DIY Hutch Questions

[Skiff]

So I'm looking to get my guys a new home as I feel its time now, but so far, I haven't seen anything I'm happy with, the hutch I originally bought them, while it looked good, wasn't great quality and I don't want to fall into that trap again. So I have decided that DIY may be the way to go, I'm not exactly a joiner but I think I can put something suitable together (famous last words), but I have a few questions. 

1. Does anyone know of anywhere I could get bars rather than mesh for the front of the hutch? The mesh on the front of the current hutch or even really strong mesh. Basically Poro has a bad habit of clawing the mesh when he knows its feeding time or just when hes bored and hes quite a big guy and has really started to bend the current mesh and even snapped pieces off so far. So realistically I would prefer vertical bars like you get on cages for rats or a really sturdy mesh. 

2. What do I make it out of? Being outside its going to be exposed to the elements so obviously I want something that is weather resistant or treatable, the last thing I need is for it to start rotting and falling apart.

So I have seen this while searching for ideas (http://jayscustomcreations.com/2013/03/ferret-cage/) and although this is intended to be an indoors cage, it shouldn't be too hard to modify for outdoors use. I guess I would just need to put a sloped, felted roof on and add a solid back/sides maybe? I could also maybe add an extra compartment in the bottom to slide in a dig box. I like this hutch due to its height, with their current hutch I have to get down on my knees and basically crawl into the hutch to clean the bottom floor but I feel like a layout like this one may be easier to clean and it has space underneath to maybe create a cupboard to keep supplies. The only downside I can see is that there is no way for them to get in and out when they are in the garden but Im sure there may be a solution to that. 

What do you guys think?

[Deleted]

This thread might help give you some ideas:

holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/115/outdoor-enclosures

I'll tag crazylady for you since she lives in the UK and is a breeder so she has plenty of ferrets.
Here in the States ours tend to live indoors.

[Deleted]

DIY hutches are quite good fun but usually a fair bit of work.

I think a good quality wood frame (2x2 or even 3x2 timber framing), with maybe shiplap (or loglap if you prefer that) for the exterior walls, you can use solid wood boards or good quality ply for the floors, and a good quality strong gauge mesh for the front/select doors to allow ventilation.

I have a found a few places that sell the sort of mesh I think you might find suitable ...
Vertical bars
Strong Mesh panels

The best way to ensure your hutch lasts well is to use a good quality exterior paint and do several layers. I usually repaint every year or two to ensure they're well protected. And definitely have legs to prevent the bottom frame sitting in water ... even if they're only an inch or two long.

I also tend to floor my hutches with vinyl flooring to protect the surfaces from accidents and make them easy to clean.

I also buy clear PVC sheeting (often marketed for tent windows/awnings etc) ... cut them to size, use mammoth glass repair tape to reinforce the edges and fit large (12mm) camping/tent eyelets about every couple of feet to correspond to cup-hooks I fit onto the hutch. The top eyelets can just hook over the hooks, and the ones on the side I use shock cord (threaded through the eyelets so can then go over hooks) and toggles so I can adjust the fit and pull the sheet tight in bad weather.
After having tried various solutions, I found this the best to keep rain and wind out of my hutches, and they have stood up to every storm we've had in the UK so far this winter.

I also usually have corrugated tin roofs fitted with tek screws over a solid wood or ply ceiling (and keep them slanting backwards) to waterproof the roofs. I personally have found this much more satisfactory than felt which does seem to wear out quicker and let the wet in.

Hope that helps, let me know if anything is unclear and I will try and find some pics to explain

[Skiff]

Thanks for the responses guys, I will take a look through that thread for inspiration

Vicki-Ann, I'm not sure I follow what you mean with regards to the PVC sheeting and the eyelets, I assume its a rain cover of sorts but I cant visualize it, if you do have any pics that would be great. The corrugated tin roof is something I haven't thought about before, not sure if I could pull it off tbh

[Deleted]

Have a few pics ... but will take some more if these aren't good enough.

In this first photo, I have turned it up and hooked the bottom cords onto the top hooks to let some air in.


I went overkill on the top eyelets on this cover as this was the test cover and the design kept changing before I decided it was okay and made the rest ... I also did need to add more eyelets down the sides as it was letting too much wind behind it in the storms we've been having


Another sheet


And the whole shed ... so you can see it does look fairly tidy as well as letting light in and keeping weather out

[Skiff]

I see what you meant now, that's awesome. Your whole setup looks great, is that a purpose build home or have you modified a shed to make it?

[Deleted]

Well, it took a few goes and a few changes in design before I was happy with the rainsheet. I know a lot use tarpaulin but we have been having rain for days on end and I don't like keeping the ferrets without full natural light for that amount of time.

It's a custom built shed, the OH and I made it from scratch so it's pretty good. The only thing is it does take a long time to clean as there is only access to the front 2.5ft of the 6ft depth so everything comes out, and all the shelves come out and get scrubbed and hosed down before going back in. That does mean that I can keep it very clean but it does take a long time and is a pain in the rain!

Outside I also have two summer-type pens, and a stack of 6ft x 2ft hutches ... but these will be changed for some 8ft x 2.5ft hutches in the next few weeks as I have ordered some to be custom made.

I find most housing you can buy just doesn't suit the needs of ferrets very well!

Kudos to you for deciding to make your own - I would have made my new hutches myself but I just don't have the time in reality, and I would like them for this year not 2018

[Corvidophile]

Skiff You can look into wire shelving panels, like for use in retail storage space. They're sometimes sold also for building closet shelving units in home supply stores, but here's a retail example: www.gershelbros.com/cgi-gershelbros/sb/ss_mb.cgi?storeid=*1a61f446b0ad4aab28c4625ed82a4c&ss_parm=Aa5fd6f374add0d8fb6f60d6847687c29

[Skiff]

Thanks for all the info guys, Im gonna look into this and see what I can put together