| Looking for cage - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| Joker |
I am looking for a new cage for our little fuzz butts. I want one that is
rather square, tall and has the plastic trays instead of wire mesh. If
anyone has one near Dallas, TX or knows the cheapest place to get one,
please let me know.
James & Family
Loving: Bebe, Fred & Max
Missing: Wheezer, Pym, Rikki, Jako & Riley
“We recite the names, lest we forget”
Moru, Sage Ferretus
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| Frank |
Joker wrote:
>
> I am looking for a new cage for our little fuzz butts. I want one that is
> rather square, tall and has the plastic trays instead of wire mesh. If
> anyone has one near Dallas, TX or knows the cheapest place to get one,
> please let me know.
>
> James & Family
>
> Loving: Bebe, Fred & Max
>
> Missing: Wheezer, Pym, Rikki, Jako & Riley
>
> _We recite the names, lest we forget_
>
> Moru, Sage Ferretus
I have a cage made in Italy, sells for about $69.00, is 38" X 20" with
a nice plastic pan underneath.
And I love it. Available in different sizes from PetCo....
Because the plastic bottom was too slippery, I covered the bottom with
a thick textured shelf liner I got from Wal-Mart. It worked out great.
I have the cage 8" off the floor so the Ferts can travel in and out
during their playtime. (mainly for water)
Frank.
--
* Never forget 9/11 and the cost of FREEDOM! 'Tedra' *
* Personal Page: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/ *
* Old Mill China: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/oldmill *
* Johnson Brothers Book: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/jbbook2 *
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| ..brian.. |
Joker wrote:
> I am looking for a new cage for our little fuzz butts. I want one
that is
> rather square, tall and has the plastic trays instead of wire mesh.
If
> anyone has one near Dallas, TX or knows the cheapest place to get
one,
> please let me know.
Some ferret shelters have cages that they will sell you. People drop
off the ferret and cage, but the shelter can not use them because of
size, so they go to waste. Try contacting a shelter in your area.
--
Brian
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| Charles Winters |
J: Why not go all out like I did and build a delux pen out of plywood.
Mine is made from 4 sheets of 1/4" indoor plywood. The sides are 5' long
and 30" high, held together by 8 corner brackets with 1/4" (3/4" grip) bolts
and thumbscrewnuts. The leftover plywood made up 3 floorboards, each with
furring strips underneath to keep them slightly off the cold concrete in my
basement. Even if your quarters are cramped, you could make a pen larger
than most of those dreadful wire cages.
After the carpentry was done, about 2 hours work including some sanding, I
bought a piece of outdoor carpet and cut it slightly larger than 5' square,
with maybe 2" over along each edge. That way it folds up slightly around
the edges. Inside I have a litter box, a food tray and a water dish. On
the other side I have an old wool coat and a small cardboard box with a
little hole cut in the end, lined with an old piece of bedsheet (his nest).
In the far corner are a scattering of ferret toys.
Its like hog heaven for him. He can scratch at, or rub his back on, the
carpet to his hearts content. I leave a light on during the day and turn it
off at night. I let him out to snoop and play, usually twice a day for an
hour or so. He likes to play with me or my wife, chasing and being chased.
More fun than a barrel of monkeys. When snoopy time and playtime are over
with, I give him a treat or little dab of Ferretvite and put him in his pen.
Because its so spacious and comfortable, my conscience is clear. Not sure I
would feel the same if it were a little cage. - CW
x"Joker" <> wrote in message
news:%5B0e.3096$yq2.545@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
> I am looking for a new cage for our little fuzz butts. I want one that is
> rather square, tall and has the plastic trays instead of wire mesh. If
> anyone has one near Dallas, TX or knows the cheapest place to get one,
> please let me know.
>
>
>
> James & Family
>
> Loving: Bebe, Fred & Max
>
> Missing: Wheezer, Pym, Rikki, Jako & Riley
>
>
>
> "We recite the names, lest we forget"
>
>
>
> Moru, Sage Ferretus
>
> x
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| ..brian.. |
Charles Winters wrote:
> J: Why not go all out like I did and build a delux pen out of
plywood.
