While parenting a bunny, you might have noticed that bunnies love to dig. It is their instinct. They either dig to create a hiding spot for themselves or to hide their favourite things. This behaviour helps relieve their stress. Therefore, when you select a toy for your bunny, you must ensure that the toy satisfies its instincts. Just like how dogs need a teething ring to satisfy their urge to chew, bunnies need a digging toy!
Toys are essential for bunnies! It does not only keep them entertained but also plays a vital role in teaching or training them. A digging toy will grab your bunny’s attention and motivate him or her to dig it. This will then discourage them from digging into your couch, cushions, or any other household materials.
There are plenty of digging toys option available in the market. But, if you want to make a personalized toy for your furry baby, this is the DIY project for you!
These are the tools you need to DIY a Digging box –
- Large cardboard box (ensure to take a cardboard 2 to 3 times bigger than your bunny’s size. Your bunny will then be able to move comfortably around in the box. You can pick a colourful box to grab his or her attention.)
- Filling inside the box (you can choose to fill the box with hay, straw, dried grass, shredded newspaper, or toilet rolls.)
- Ruler
- Pen or pencil
- Cutter
- Rabbit treats
Let’s start digging into this project –
To create a digging toy, you will first have to build an entrance for your furry one. You can either create a hole or tunnel for them to enter. If you prefer creating a hole, you can measure your bunny and create a circle on the box with the help of a compass. Make the outline darker using a pen or marker and cut a hole along the outline. You can make the entrance on any preferred side of the box. Do not forget to remove all the staple pins or packaging tapes from the box.
For a tunnel, outline the tunnel on the box. You can create an oval shape tunnel or a rectangle-shaped one. Cut the box according to the outline drawn. Always remember to have the upper portion of the box at least half-open. This will ensure that your furry one has proper ventilation.
Now that your box is ready, you will have to fill the box with pieces of paper or any other material you choose. You can use hay or dried grass too. Bunnies are grazers they would love too much on some of the grass while digging. It is not advisable to use soil or sand. There is no medical reason, it’s just that paper, hay, and grass are easier to clean.
Since this is a digging box, make sure the depth of the box is at least 10 to 15 cm. You can increase or decrease the depth based on the size of your bunny. To encourage your bunny to dig in this box and not on any other household materials, you can hide a few treats inside the box. Adding treats into the box will also prevent him or her from using it as a litter box.
We have made a list of things you must not put in your bunnies digging box
- Glossy magazines paper
- Inky newspaper
- Foam plastic packing material
The digging box for your furry baby is now ready to use. Let your furry one hop in and start digging. It is advisable to not leave your furry one unattended, even if it is in a digging box or outdoor setting.
You can find a collection of toys for your bunny right here!
