Safe Organic Compost or Organic Soil for Siberian Chipmunk Play?

[CBarn]

Hello Everyone. Does anyone know the brand name of an organic compost or organic soil that is safe for my Siberian Chipmunk, Gus?

This is so difficult to come across online and in garden stores. The compost or soil cannot have any manure, chemicals, fertilizers, or wood/pine shavings.

Someone please help me out. I would love for Gus to be able to dig and play in the compost or soil.

:grin3

[Lighten-Up]

I do not know the answer to your question, but I can see that you would really like your little one to have a chance to play and dig, also, the trace minerals found in soil would probably be good for him to have access to.

I am relatively new to squirrels and know nothing about chipmunks, except that I have a backyard full of them and love them.

If you cannot find soil to buy, could you find a place to get good clean untouched by chemical soil such as on your own backyard, or a friends woods? Someone who does not treat their lawn or woods with chemicals. Just examine it closely and dig up what you need, sifting through it to make sure it is good and clean. Imagine that, clean dirt. :grin2

This is what I did for my squirrels, they seem to have been fine, and they love it.

I know there could be feces contaminated on the surface. Consider troweling off the top inch or two, and getting earth from below that.... just my thoughts. I'm not saying they are correct, just offering them. As always I welcome others thoughts.

[Nancy in New York]

I bought a plastic kiddy pool and filled it with Carefresh bedding.
I figured the bedding has to be safe, and Coral LOVES it!
Their playroom is the garage. :)

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ghVwqN2/0/S/i-ghVwqN2-S.jpg
Here's a short video of Coral playing with hubby in the "pool".


https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-5TWXN9B/0/640/i-5TWXN9B-640.mp4

[CBarn]

I do not know the answer to your question, but I can see that you would really like your little one to have a chance to play and dig, also, the trace minerals found in soil would probably be good for him to have access to.

I am relatively new to squirrels and know nothing about chipmunks, except that I have a backyard full of them and love them.

If you cannot find soil to buy, could you find a place to get good clean untouched by chemical soil such as on your own backyard, or a friends woods? Someone who does not treat their lawn or woods with chemicals. Just examine it closely and dig up what you need, sifting through it to make sure it is good and clean. Imagine that, clean dirt. :grin2

This is what I did for my squirrels, they seem to have been fine, and they love it.

I know there could be feces contaminated on the surface. Consider troweling off the top inch or two, and getting earth from below that.... just my thoughts. I'm not saying they are correct, just offering them. As always I welcome others thoughts.

Thanks for your idea. I'm still kind of nervous to use soil from outside just in case it makes my chippy feel sick. I'm overprotective of him.
:serene

[CBarn]

I bought a plastic kiddy pool and filled it with Carefresh bedding.
I figured the bedding has to be safe, and Coral LOVES it!
Their playroom is the garage. :)

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ghVwqN2/0/S/i-ghVwqN2-S.jpg
Here's a short video of Coral playing with hubby in the "pool".


https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-5TWXN9B/0/640/i-5TWXN9B-640.mp4

This is a good idea. I have used Carefresh bedding for Gus' play and he enjoyed it. I still would like to find a safe organic soil for him. I want Gus to be able to tunnel in the dirt like the chipmunks outside.
:grin2

[PennyCash]

I do not know the answer to your question, but I can see that you would really like your little one to have a chance to play and dig, also, the trace minerals found in soil would probably be good for him to have access to.

I am relatively new to squirrels and know nothing about chipmunks, except that I have a backyard full of them and love them.

If you cannot find soil to buy, could you find a place to get good clean untouched by chemical soil such as on your own backyard, or a friends woods? Someone who does not treat their lawn or woods with chemicals. Just examine it closely and dig up what you need, sifting through it to make sure it is good and clean. Imagine that, clean dirt. :grin2

This is what I did for my squirrels, they seem to have been fine, and they love it.

I know there could be feces contaminated on the surface. Consider troweling off the top inch or two, and getting earth from below that.... just my thoughts. I'm not saying they are correct, just offering them. As always I welcome others thoughts.

I believe that you can bake dirt to help sanitize it. I'm wanting to say that I read it somewhere on here. Perhaps a search would find it?

