Designing a Custom Cage- what to look for?

[lumene]

Hey all,

So I am thinking of having Penelope's permanent cage built by the same man who builds my snake enclosures he owns Beautiful World Living Environments here on the island and specializes in all types of enclosures. Gotta trust the zoologist.

Right now I am in the drafting stages. I know I want it to be about 5' on wheels with large doors on every level (number of levels?). When my living situation changes I would like to get Penne a friend or twelve (somewhere in finishing gathering my snake wishlist).

I don't know if I would prefer ramps, or the little walkways I saw in a ferret shed on this forum.
Other than bar spacing, what should I be on the lookout for?

Thanks all.

[Sherry]

Make sure all the wood is well sealed or covered. Accidents to happen with litter box misses, and the stool and urine can soak into wood. Watch for things that can catch little toes and claws. Ferrets have broken limbs that way, and some have died from the shock of being trapped.

[Deleted]

If I could have a customer cage built I would try to make it some kind of "burrow" design where they have a tube going from a top level to a bottom level that is covered to make it dark so it's like they're going underground and have some privacy.

[Deleted]

Hm, well this would be on my wish list for a custom cage.

I would make the cage longer and a bit wider than the FN. So they have more "walking space" and more room to play. I would make 4 solid levels (instead of 2 solid levels and 2 half ramps. IMO, the ramps become rather useless. My kids either sleep in a hammock or next to the litter box (quick access? ). I would not use ladder style ramps - instead I'd use either tubing or a ramp (so no bars) with some grooves for them to climb.

I would utilize upward space as much as possible. I would have a separator (like in the Ferret Nation) that can separate the levels into individual cages (for sickies). It would also be nice if the levels could be separated from each other.

Actually, my dream cage would probably be very close two Ferret Nations side by side.

[lumene]

Jackie-- Haha, I have seen two ferret nations together side by side connected by large PVC pipe, it was an awesome setup for five or six furkids.

grimsqueaker-- I was thinking something like that would be cool, I have tubing but I either need to disinfect the life outta it or buy new stuff- the kid who had Penne was a dopehead so everything I got from him stinks!

Sherry-- Will do. My builder has built ferret outdoor runs, its just a matter of bringing his designs inside, making sure I have space in the living room (she is in my spare snake cage in my bedroom right now but it is hella warm in there because of the snakes and I like to be Warm). The living room is cooler cause of the balcony.

I wanna make it big too. I get sick a fair bit in winter (I have failed to acclimate to island weather) so I don't want her to feel penned in all the time if I can't get out and interact with her on a daily basis.

[Sherry]

Here are some ideas, courtesy of MAFF:
www.maferrets.org/gallery3/index.php/album_031?page=1