Keeping the ferrets warm through the winter...

[royal marine 0]

just wondered if anyone had made adjustments to hutches etc for the winter period, as i decided to fill the whole sleeping quaters of the hutch with hay and put the cover on and changed the water as regular as every morning due to icing, have you added any extra comfort to your ferrets over the winter if so what are they???

[higgins 75]

I normally just have a deep pile of wood shavings,but the other day when i opened thbe hutch door it was iced inside

so i threw a jacket in zipped up so they could crawl in 4 together,apart from that been changing the frozen water

bottle.It's not too bad now a bit warmer but temps could still drop in middle of the night so i left the jacket in ttilli clean them out next time,

Higgins

[Big Mat 0]

Mine just have a pile of blankets and old coats in their nest box, keeps them nice and toasty

[zaktarin 1]

Same here. I stuffed my four year old's fleecey dressing gown in a kittens wicker basket in the bedding area of the hutch. Keeps it snug and warm and the drafts out. Only thing that bugs me which I can't get round is the water bottle freezing!

[royal marine 0]

Same here. I stuffed my four year old's fleecey dressing gown in a kittens wicker basket in the bedding area of the hutch. Keeps it snug and warm and the drafts out. Only thing that bugs me which I can't get round is the water bottle freezing!

 

you just have to keep changing them over bud ever that or put a sock over them or wrap em in cotton wool... good luck

[dave1600d 35]

i have my 2 jills together with 4 pet blankets and the wifes old dressing gown in their hammock,,,,theyre in a shed 7x5.....then i have the jill that i found,,shes alone in a 8x2x2 hutch,,,shes got 2 fleeces,,2 pet blankets and an old sheet in her sleeping quarters,,,that got polystyrene on the outside roof,,,,,then they all get warm soya milk for breakfast and bed time with,,water available at all times,,,i check the single jill is warm by putting myhand in her bed when she gets out,,its warm inside so i know even though shes alone shes ok,,,the other 2 have each other for company and their hammock is always warm,

[royal marine 0]

i have my 2 jills together with 4 pet blankets and the wifes old dressing gown in their hammock,,,,theyre in a shed 7x5.....then i have the jill that i found,,shes alone in a 8x2x2 hutch,,,shes got 2 fleeces,,2 pet blankets and an old sheet in her sleeping quarters,,,that got polystyrene on the outside roof,,,,,then they all get warm soya milk for breakfast and bed time with,,water available at all times,,,i check the single jill is warm by putting myhand in her bed when she gets out,,its warm inside so i know even though shes alone shes ok,,,the other 2 have each other for company and their hammock is always warm,

 

 

good drill's dave there well cosy might stop by my self for board and lodgings

[dave1600d 35]

well i see it like this,,,,,,,,they work their hearts out for you all year or whenever the hunting season is,,i think that a warm bed and some water to drink isnt much to ask is it,,,,,if owners cant see their way to that,,then they dont deserve to keep em...the jill i found would be in with the others if i had my way,,but im frightened she may kill or injure them,,,,thats why theyre seperate,,,,,,,,,i dont work mine,,,theyre pets,,,but still believe in people lookin after the workers lol

[jarv5116 57]

Same here. I stuffed my four year old's fleecey dressing gown in a kittens wicker basket in the bedding area of the hutch. Keeps it snug and warm and the drafts out. Only thing that bugs me which I can't get round is the water bottle freezing!

 

you just have to keep changing them over bud ever that or put a sock over them or wrap em in cotton wool... good luck

 

Even Wrapping them up in socks dont work, the tip just freezes so no water comes out. I find having two water bottles makes it easier and less hassle.

Royal were you based about?

[fossie 0]

just wondered if anyone had made adjustments to hutches etc for the winter period, as i decided to fill the whole sleeping quaters of the hutch with hay and put the cover on and changed the water as regular as every morning due to icing, have you added any extra comfort to your ferrets over the winter if so what are they???

I have put a 2 foot tubular greenhouse heater in my shed to keep all seven of mine snug and to stop the water from freezing,cheap to run and very effective.

[jarv5116 57]

With the bedding i fill my nest box up with hay and the 3 of them are nice and snug in there, they make a little nest.

[wiganer 0]

I use any old clothing that we aquire in our house.

 

We usually have a bag full in the garage and we wash them often.

Edited December 27, 2010 by wiganer

[royal marine 0]

well i see it like this,,,,,,,,they work their hearts out for you all year or whenever the hunting season is,,i think that a warm bed and some water to drink isnt much to ask is it,,,,,if owners cant see their way to that,,then they dont deserve to keep em...the jill i found would be in with the others if i had my way,,but im frightened she may kill or injure them,,,,thats why theyre seperate,,,,,,,,,i dont work mine,,,theyre pets,,,but still believe in people lookin after the workers lol

 

to right pal your not wrong at all

[royal marine 0]

Same here. I stuffed my four year old's fleecey dressing gown in a kittens wicker basket in the bedding area of the hutch. Keeps it snug and warm and the drafts out. Only thing that bugs me which I can't get round is the water bottle freezing!

 

you just have to keep changing them over bud ever that or put a sock over them or wrap em in cotton wool... good luck

 

Even Wrapping them up in socks dont work, the tip just freezes so no water comes out. I find having two water bottles makes it easier and less hassle.

Royal were you based about?

 

i'm out now pal i live on the humber, there is a thread on here with all different tips to stop water freezing but the best thing is to just change them morning and night

[John-B 4]

I have insulated bottom and 2 sides of the nest box with polystyrene then the box is filled right up with straw which is changed every couple of days just incase it gets a bit damp, my ferrets let me know when they are too warm or too cold, funny as it might sound in the summer they drag bedding out of the box and in the winter if there isn't enough in the box they drag the hay from the top compartment down to the bottom, I seem to have the balance just right for them now as there's no home making going on lol