> Mine is made from 4 sheets of 1/4" indoor plywood. The sides are 5'
long
> and 30" high, held together by 8 corner brackets with 1/4" (3/4"
grip) bolts
> and thumbscrewnuts. The leftover plywood made up 3 floorboards, each
with
> furring strips underneath to keep them slightly off the cold concrete
in my
> basement. Even if your quarters are cramped, you could make a pen
larger
> than most of those dreadful wire cages.
I guess I don't completely understand how your cage is made; the
description given is rather minimal. Are you saying the sides of the
cage are solid? Did you use any wire on the cage? How many levels
does it have?
> After the carpentry was done, about 2 hours work including some
sanding, I
> bought a piece of outdoor carpet and cut it slightly larger than 5'
square,
> with maybe 2" over along each edge. That way it folds up slightly
around
> the edges. Inside I have a litter box, a food tray and a water dish.
On
> the other side I have an old wool coat and a small cardboard box with
a
> little hole cut in the end, lined with an old piece of bedsheet (his
nest).
> In the far corner are a scattering of ferret toys.
[snip]
Doesn't outdoor carpet usually have a black rubbery backing on it? Or
is it just plain carpet? I like using laminate flooring -- carpet is
hard to clean.
--
Brian
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| Frank |
"..brian.." wrote:
>
> Charles Winters wrote:
> > J: Why not go all out like I did and build a delux pen out of
> plywood.
> > Mine is made from 4 sheets of 1/4" indoor plywood. The sides are 5'
> long
> > and 30" high, held together by 8 corner brackets with 1/4" (3/4"
> grip) bolts
> > and thumbscrewnuts. The leftover plywood made up 3 floorboards, each
> with
> > furring strips underneath to keep them slightly off the cold concrete
> in my
> > basement. Even if your quarters are cramped, you could make a pen
> larger
> > than most of those dreadful wire cages.
At least the "dredful wire cages" allow the Ferret to see the
surroundings.
Even in human Jails there are bars to see out. If the walls are solid
it is
known as a Dungeon. A ferret would lose a lot of human interaction
living in
a dungeon. Plus a basement under artificial light....
My personal feelings....
Frank.
>
> I guess I don't completely understand how your cage is made; the
> description given is rather minimal. Are you saying the sides of the
> cage are solid? Did you use any wire on the cage? How many levels
> does it have?
>
> > After the carpentry was done, about 2 hours work including some
> sanding, I
> > bought a piece of outdoor carpet and cut it slightly larger than 5'
> square,
> > with maybe 2" over along each edge. That way it folds up slightly
> around
> > the edges. Inside I have a litter box, a food tray and a water dish.
> On
> > the other side I have an old wool coat and a small cardboard box with
> a
> > little hole cut in the end, lined with an old piece of bedsheet (his
> nest).
> > In the far corner are a scattering of ferret toys.
>
> [snip]
>
> Doesn't outdoor carpet usually have a black rubbery backing on it? Or
> is it just plain carpet? I like using laminate flooring -- carpet is
> hard to clean.
> --
> Brian
--
* Never forget 9/11 and the cost of FREEDOM! 'Tedra' *
* Personal Page: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/ *
* Old Mill China: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/oldmill *
* Johnson Brothers Book: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/jbbook2 *
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| Charles Winters |
B: The sides are solid plywood, no wire. There is just one level but its
25 sq ft and covered with green outdoor carpet, the kind with rubber
backing. One big spacious play pen with a cardboard box "house" inside.
Bacchus doesn't seem to want to chew on the rubber, but he does enjoy
scratching at the carpeting, his way of saying, "I want to come out". - CW
"..brian.." <> wrote in message
news:1111725198.601968.26910@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>
> Charles Winters wrote:
> > J: Why not go all out like I did and build a delux pen out of
> plywood.
> > Mine is made from 4 sheets of 1/4" indoor plywood. The sides are 5'
> long
> > and 30" high, held together by 8 corner brackets with 1/4" (3/4"
> grip) bolts
> > and thumbscrewnuts. The leftover plywood made up 3 floorboards, each
> with
> > furring strips underneath to keep them slightly off the cold concrete
> in my
> > basement. Even if your quarters are cramped, you could make a pen
> larger
> > than most of those dreadful wire cages.