[Lighten-Up]

Thanks for your idea. I'm still kind of nervous to use soil from outside just in case it makes my chippy feel sick. I'm overprotective of him.
:serene

I can totally sympathize with your concern for keeping your chippy safe. I do feel the same way, I can't tell you the amount of times I agonized over whether I was doing the right/correct thing for the baby squirrels I was caring for.:dono:thinking

Please do what you would feel comfortable with, because you are the one who will walk it out with your chippy.

I will explain my thoughts which will give one perspective... I very much wanted my critters to have natural dirt to experience. They were going to be released, so they would end up digging in the dirt within several months anyway. My own backyard is full of wildlife. The squirrels bury stuff in the soil all the time so they are in constant contact with it, and there are chipmunks that have their burrows throughout my yard, which are all through the same soil. I have never used chemicals on my lawn or natural area. It has been my observation that the animals are thriving, so yes, I took an educated gamble. I did have a few moments of "gosh I hope this is okay and doesn't cause anything that I will regret". Thankfully, it went well, and the dirt boxes were prized areas for them.

I will say that I gave them two types of stuff to play in. #1 Actual dirt that was a mix of clay and black earth from deeper down under the top layer. #2. I also gave them "duff", the top layer of decaying leaf matter. All the yard animals have to dig through this to dig into the soil below, I so figured it must be relatively safe. I just made sure I did not see any obvious things like a fresh bird poop.

Everyone needs to come up with the best thing that will work for them and their critter. This worked for me, and so I share it, but it is not the only way.

Enjoy your little chippy. :Love_Icon

[CBarn]

I believe that you can bake dirt to help sanitize it. I'm wanting to say that I read it somewhere on here. Perhaps a search would find it?

Thanks for your help. I like your idea of baking the dirt to sanitize it. Excellent way to make sure my little Gus doesn't get any infections. :great

[CBarn]

I can totally sympathize with your concern for keeping your chippy safe. I do feel the same way, I can't tell you the amount of times I agonized over whether I was doing the right/correct thing for the baby squirrels I was caring for.:dono:thinking

Please do what you would feel comfortable with, because you are the one who will walk it out with your chippy.

I will explain my thoughts which will give one perspective... I very much wanted my critters to have natural dirt to experience. They were going to be released, so they would end up digging in the dirt within several months anyway. My own backyard is full of wildlife. The squirrels bury stuff in the soil all the time so they are in constant contact with it, and there are chipmunks that have their burrows throughout my yard, which are all through the same soil. I have never used chemicals on my lawn or natural area. It has been my observation that the animals are thriving, so yes, I took an educated gamble. I did have a few moments of "gosh I hope this is okay and doesn't cause anything that I will regret". Thankfully, it went well, and the dirt boxes were prized areas for them.

I will say that I gave them two types of stuff to play in. #1 Actual dirt that was a mix of clay and black earth from deeper down under the top layer. #2. I also gave them "duff", the top layer of decaying leaf matter. All the yard animals have to dig through this to dig into the soil below, I so figured it must be relatively safe. I just made sure I did not see any obvious things like a fresh bird poop.

Everyone needs to come up with the best thing that will work for them and their critter. This worked for me, and so I share it, but it is not the only way.

Enjoy your little chippy. :Love_Icon

Thanks for all your help. It's so nice that the squirrels you release enjoy the dirt boxes you made for them. They are lucky to have you looking out for them. :dance My yard has been treated with chemicals, so I can't use the dirt in my yard. I'll have to check with some of my friends to see if they have used organic soil for their gardens. Then I'll probably bake the dirt to sanitize it.

[Lighten-Up]

Thanks for all your help. It's so nice that the squirrels you release enjoy the dirt boxes you made for them. They are lucky to have you looking out for them. :dance My yard has been treated with chemicals, so I can't use the dirt in my yard. I'll have to check with some of my friends to see if they have used organic soil for their gardens. Then I'll probably bake the dirt to sanitize it.

I think that sounds like a great plan! I just love chipmunks. They are adorable. :Love_Icon

Your little chippy will have a great time playing in the dirt that you get for it. :serene

And I think baking it is a good idea.