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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2011 20:09:56 GMT -5
Ok, So I just bought a chicken coop for my fuzz, I saw another person on here a few months ago with the same one for hers. This is the coop I got I am placing the coop on brick for now, but may move it onto cement, or might get some sort of tray for the bottom. I just moved to the foothills, and we get temperatures in the 20's in winter, sometimes in the teens. Tonight it will be around 22. Farenheit that is. What I want to know before I move the furrbutts into their new condo is, what is too cold for them? They have only ever lived inside and I don't want them to freeze to death. Should I start by just putting them outside during the days and then bring them in at night? or should I just put them out there and see how they do? Thanks all!!!
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Post by Sherry on Dec 13, 2011 21:29:49 GMT -5
Since they aren't used to it, I think I'd only be putting them out during the day to give them a chance to grow a thicker coat than they likely have now. Also, can you insulate the den itself for them?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2011 21:56:11 GMT -5
If they're out there during the winter I would block off some of the mesh. Protecting them from wind is important. As long as they can get into the sheltered part and have plenty of bedding in there, they can handle pretty low temps. Below freezing, though, I'm not sure... Personally, I'd bring them inside if it's going to freeze, but hopefully someone else has a more experienced opinion on that. If it's that cold, you'll have to keep replacing their water outside too.
Now that mine live in the entryway of our home, I only turn on their electric heater when it's going to get below 32. It's not as well insulated out there as the actual house, but it IS completely enclosed, insulated, and draft-free. Already it routinely drops into the 40s and they're just as bouncy and active as indoors, and I find them sleeping out on top of the blankets all the time.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 14, 2011 0:52:12 GMT -5
I know a former member, Marie, used to have her's outside in -20 celcius. But they had TONS of warm places they could get into if they need to, including inside the house.
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Post by lorelei0922 on Dec 14, 2011 1:09:53 GMT -5
hiya... they can REALLY handle cold temps well when acclimated! mine were outside in -11c which is only 12f ... and were happily dancing around in the snow...
Acclimation and keeping them out of the drafts are important... yes block off the mesh and put it where the wind and snow wont drive in...
lots of bedding in the bedding section.. fleece works good if you put a couple layers of newspaper under neath it will absorb the condensation...
you'll want to acclimatise them for a while first... outside in the day... perhaps inside or put a hot water bottle in the bedding section at night... but they'll adjust pretty quickly .. within a couple weeks.. you may find they really pack on the pounds and fur too so keep the bowls topppppped up...
with those coop ones.. people tend to find they poo underneath lol just to be akward buggers..
water will need to be in a bowl.. the metal parts on the water bottles freeze very quickly.. you'll need to keep changing over the water when its below zero.. but if you're feeding raw it wont be as difficult as you fear.. they keep much better hydrated on raw anyways..
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2011 3:44:10 GMT -5
You should probably get a sheet of plywood with some linoleum tacked onto it and use that for a floor. It will clean easier and wood will harbor bacteria. Keep it on the bricks with a little air circulation between them so it can dry underneath and doesn't stay wet when it rains. Since ferrets are burrowers, on the grass is bad. It is a pretty little house, but for cold temps: On the outside of the lair/nest, you may want to add a 1" layer of that rigid insulation. It's cheap and you can remove it when it's summer. If you anything besides normal nest material inside they might eat it. I don't know what to recommend for outside the screen in the cold. If I thought they wouldn't mess with it, I would say use the clear plastic sheeting. Maybe plexiglass or acrylic sheeting. Either way they can get light without the wind chill and you can check on them more easily.
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Post by lorelei0922 on Dec 14, 2011 8:39:56 GMT -5
Clear plastic sheeting works well over the outside of the mesh...
grass is def bad..
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2011 16:53:24 GMT -5
Hi I house my 2 outside in - temperatures they are fine. This is my first winter with them and there first outside so I was a little unsure but they have taken to it realy well. Tho I did build mine up to it. You can cover the mesh with clear plastic sheeting or tarpauline. You can also get fitted covers for some styles of coops, they have a roll up front so you can let air if its dry. Inside I have lino on the floor. I put newspaper on the lino with a vet bed on top of the newspaper and then just shove in loads of fleece blankets to keep them cozy. I am also going to try cozytoes, that you get for childrens buggies as they are waterproof on the outside so can help with stopping the condensation form on the top blankets. I use a water bottle at the moment but will be changing it for a bowl when it shows signs of freezin. Depending on what bowl I use I put a small ball in the water so that it wont freeze under the ball so they can have some water or I (still to buy ) a baby bowl that has a seperate channel for hot water for keeping the food warm, i`ll see if that makes a difference. I also put out tons of food because the eat like mad in the winter. Hope they settle to outside as I said mine love the natural sight, sounds, smells and temp. when I bring them in for a playtime they always sit at the door waiting to go back outside.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2011 8:41:05 GMT -5
They sell heated water bottles that would help.
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