>
> I guess I don't completely understand how your cage is made; the
> description given is rather minimal. Are you saying the sides of the
> cage are solid? Did you use any wire on the cage? How many levels
> does it have?
>
> > After the carpentry was done, about 2 hours work including some
> sanding, I
> > bought a piece of outdoor carpet and cut it slightly larger than 5'
> square,
> > with maybe 2" over along each edge. That way it folds up slightly
> around
> > the edges. Inside I have a litter box, a food tray and a water dish.
> On
> > the other side I have an old wool coat and a small cardboard box with
> a
> > little hole cut in the end, lined with an old piece of bedsheet (his
> nest).
> > In the far corner are a scattering of ferret toys.
>
> [snip]
>
> Doesn't outdoor carpet usually have a black rubbery backing on it? Or
> is it just plain carpet? I like using laminate flooring -- carpet is
> hard to clean.
> --
> Brian
>
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| Charles Winters |
Good point. If the cage were in a kitchen or living room where there was
some action to see, that would be better. I get the impression ferrets are
quite nearsighted. They primarily sense the world throughthat razor sharp
nose, it seems . - CW
"Frank" <spamtrap@oakgrovedesigns.net> wrote in message
news:42447E22.5002C92B@oakgrovedesigns.net...
>
snip
>
> At least the "dredful wire cages" allow the Ferret to see the
> surroundings.
> Even in human Jails there are bars to see out. If the walls are solid
> it is
> known as a Dungeon. A ferret would lose a lot of human interaction
> living in
> a dungeon. Plus a basement under artificial light....
>
> My personal feelings....
>
> Frank.
>
>
x
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| lin |
Ok, I'm coming in late on this, & didn't see the original post cos of my
ng's acting weird, but am I getting the impression that someone had made a
cage w/ solid plywood walls & floor? I know it said something about
indoor/outdoor carpet, but there's wood under that, right? Someone correct
me if I'm wrong here.
As for the walls - yes, ferrets *need* human contact, even when they feel
like being in their cage. They like to know what's going around them, what
their family is doing, to feel like they're part of the action. I remember
when Ariel was still an only ferret. We had her cage (which is one of the
huge SuperPet cages) in our family room - the hub of activity in our house -
& even when she was just relaxing & dozing on & off, it was the norm to see
her little head hanging out of the side of her hammie, just watching us,
happy as a little clam. As we added more fuzzies to our family (now there
are 4), we did move their cage (now 2 huge SuperPet cages hooked together)
into the living room - only about 10' from where it was before, & still very
much w/in sight/sound of our family room. The only time we can't see them,
or they can't see us, is when we're eating or sleeping. I wouldn't have it
any other way.
As for the floor, wood doesn't make a good floor. If it gets soaked in
urine, it not only would smell disgusting, the amonia fumes would be very
dangerous to the ferret. Which brings up another argument against solid
walls: cages need ventilation. I wouldn't keep a ferret in a wooden box,
anymore than I would keep it in an aquarium.
Just my .02.
--
Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, & Puck
To email me back, take out everything from "K" to "2"
"Charles Winters" <chasw88@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:pp-dndkF3ojzAdnfRVn-sg@comcast.com...
> Good point. If the cage were in a kitchen or living room where there was
> some action to see, that would be better. I get the impression ferrets
> are
> quite nearsighted. They primarily sense the world throughthat razor sharp
> nose, it seems . - CW
>
> "Frank" <spamtrap@oakgrovedesigns.net> wrote in message
> news:42447E22.5002C92B@oakgrovedesigns.net...
>>
> snip
>>
>> At least the "dredful wire cages" allow the Ferret to see the
>> surroundings.
>> Even in human Jails there are bars to see out. If the walls are solid
>> it is
>> known as a Dungeon. A ferret would lose a lot of human interaction
>> living in
>> a dungeon. Plus a basement under artificial light....
>>
>> My personal feelings....
>>
>> Frank.
>>
>>
> x
>
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| Nanny |
I totally agree. Mine are in my living room and you should see them when I
get visitors. Within minutes they're awake and very excited. They really
need that interaction with the world around them.
