Another ferret playpen question

[Deleted]

I've searched through the forum for ideas, but there are just so many threads.

It seems a lot of you use the marshals playpens. The problem is I can't seem to get those here. The only ones I found cost an absolute fortune. Mostly what I'm finding are the ones that are more for puppies.

This is an example www.ebay.com.au/itm/322002552103

The problem with these is I worked out the gaps would be roughly 4cm (I think about 1 3/4"). I have little 5 month old girls and I think they'll go straight through that.

The other option I found was the fabric ones. I worry about the ferret proofing on those too. They also offer much less flexibility.

So I'm thinking of buying the ones with the big spaces. I thought I could cable tie some linoleum to the sides to prevent squeezing through. I also though of chicken wire/hardware cloth but I worry that gives grip for climbing.

So my questions are:
Do you think linoleum would work?
How high up the side of the pen would I need to go?
Is a 36" pen high enough? I can get 42" ones, but they're more expensive. I looked at the marshalls ones and if I'm looking at the right thing, it looks like they're only 29" high.

Thanks for the help.

[LindaM]

Yeah, the girls will fit right through that. Athena is 8 months old, and she's just slightly under 2lbs, and she still easily fits in under some of the doors that have a gap that big.

As for fabric ones.. it depends on the ferret. Some won't care much or try to destroy them, others will make it their goal in life to shred through as fast as they can.

So as for your modification ideas...

Do your girls like to climb? Mine does.. and she will easily climb 6ft high, if there is even just the slightest offering of grip somewhere, she even climbs curtains. So for some, height isn't a factor at all, if they can get a grip enough to climb, they'll reach for the stars. If they aren't bothered with climbing, or there is no surface or anything to provide a grip for climbing, it doesn't have to be incredibly tall, the 36" should do. But with the Marshall pens, while they are shorter, you can actually get a fabric cover that goes over the top to prevent climbing I think, so you might want to keep something like that in mind when creating your pen.

I suppose the linoleum could work.. though thinking of mine, if the edges of those were in reach or the cable ties.. they'd chew on them, which is why in their cage to keep the shelves aligned and sturdy the way I want, I use multiple velcro cable ties instead of the plastic. Athena seems to have an obsession with trying to chew a plastic cable tie whenever she sees one somewhere.

If you had a rectangular or square play pen, you could probably try to adhere some PVC/Acrylic panels to it, I know some people use that like a baby gate, because it's too smooth & slippery to provide grip to get over it, and seals off an area really well.

[unclejoe]

It does look like it could be climbable. I don't see what the bar spacing is, but it needs to be about 1 inch or 2.5 cm or a ferret might squeeze thru. You could put some plastic tubing along the top to keep them from climbing over...

[LibertyTS]

Hey Tanya, I feel your pain. It can be difficult and expensive to get any ferret stuff here in Australia. Ferrets just aren't nearly as popular as they are in the US, etc.

What is the purpose of the playpen for you? Where would you be using it? Is the idea to allow you to bring them outside or something of the sort?

Why not build a small outdoor enclosure? Even something you can place them in for a couple of hours. If you are in a rental and can't make any holes, etc. that shouldn't stop you. I am renting and have a fairly large enclosure that did not require me to make any holes or cause any damage to the property what-so-ever. (holisticferret60.proboards.com/post/319218/thread)

Happy to give you some ideas. My enclosure was relatively cheap in the end, though it could certainly have been even cheaper if it was smaller and I didn't paint it.

We tried a number of those playpens you are talking about. We had NO success with them at all. Our girls always found a way out and we found the whole exercise to be stressful and we spent more time chasing after them than if we had just let them loose in the house. Also, I honestly think those playpens are WAAAAAY too small to be of any benefit to the ferret. Floor area of these would likely be little more than the cage my two girls are in now. So we gave up and looked at ways to build something for them outside.

Good luck.

[Deleted]

I have also a concern what to do in summer days. Starting from early May , here in Athens we use to spend a lot of hours in our balconies. Which means that she will have to stay inside and we outside😬😳. It will not work. It is very possible that a door will stay open and she will go outside. And she is a very good climber.

I need something to put all around the balcony , to be high and flat and slippery! There are some wood like fences , less than one meter height. I do not know if it will work. Any ideas?

[LibertyTS]

vivi I would suggest making something up yourself. You will never be able to buy something pre-made that will work in your situation. I can see two main options for you:

Marine-grade Plywood - It's relatively cheap. It is weather "resistant". Can be purchased in a huge variety of sizes and thicknesses. Any decent hardware store or timber yard will happily cut the pieces to the sizes you need, saving you doing messy work in the apartment. It will degrade over time if left unpainted (a year or two). Some ferrets chew wood (mine don't).

Acrylic sheets (ie. Perspex, PlexiGlass, etc.) - It is reasonably expensive (here in Australia at least). It is weather proof. Can be purchased in various sizes and thickness. A little harder to source. Most decent suppliers will cut the sheets to the sizes you like, though most of them will charge for this service. It won't degrade over time other than some possible ghosting or colour fade. Ferrets will not be able to chew this as it is super hard.

Some people have had success with corflute in the past, I am not a fan. A determined ferret will puncture corflute if you aren't careful. They may also be able to move\bend it to get around it. It's super cheap and lightweight, but sometimes you need to spend a little more to have a safe ferret.

If you go with marine ply, I would suggest a thickness of at least 6mm in your circumstance. With acrylic look at a minimum of 4mm, though if your balcony is prone to wind I would suggest going thicker 6mm+. The acrylic is the best option, especially as you can get in clear and if done well will look great, however it is likely to be 4 or 5 times more expensive than the marine ply.

No matter what material you choose, make sure it is secured well to your balcony, with not gaps. Not even a tiny 1mm gap. Ferrets WILL find a weakness and exploit it. Cheeky buggers!!!

Good luck.

Chris

[FireAngel]

Answered in your switching thread.

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I had a few different uses in mind. I had also considered joining more than one together for each use, to increase space.

First my bedroom isn't ferret proofed. I want a playpen they can go in for a change of scenery when I'm using my computer.

Second I want to set up something around their cage like a lot of people do, so they can have more out of cage time. I don't want them loose in that whole room when I'm not around, for a few reason. That might be an option later but not yet. So I thought 2 playpens joined together would be better than nothing.

I had been considering corflute (which I think is the same as what a lot of people call coroplast). I decided I didn't like the Lino idea but corflute might work better. I had also considered just building a play pen out of ply with hinges but I wasn't sure how difficult that would be and if I'd have to paint it.

I'd like one day to do an outdoor enclosure of some sort, but that sounds a lot more difficult.