?
A rabbit dig box is a simple wooden box with a wire mesh lid that allows your pet bunny to dig into the soil without getting too messy. This is an easy project for any beginner who has some spare materials lying around and can be personalized easily by changing colors or adding decorations.
Firstly, a digging box is a great way to make a bunny happy. Digging is a rabbit’s instinct, and when they are not allowed to do it, they can become bored and restless.
Secondly, rabbits will eat the plants in their enclosure if they have nothing else to dig at or into. This can be bad for their digestive system and costly for your wallet! Using a digging box with your bunny’s favorite plants planted inside encourages them to eat from there instead of from its cage.
Materials You Will Need
- 1/2 inch thick plywood or another kind of wood (get more if you are using thicker material)
- Wire mesh with 1 x 2-inch grid spacing
- Electric drill & bits
- Wooden screws
- Wooden hinges
- Saw
- Hammer
A Step by Step Guide on How to Make a Rabbit Dig Box
Step 1: Choose Right Box Size
Choosing the right size of the box to use for your dig box is an essential part of the process. Your rabbit should be able to fit comfortably inside the box, but it also needs to be too large for her feet to touch any walls, or she could get injured trying to escape. A good size for your first dig box would be 1 foot by 2 feet and at least 1 foot high.
However, you can measure your pet’s length from nose to base of the tail and then double that measurement for an accurate idea of what sized box she will need to feel comfortable. You might want to consider making many different-sized boxes that are proportional so you can store them easily in your home.
Step 2: Suitable Fillers
The bunny filling a digging box is different from the cat or dog way. You can’t just dump in some sand or soil and expect your rabbit to love it! To make your pet’s experience as safe and fun as possible, you should provide a few types of filler for her to work through during playtime.
Cedar chips, alfalfa pellets, and soil are ideal for a dig box because this mixture provides a perfect balance of durability, scent, texture, taste, and smell that bunnies adore. Of course, you don’t have to use all three products. Still, just one kind would be insufficient because there needs to be enough variety available to keep your furry friend interested in her new activity.
Step 3: Perfect Spot
Select a spot that is easy to access and does not have a lot of foot traffic passing by. How much space you have for this activity is also essential since rabbits can dig quite a bit in a short time span.
Also, think about the amount of sun exposure the location gets because there needs to be sufficient lighting for your pet to see clearly during playtime. And keep it away from potted plants or anything else she might decide to chew on!
Step 4: Dig a Hole
Using the saw, cut a 12-inch square from the wooden sheet. This is where your rabbit will get in and out of his digging box to start playing.
Next, drill a hole near one of the corners on top, about a foot above ground level. The bigger the diameter of this hold, the easier it will be for you to attach a cord or chain so you can tether your pet when he’s inside the box. Make sure it is high enough so your bunny isn’t able to reach it but low enough so she can easily climb up there with her front paws when she wants to come back out again!
Step 5: Secure Wire Mesh
Please wait until after you’ve finished assembling this piece before deciding where you want to place it. Wire mesh panels are typically 1 foot by 2 feet and have a 1 x 2-inch grid spacing, making them the ideal materials to use for this project because bunny paws can easily slip through the gaps, but tiny rabbit claws cannot.
To attach the wire mesh securely onto the wooden frame, you’ll need to drill wood screws into either side about an inch apart all along one of the sides where there are no holes for your pet’s access. The edges of these small pieces should overlap by at least six inches.
Step 6: Build Wooden Box
Put hinges on one side to open up this box when you need to refill or change out the digging materials inside. You could also add a latch to close it up, so your bunny does not get into trouble while you’re out of the room.
The bottom should be made from wire mesh instead of wood because that provides an optimal digging surface and will protect against injury if your pet’s claws slip off the smooth edges while she is inside and starts moving around frantically.
Drill holes in two opposite corners on the top side so you can use zip ties or string to attach a short leash or cord, which will tether her in place until playtime is over.
Step 7: Add Filler
Once everything has been assembled, generously sprinkle some alfalfa pellets onto the ground and some cedar chips freshly poured into your dig box for extra freshness and to mask the scent of your bunny’s waste. Add some soil on top, so she has a lot to work through when digging inside, and voilà! Your pet should be ready for an exciting afternoon exploring her new toy.
Step 8: Placement
It’s important to remember that you should never leave your pet unattended when she is playing with this box because of the wire mesh bottom. She could accidentally catch her paw and get injured.
It’s also best to keep it away from high-traffic areas like doorways or living room walkways since your furry friend will be focused on digging instead of watching where she is!
Step 9: Interact With Your Pet
Give bunny enough time between digging sessions to rest up, hydrate himself, and munch away on his healthy veggies before heading back inside for more fun. Also, make sure you do not disrupt him while playing because she might become scared or aggressive if startled.
That said, just like kids, rabbits enjoy a little playtime with their parents and love when you join in on the action by laying out some tasty greens in the box and watching them dig to find it!
This project takes a few hours of hard work and requires some tools you might not have on hand, such as a saw, but it is well worth the time and energy to save yourself from having to pay for expensive pet store toys that your bunny is going to chew up in a matter of days. In addition, these steps will help in how to make a rabbit dig box.
What Should I Put in My Rabbit Digging Box?
You need to know two things before you begin making a digging box for your pet. First, rabbits aren’t be satisfied if they can’t hunt for their food in their digging boxes. This means that the box needs to include some seedlings or other plant life that requires some work on your rabbit’s part.
Additionally, this is an excellent way to keep them occupied and out of trouble when they’re outside since rabbits do enjoy interacting with their environment. Second, make sure there are ways for them to get inside of it, including tunnels and doorways to explore it on their own. You also want to make sure these entrances and exits lead somewhere because you don’t want them to get stuck and injured.
You can check it out to Keep Rabbit Cage From Smelling
Conclusion
We hope the article on how to make a rabbit dig box is informative. Rabbits love digging and will spend a lot of time in their box if it is made to their liking. A dig box can be as simple as a cardboard box with some holes cut into it or a more elaborate structure with several levels and hiding places.
The important thing is that the rabbit has enough space to move around and make a big mess. -If you want to provide your bunny with his digging area, start by making sure the spot you choose is out of the sun and protected from the wind.