Nanny
"lin" <ktnil@KAZMOMX2woh.rr.com> schreef in bericht
news:_T51e.14318$rL3.12751@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
> Ok, I'm coming in late on this, & didn't see the original post cos of my
> ng's acting weird, but am I getting the impression that someone had made a
> cage w/ solid plywood walls & floor? I know it said something about
> indoor/outdoor carpet, but there's wood under that, right? Someone correct
> me if I'm wrong here.
>
> As for the walls - yes, ferrets *need* human contact, even when they feel
> like being in their cage. They like to know what's going around them, what
> their family is doing, to feel like they're part of the action. I remember
> when Ariel was still an only ferret. We had her cage (which is one of the
> huge SuperPet cages) in our family room - the hub of activity in our
house -
> & even when she was just relaxing & dozing on & off, it was the norm to
see
> her little head hanging out of the side of her hammie, just watching us,
> happy as a little clam. As we added more fuzzies to our family (now there
> are 4), we did move their cage (now 2 huge SuperPet cages hooked together)
> into the living room - only about 10' from where it was before, & still
very
> much w/in sight/sound of our family room. The only time we can't see them,
> or they can't see us, is when we're eating or sleeping. I wouldn't have it
> any other way.
>
> As for the floor, wood doesn't make a good floor. If it gets soaked in
> urine, it not only would smell disgusting, the amonia fumes would be very
> dangerous to the ferret. Which brings up another argument against solid
> walls: cages need ventilation. I wouldn't keep a ferret in a wooden box,
> anymore than I would keep it in an aquarium.
>
> Just my .02.
>
> --
> Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, & Puck
> To email me back, take out everything from "K" to "2"
>
> "Charles Winters" <chasw88@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:pp-dndkF3ojzAdnfRVn-sg@comcast.com...
> > Good point. If the cage were in a kitchen or living room where there
was
> > some action to see, that would be better. I get the impression ferrets
> > are
> > quite nearsighted. They primarily sense the world throughthat razor
sharp
> > nose, it seems . - CW
> >
> > "Frank" <spamtrap@oakgrovedesigns.net> wrote in message
> > news:42447E22.5002C92B@oakgrovedesigns.net...
> >>
> > snip
> >>
> >> At least the "dredful wire cages" allow the Ferret to see the
> >> surroundings.
> >> Even in human Jails there are bars to see out. If the walls are solid
> >> it is
> >> known as a Dungeon. A ferret would lose a lot of human interaction
> >> living in
> >> a dungeon. Plus a basement under artificial light....
> >>
> >> My personal feelings....
> >>
> >> Frank.
> >>
> >>
> > x
> >
>
>
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| Frank |
lin wrote:
>
> Ok, I'm coming in late on this, & didn't see the original post cos of my
> ng's acting weird, but am I getting the impression that someone had made a
> cage w/ solid plywood walls & floor? I know it said something about
> indoor/outdoor carpet, but there's wood under that, right? Someone correct
> me if I'm wrong here.
>
It probably is Douglas Fir plywood which has a lot of pitch like Pine,
and
not good for a Ferrets respritory system. Then the Formaldahide used
in the
glue to manufacture it.
> As for the walls - yes, ferrets *need* human contact, even when they feel
> like being in their cage. They like to know what's going around them, what
> their family is doing, to feel like they're part of the action. I remember
> when Ariel was still an only ferret. We had her cage (which is one of the
> huge SuperPet cages) in our family room - the hub of activity in our house -
> & even when she was just relaxing & dozing on & off, it was the norm to see
> her little head hanging out of the side of her hammie, just watching us,
> happy as a little clam.
I thought mine were the only ones that do that, plus mine when they
get bored
with the activities, fall asleep that way.
10:00 in the AM is their first run time and near that time there will
be a head
hanging from each hammock with their eyes following me as I get things
ready.
Frank.
> As we added more fuzzies to our family (now there
> are 4), we did move their cage (now 2 huge SuperPet cages hooked together)
> into the living room - only about 10' from where it was before, & still very
> much w/in sight/sound of our family room. The only time we can't see them,
> or they can't see us, is when we're eating or sleeping. I wouldn't have it
> any other way.
