Advice Needed - Ferret Hutch

[smad04 0]

Evening,

 

I have been ferreting a number of times and after completing my house move am hoping to build a ferret hutch & run in my back garden and get ferrets of my own.

 

Does anyone have any advice/details/photos of ferret hutch design and size (for 2-3 ferrets).

 

Also, how large a run should they have and is it best to keep them on concrete, grass or a combination?

 

Any comments on the above and advice for a novice will be appreciated!

 

Cheers,

 

Matt

[Bone42 41]

Any normal double tier rabbit hutch will do for 2 or 3 ferts,a run of any size will do really but never put it on grass else you'll find them missing the next day after they've dug themselves out..In the run put a hammock,tubes and things for them to climb up etc,you can't go far wrong with that set up,!

[Bunny Boiler 177]

Bigger the better. How much room you willing to donate? Honestly, instead of saying it in Dimensions, go into your garden, where are you putting them and how much room are you willing to give them, then build it to that. Just think. Would you rather have a small 1 bedroom flat or a huge mansion with plenty of room for extras?

[foxtails 272]

have a scroll down this page or page two the topic is called how to treat ferrets? theres some good pics of set ups on there,,atb ft

[smad04 0]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I have a pretty big garden and as I'm not much of a gardener will be turfing most. There is a concrete platform at the back of my garage that I was going to sit the hutch on, this backs onto a 8 foot by 10 foot square of turf before hitting the greenhouse. The initial idea was to have the run extend onto all/some of this, with the hutch being contained within the run.

 

I'm guessing it would therefore be best to tile the turf to the required area for the run, or are any other materials better?

 

Also, the run will be fine made out of chicken wire or can they get through this?

 

Cheers

[joe14 98]

No chicken wire, they will be out. You want weld mesh.

Concrete floor, paving slabs fine. Will wear their nails down running about.

The bigger the space the better.

Make sure the space you put their enclosure doesnt get red hot in the summer (heat is a killer for ferrets)

Sometimes its just cheaper to buy a cheap shed, fit a mesh door, put a hutch innit and done

[smad04 0]

Thanks Foxtails - Have had a look in the thread and is some good info.

 

Joe14 - I hadn't thought of that, my partners parents have a spare small shed that I may be able to acquire. Will they not chew through the wood and escape?

[joe14 98]

ferrets dont chew like rabbits, might have a good scratch, if theres a way out they'l find it. You could always line the shed with thin ply.

Another tip is to put lino down in hutch's, sheds. The pee doesnt soak into the wood then and its piss easy to clean.

[smad04 0]

Ok great thanks, I will see what I can get hold of and upload pictures of the finished product.

 

After reading some of the other threads I have gathered it is very important to keep them stimulated with toys etc, but that they get bored quickly. Would it therefore be best to introduce a few toys at a time and keep cycling them or put them all in to start?

[joe14 98]

Yeah put few toys in with them, carpet tubes, carrier bags. They'll be some toys they never get bored of and some they wont bother with. Funny buggers they are lol.

Look forward to seeing pics.

[Stretch177 39]

The best thing i ever done was stick a hammock in the run and hutch. There always in it, made it out of an old pillow case/bedsheet and knotted at both ends

[The one 8,483]

Use the search engine mate but as said the bigger the better

[smad04 0]

Cheers all, appreciate the messages. I will keep you updated!

[little jack 14]

all good advice given, where abouts in new forest are you

[smad04 0]

Just in process of moving down to the south east corner, near blackfield