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Post by katt on Sept 15, 2013 4:14:15 GMT -5
I had my sister take a video and picture so I could share this with you all. It's just taken me a while to load them up. Haha The new Midwest Ferret Nation cages of the 180 model type (181, 182, 183) appear to have a dangerous defect in the ramp. The ramp between levela does not sit flush with the openings and is on a jointed hinge that allows side to side movement.. This allows the ramp to be pushed over and makes a gap big enough for a ferret to slip through. Not only does this prevent separating them, but it could be very dangerous if a ferret got stuck. This video was take. AFTER we moved the ramp over a bar - it was even worse before.
(Picture to come, PB is not cooperating).
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Post by katt on Sept 15, 2013 4:14:56 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 4:18:00 GMT -5
Uh, is there any suggested possible amends? I'm thinking... staple a hole through the ramp cover and use zip ties to fasten it to the cage wires
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Post by Sherry on Sept 15, 2013 9:05:28 GMT -5
That's bloody dangerous! Especially if you have to have the cage separated due to ferrets who don't get along. I could just see one dragging another through that opening. You really need to send that in to midwest.
Zipties are about the only thing I can think of offhand to keep it stable.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 10:55:34 GMT -5
I have the same cage and I don't use those clips. If you just hook it on without the clips it fits together nicely
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Post by katt on Sept 15, 2013 11:44:31 GMT -5
I have the same cage and I don't use those clips. If you just hook it on without the clips it fits together nicely That ks good to know! my 142 doesn't have those little clips. I'm not sure if the clips could come off?  I will tell my sister know but since it is just her, my mom, and my little brother right now I'm not sure there is someone strong enough to mess with it. I had Shane move it one bar over when we visited and that helped some but as you can see it wasn't enough. And Sherry I know, it's super scary! They just don't put the ramp up, but then what happens if they need to separate them for anything? :/ |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 16:47:09 GMT -5
I have become so anti ramp. I really hate ramps and the ones in the cages are so narrow my guys always belly slid down them, when we don't have the levels separated we use tubes instead.
Oh and yes those clips come off and are small enough to be swallowed.
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Post by Heather on Sept 15, 2013 20:56:19 GMT -5
Oh, my that is so dangerous. If a ferret doesn't manage to weasel their way through that they could get stuck and either strangle or go into shock. That video does indeed need to be sent to Midwest. I don't know if they tried to cut costs by adding these clips or if people complained that the previous design was sometimes too stiff or difficult to lock up but this is ridiculous
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 22:28:09 GMT -5
ok y'all are going to laugh at me, but... I didn't know you COULD separate the levels. How exactly do you even go about doing that?? My ferrets don't even use the ramps, they just climb up and jump down. If I put the ramps up a day later they have taken them down and just do without them. I do have hammocks placed throughout where climbing is easy and they use their hammys as latters.
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Post by katt on Sept 15, 2013 22:38:41 GMT -5
Haha That is part of the beauty of FN cages! The ramp that separates the levels folds up. Feel/look around on the ceiling at the end of the ramp when in folded up position - there is a small hook that holds the ramp up by hooking over the end of the ramp.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2013 22:53:01 GMT -5
weird... I think I understand, but mine doesn't have that either, it was missing screw holes for hooks and clips. Mine was pretty defective, it never should have left the factory.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 16, 2013 1:30:17 GMT -5
Weird! It should have a very small s hook about where the end of the ramp would go between the levels.
If it came missing parts- they have a one year warranty. Write them ASAP!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 6:07:23 GMT -5
I think you're installing the ramps wrong, you're not supposed to use those black clips for the in between levels from what we gathered building ours, only for the shelf ones. It's a real pain in the butt to put on and take off, but the regular hooks DO fit onto the space to hook onto. Once secured like that they do not move side to side or anywhere really, it's a tight fit. I say you're not meant to use the clips because every cage we bought only came with enough clips to do the shelf ramps, so that is my guess as to how to put it together.
Edit: the clips are not attached, they just slide into the ramp loops, you don't have to use them anywhere in the cage if you don't want to.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 7:06:05 GMT -5
Sherry they sent me another one already, I just haven't had time to put it together with work and school. I will be doing it soon though.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2013 9:20:30 GMT -5
Yea those little black clips do slide right off. And definitely are not supposed to be used with the level connecting ramp. I would be concerned if Midwest is now including the black clips for all the ramps, I would not be surprised if others are installing it like this too, and that's super dangerous.
It fits perfectly fine without them, but I still always suggest using pliers to secure the ramp on. Otherwise I find that the ferrets can knock it off and find themselves stuck on one level.
Katt you should ask your sister if it came with 3 pairs of black clips. If so, someone should write Midwest and tell them about this issue. It should only include 2 pairs for the shelf ramps.
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