>
> As for the floor, wood doesn't make a good floor. If it gets soaked in
> urine, it not only would smell disgusting, the amonia fumes would be very
> dangerous to the ferret. Which brings up another argument against solid
> walls: cages need ventilation. I wouldn't keep a ferret in a wooden box,
> anymore than I would keep it in an aquarium.
>
> Just my .02.
>
> --
> Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, & Puck
> To email me back, take out everything from "K" to "2"
>
> "Charles Winters" <chasw88@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:pp-dndkF3ojzAdnfRVn-sg@comcast.com...
> > Good point. If the cage were in a kitchen or living room where there was
> > some action to see, that would be better. I get the impression ferrets
> > are
> > quite nearsighted. They primarily sense the world throughthat razor sharp
> > nose, it seems . - CW
> >
> > "Frank" <spamtrap@oakgrovedesigns.net> wrote in message
> > news:42447E22.5002C92B@oakgrovedesigns.net...
> >>
> > snip
> >>
> >> At least the "dredful wire cages" allow the Ferret to see the
> >> surroundings.
> >> Even in human Jails there are bars to see out. If the walls are solid
> >> it is
> >> known as a Dungeon. A ferret would lose a lot of human interaction
> >> living in
> >> a dungeon. Plus a basement under artificial light....
> >>
> >> My personal feelings....
> >>
> >> Frank.
> >>
> >>
> > x
> >
--
* Never forget 9/11 and the cost of FREEDOM! 'Tedra' *
* Personal Page: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/ *
* Old Mill China: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/oldmill *
* Johnson Brothers Book: http://oakgrovedesigns.net/jbbook2 *
|
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| Charles Winters |
Lin: Your really big cage in the living room is probably ideal, except
perhaps for the relatively high ambient temperature. As for me, I don't
have the skills or tools to fabricate a really big wire cage and I could not
settle for a little cage like the kind sold at pet stores. But I do work
with wood and therefore built an open pen out of plywood, 5X5 foot square
with 30" plywood walls, open at the top. It has removable plywood
floorboards, covered by washable carpeting. The floorboards are coated with
polyurethane varnish and the carpeting is rubber-backed. Easy to keep
clean. Its not a wooden box, its a large open top pen made from wood.
Its in the basement because that's where I have my office and its nice and
cool down there. My wife keeps the upstairs temperature way too high for
extended comfort by a ferret. Our little fuzzy seems quite happy with the
arrangement, mostly because he gets out to play for extended periods
downstairs when I'm working there and upstairs when he can be supervised
more closely. All in all a good arrangement for the ferret, superior IMO to
the little cages I see pictures of, plus I made it myself. - CW
x"lin" <> wrote in message news:_T51e.14318$rL3.12751@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
> Ok, I'm coming in late on this, & didn't see the original post cos of my
> ng's acting weird, but am I getting the impression that someone had made a
> cage w/ solid plywood walls & floor? I know it said something about
> indoor/outdoor carpet, but there's wood under that, right? Someone correct
> me if I'm wrong here.
>
> As for the walls - yes, ferrets *need* human contact, even when they feel
> like being in their cage. They like to know what's going around them, what
> their family is doing, to feel like they're part of the action. I remember
> when Ariel was still an only ferret. We had her cage (which is one of the
> huge SuperPet cages) in our family room - the hub of activity in our
house -
> & even when she was just relaxing & dozing on & off, it was the norm to
see
> her little head hanging out of the side of her hammie, just watching us,
> happy as a little clam. As we added more fuzzies to our family (now there
> are 4), we did move their cage (now 2 huge SuperPet cages hooked together)
> into the living room - only about 10' from where it was before, & still
very
> much w/in sight/sound of our family room. The only time we can't see them,
> or they can't see us, is when we're eating or sleeping. I wouldn't have it
> any other way.
>
> As for the floor, wood doesn't make a good floor. If it gets soaked in
> urine, it not only would smell disgusting, the amonia fumes would be very
> dangerous to the ferret. Which brings up another argument against solid
> walls: cages need ventilation. I wouldn't keep a ferret in a wooden box,
> anymore than I would keep it in an aquarium.
>
> Just my .02.
