COURT OR HUTCH?

[Guest Frank]

Had a discussion the other day with some ferreting folk about living quarters for ferrets.

Some said they only keep theirs in a court, some said they did not have the space and just kept them in hutches, 4ft x 2ft ect.

The guys with the courts thought this was cruel and reckoned they should have as much space as possible, being the animals they are.

I have allways kept mine in hutches, but they are now at my freinds in a large court and seem happy.

I am thinking of getting them back and am welcomed to them when ever i want, but this has got me thinking , as i want the best for them. I kept them in 4 ft x 2 ft hutches before, they seemed fine, but i wonder if a court is best? i dont really have the space for a court, so i might leave them where they are, hard one this.

 

Any experinces ect welcomed, feel free to comment.

 

All the best

 

Frank.

[jultaylor1972 2]

The hutch I had before the one Ive got now was very small and at the time I was pushed for space also. So I built a court next to the huch and built upwards. It did give them plenty of room to play and great living accomodation too. I do think that the bigger the space the better though and if possible, then a court would be best. If not possible, then plently of exercise as and when is possible.

[gnipper 6,506]

I've always kept mine in hutches, my present main hutch is 6ft by 2 by 4 with two tiers which i seperate into two cages for the summer and I have another cage which is about 3 1/2ft long with two levels which I use for my hob or as solitary when someone is i'll or being naughty .

I'd prefer a big aviary type cage but can see disadvantages like always needing to keep seperate hutches for hobs or fighters, lack of space being my main problem with getting one.

[Guest Frank]

Cheers so far.

Keep them coming.

 

Frank.

[Madcowz 0]

I have absolutely no experience in keeping ferrets, but I do know that the more space animals have the healthier they are both physically and mentally.

 

That is why I have converted an old falling down shed into a ferret palace:

 

From a tatty old shed:

 

To a ferret palace!:

 

 

 

 

These pictures are slightly old and have since added further items: eg more ramps/added grip to existing ramps. Will also add things hanging from the ceiling for them to play with and cover the floor when the ferts arrive, + extra toys like a wheel etc etc.

 

 

/Mad

[Guest Frank]

Thats some set up Madcowz. , I seen the step by step progress before and you are very dedicated.

 

Thanks,

 

Frank.

[ferret15 0]

frank as you might be aware i run a small rescue witch a few members of this place have seen i have a 6 x 8 shed divided down the middle and as many of the rescues as i can go in here but its not always possible (hobs that fight, kits etc) i also have a few hutches on top of each other all joined together and another is two 6x2x2 runs on top of each other if you don't have much space build up the more space the better there basic fitness and general well being i expect that you have seen a difference in your ferrets general attitude other wise you wouldn't be asking this question so you know the answer all ready. there is nothing wrong with keeping your ferts in a hutch as long as they are given as much exercise as possible it comes down to personal preference space and money !!!

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x73/ferret15/5002.jpg

 

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x73/ferret15/5001.jpg

[Guest Frank]

Makes good sence ferret15.

When mine were in hutches, i let them run around the shed every day for an hour or so and they were working twice a week.

 

Frank.

[borderboy 80]

i have mine in a hutch, with a run below, they seem happy enough, its a good compromise in my eyes if you dont have much space or money...

[Guest POT FILLER]

DEFINATLEY A COURT IS BEST FOR YOUR FERRETS WELLBEING ,YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT A FERRETS BEHAVOUR WHEN CONFINED IN A SMALLL HUTCH THEY JUST ROCK BACK AND FORWARD ALONG THE MESH FRONTS NO STIMULATION OR EXERCISE LEADING TO A VERY SAD LIFE

[gavman 0]

my 2 are in a 2 tier hutch with run .

yet when i go out there to take the dogs for there evening run the ferts are waiting to come out and run aroud the garden. whist im out .

 

albeit chasing my cats

[doddsy1970 9]

I have absolutely no experience in keeping ferrets, but I do know that the more space animals have the healthier they are both physically and mentally.

 

That is why I have converted an old falling down shed into a ferret palace:

 

From a tatty old shed:

 

To a ferret palace!:

[

These pictures are slightly old and have since added further items: eg more ramps/added grip to existing ramps. Will also add things hanging from the ceiling for them to play with and cover the floor when the ferts arrive, + extra toys like a wheel etc etc.

 

 

/Mad

You have done a blinding job there mate I especially like the white painted walls what is the floor covering is it paint?

[stubby 175]

at the end of the day, its your garden/yard size that defines what you can have

although i have a good size court, with outdoor attactment, i also have hutches

 

its the quaility of life that should be looked at, how much time is spent with them, work or play

id rather see a fert kept in a hutch that is cared for properly, more than a court kept fert thats thrown food on passing but left to rot

do you see my point

[Hob&Jill 258]

How about a 6x4 shed frank?

 

Im geting one in a couple of weeks, going to attach a run to the side, will have plenty of space then.

[gibby 0]

My ferrets are in hutches at the moment but im after one of those big hutch/run combo type things because now I have more ferrets.

 

Last season I had 2 ferrets- a hob and a jill and they were both in a medium to large size hutch together. In the springtime when I seperated them i built 1 new larger sized hutch so they could have 1 each during the breeding season etc. But now I have 3 kits on top of this pair so the hutches are overcrowded, well one of them, so i will be buying a new large hutch/run similar to THIS.

 

So after i get that I will have 3 jills in the big run and a hob each in my hutches.

 

To answer your question frank I think its a case of getting the biggest you can have room for. If thats a large hutch then so be it Hutches are fine in my opinion if the ferrets are well looked after and get plenty of interaction and exercise. I also am pretty sure yours will see more than enough rabbit warrens so they will be kept fit so a hutch will be fine!