>
> --
> Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, & Puck
> To email me back, take out everything from "K" to "2"
>
x
|
|
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| John&Diane Kolomijez |
Just to add....Wood & carpet holds & oftentimes breeds bacteria.
"Charles Winters" <chasw88@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Q_ednQzQ-KRk6djfRVn-ig@comcast.com...
> Lin: Your really big cage in the living room is probably ideal, except
> perhaps for the relatively high ambient temperature. As for me, I don't
> have the skills or tools to fabricate a really big wire cage and I could
not
> settle for a little cage like the kind sold at pet stores. But I do work
> with wood and therefore built an open pen out of plywood, 5X5 foot square
> with 30" plywood walls, open at the top. It has removable plywood
> floorboards, covered by washable carpeting. The floorboards are coated
with
> polyurethane varnish and the carpeting is rubber-backed. Easy to keep
> clean. Its not a wooden box, its a large open top pen made from wood.
>
> Its in the basement because that's where I have my office and its nice and
> cool down there. My wife keeps the upstairs temperature way too high for
> extended comfort by a ferret. Our little fuzzy seems quite happy with the
> arrangement, mostly because he gets out to play for extended periods
> downstairs when I'm working there and upstairs when he can be supervised
> more closely. All in all a good arrangement for the ferret, superior IMO
to
> the little cages I see pictures of, plus I made it myself. - CW
>
> x"lin" <> wrote in message
news:_T51e.14318$rL3.12751@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
> > Ok, I'm coming in late on this, & didn't see the original post cos of my
> > ng's acting weird, but am I getting the impression that someone had made
a
> > cage w/ solid plywood walls & floor? I know it said something about
> > indoor/outdoor carpet, but there's wood under that, right? Someone
correct
> > me if I'm wrong here.
> >
> > As for the walls - yes, ferrets *need* human contact, even when they
feel
> > like being in their cage. They like to know what's going around them,
what
> > their family is doing, to feel like they're part of the action. I rememb
er
> > when Ariel was still an only ferret. We had her cage (which is one of
the
> > huge SuperPet cages) in our family room - the hub of activity in our
> house -
> > & even when she was just relaxing & dozing on & off, it was the norm to
> see
> > her little head hanging out of the side of her hammie, just watching us,
> > happy as a little clam. As we added more fuzzies to our family (now
there
> > are 4), we did move their cage (now 2 huge SuperPet cages hooked
together)
> > into the living room - only about 10' from where it was before, & still
> very
> > much w/in sight/sound of our family room. The only time we can't see
them,
> > or they can't see us, is when we're eating or sleeping. I wouldn't have
it
> > any other way.
> >
> > As for the floor, wood doesn't make a good floor. If it gets soaked in
> > urine, it not only would smell disgusting, the amonia fumes would be
very
> > dangerous to the ferret. Which brings up another argument against solid
> > walls: cages need ventilation. I wouldn't keep a ferret in a wooden box,
> > anymore than I would keep it in an aquarium.
> >
> > Just my .02.
> >
> > --
> > Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, & Puck
> > To email me back, take out everything from "K" to "2"
> >
> x
>
|
|
|
| ..brian.. |
lin wrote:
> Ok, I'm coming in late on this, & didn't see the original post cos of
my
> ng's acting weird, but am I getting the impression that someone had
made a
> cage w/ solid plywood walls & floor? I know it said something about
> indoor/outdoor carpet, but there's wood under that, right? Someone
correct
> me if I'm wrong here.
>
> As for the walls - yes, ferrets *need* human contact, even when they
feel
> like being in their cage. They like to know what's going around them,
what
> their family is doing, to feel like they're part of the action. I
remember
> when Ariel was still an only ferret. We had her cage (which is one of
the
> huge SuperPet cages) in our family room - the hub of activity in our
house -
> & even when she was just relaxing & dozing on & off, it was the norm
to see
> her little head hanging out of the side of her hammie, just watching
us,
> happy as a little clam. As we added more fuzzies to our family (now
there
> are 4), we did move their cage (now 2 huge SuperPet cages hooked
together)
> into the living room - only about 10' from where it was before, &
still very
> much w/in sight/sound of our family room. The only time we can't see
them,
> or they can't see us, is when we're eating or sleeping. I wouldn't
have it
> any other way.
>
> As for the floor, wood doesn't make a good floor. If it gets soaked
in
> urine, it not only would smell disgusting, the amonia fumes would be
very
> dangerous to the ferret. Which brings up another argument against
solid
> walls: cages need ventilation. I wouldn't keep a ferret in a wooden
box,
> anymore than I would keep it in an aquarium.
I read the description multiple times, and I think everyone (including
myself) have the wrong mental image of his cage. I do not think it can
be compared to a "normal" ferret cage, in that it is tall with multiple
levels and completely enclosed. I think it's more of a 4 wall wooden
"gate" with no top. The original post stated the walls were 30 inches
high and 5 feet long -- that's not very tall, but a fairly large area.
I had to ask for more information, because I was thinking it was a
solid wooden box -- and that would be horrible.
Also, many basements are finished, and are not the dark, damp,
"dungeons" we are all thinking of.
--
Brian
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| ..brian.. |
Charles Winters wrote:
>> I guess I don't completely understand how your cage is made; the
>> description given is rather minimal. Are you saying the sides of
the
>> cage are solid? Did you use any wire on the cage? How many levels
>> does it have?
>>
>> Doesn't outdoor carpet usually have a black rubbery backing on it?
Or
>> is it just plain carpet? I like using laminate flooring -- carpet
is
>> hard to clean.
>
> B: The sides are solid plywood, no wire. There is just one level
but its
> 25 sq ft and covered with green outdoor carpet, the kind with rubber
> backing. One big spacious play pen with a cardboard box "house"
inside.
> Bacchus doesn't seem to want to chew on the rubber, but he does enjoy
> scratching at the carpeting, his way of saying, "I want to come out".
- CW
Oh, I should have read this post before replying to the others ;-) As
I said in reply to Lin's post, I had to read your original message
multiple times to figure out what you were describing. I think you
should have said it's more like a playpen, because I know there are
plenty of people who think you are keeping your furkid in a dark wooden
box.
I don't think I would use the outdoor carpeting because of the rubbery
backing. I'm guessing the carpet is glued or tacked down some way,
because I know my ferrets would get under the carpet and dig the hell
out of the rubber. The cage my ferrets use to live in had plywood
floors also, but I covered them with linoleum flooring -- which was
easy to clean, and protected the wood from getting soaked from any
"accidents".
--
Brian
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| MC |
I have built a number of enclosures, using plywood/Doug fir/poplar and
redwood wood sources. The key, if you must use them, is to make sure they
are properly finished.
I used a standard wood sealer, (To smooth the surface) and then stain or
paint. Then, to finish coat the enclosure, several coats of a marine
grade urethane. This makes the enclosure, 100% moisture proof and...more
importantly, sealed, so that the harmful esters cannot affect the
inhabitants.
MC
"John&Diane Kolomijez" <kolo2@cox.net> wrote in message
news:bch1e.1$Tn.0@lakeread06...
> Just to add....Wood & carpet holds & oftentimes breeds bacteria.
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| swamp |
On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 06:55:28 -0800, "MC"
<MC@ProgressiveSystemsInc.org> wrote:
>I have built a number of enclosures, using plywood/Doug fir/poplar and
>redwood wood sources. The key, if you must use them, is to make sure they
>are properly finished.
>
>I used a standard wood sealer, (To smooth the surface) and then stain or
>paint. Then, to finish coat the enclosure, several coats of a marine
>grade urethane. This makes the enclosure, 100% moisture proof and...more
>importantly, sealed, so that the harmful esters cannot affect the
>inhabitants.
May I add that it's more important to seal the ends of the various
wood members than the side grain. iow, you can't build a wood cage and
then seal it; you have to cut each piece to length, seal the end
grain, and then assemble. The side grain of wood isn't nearly as
porous as the ends, and we all know that if you leave exposed end
grain, that''s exactly where the ferrets will decide to pee.
>MC
>
>"John&Diane Kolomijez" <kolo2@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:bch1e.1$Tn.0@lakeread06...
>> Just to add....Wood & carpet holds & oftentimes breeds bacteria.
Bless their little hearts,
swamp
--
"Who me officer? What's a ferut. These guys?? No, they're Polish cats."
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| lin |
"Charles Winters" <chasw88@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Q_ednQzQ-KRk6djfRVn-ig@comcast.com...
> Lin: Your really big cage in the living room is probably ideal, except
> perhaps for the relatively high ambient temperature.
Nope, no probs w/ temperatures. I have MS, so we have to keep our house cool
out of necessity.
>As for me, I don't
> have the skills or tools to fabricate a really big wire cage and I could
> not
> settle for a little cage like the kind sold at pet stores.
I bought my cages through ferretstore.com. They're the SuperPet Ferret
Kingdoms. While I don't have the exact measurments commited to memory, the 2
cages attached together are roughly 5' wide X 5' high X maybe 1.5' deep.
I've bought plenty of extra shelves & ramps, & have arranged them so the
cages have multiple levels - about 5 in each cage. Shelves & ramps are all
plastic - easy to clean & easy on my fuzzies' feet. 4 hammies, 2 beds/sleep
sacks, 3 litterboxes, 3 feeding stations, & plenty of loose bedding here &
there.....I think my guys have a pretty good arrangement.
>But I do work
> with wood and therefore built an open pen out of plywood, 5X5 foot square
> with 30" plywood walls, open at the top. It has removable plywood
> floorboards, covered by washable carpeting. The floorboards are coated
> with
> polyurethane varnish and the carpeting is rubber-backed. Easy to keep
> clean. Its not a wooden box, its a large open top pen made from wood.
Admittedly, you're right - it's more a pen than an enclosure. As I said, I
came into this late, so I didn't get to read all the specifics. But are you
sure your ferret can't get over the 30" walls? I have a 36" plexiglas
divider between our living room & entry hall, & our jumper - Max - can
almost clear it when he's determined enough. And plexi is a lot slipperier
than plywood.
> Its in the basement because that's where I have my office and its nice and
> cool down there. My wife keeps the upstairs temperature way too high for
> extended comfort by a ferret. Our little fuzzy seems quite happy with the
> arrangement, mostly because he gets out to play for extended periods
> downstairs when I'm working there and upstairs when he can be supervised
> more closely. All in all a good arrangement for the ferret, superior IMO
> to
> the little cages I see pictures of, plus I made it myself. - CW
>
> x"lin" <> wrote in message
> news:_T51e.14318$rL3.12751@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
>> Ok, I'm coming in late on this, & didn't see the original post cos of my
>> ng's acting weird, but am I getting the impression that someone had made
>> a
>> cage w/ solid plywood walls & floor? I know it said something about
>> indoor/outdoor carpet, but there's wood under that, right? Someone
>> correct
>> me if I'm wrong here.
>>
>> As for the walls - yes, ferrets *need* human contact, even when they feel
>> like being in their cage. They like to know what's going around them,
>> what
>> their family is doing, to feel like they're part of the action. I
>> remember
>> when Ariel was still an only ferret. We had her cage (which is one of the
>> huge SuperPet cages) in our family room - the hub of activity in our
> house -
>> & even when she was just relaxing & dozing on & off, it was the norm to
> see
>> her little head hanging out of the side of her hammie, just watching us,
>> happy as a little clam. As we added more fuzzies to our family (now there
>> are 4), we did move their cage (now 2 huge SuperPet cages hooked
>> together)
>> into the living room - only about 10' from where it was before, & still
> very
>> much w/in sight/sound of our family room. The only time we can't see
>> them,
>> or they can't see us, is when we're eating or sleeping. I wouldn't have
>> it
>> any other way.
>>
>> As for the floor, wood doesn't make a good floor. If it gets soaked in
>> urine, it not only would smell disgusting, the amonia fumes would be very
>> dangerous to the ferret. Which brings up another argument against solid
>> walls: cages need ventilation. I wouldn't keep a ferret in a wooden box,
>> anymore than I would keep it in an aquarium.
>>
>> Just my .02.
>>
>> --
>> Lin, Ariel, Oberon, Max, & Puck
>> To email me back, take out everything from "K" to "2"
>>
> x
>
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