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Post by darlene on Feb 25, 2011 3:28:34 GMT -5
I copied the following from the FML,I thought her suggestion was worth posting here for people to see who don't get the FML. The lady who made the posting is named Cynthia
"To All our fuzzy-lovin' friends, As we know, Ferret Nation cages are well built, but as with all things, there can be hidden dangers. This is a view looking up from the bottom area to the top area where the ladder has been put up so that the ferret cage is essentially 2 cages. When the tray is still in normal position, it looks like this. However, the trouble started because one of our little buddies got a foot stuck on the edge of the ladder. This resulted in a sad fuzzy with a broken leg. The best way to protect your kids is to take the tray out and turn it around so the cut out for the stairs is in the front of the cage, away from the stair area. Hopefully this will help everyone keep their kids safe, Then there won't be another sad little guy with a broken foot."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 6:30:41 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure MidWest Homes modified the Ferret Nation several months ago and the new shelves don't have that bar and space between them? Anyone else know for sure? There were a ton of complaints and ferret deaths taken up to MidWest that I read about the old model.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 9:05:34 GMT -5
I believe the OP is talking about the ramp when it is swung up and locked in place, to block off two levels. I can see the potential for toes or feet getting stuck then. A minimal risk, but still possible.
I don't think there were actually that many injuries or deaths from any version of the FN (at least no more than from any other variety of cage), but they got repeated a lot on forums and mailing lists.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 9:12:33 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this. I think every accident that has happened to someone else has the potential to happen to our loved ones. I never liked the design of the ramps; they're too steep and the bars are really spaced perfectly for a foot to get stuck. I removed all the ramps from my FN a while ago and the boys seem to be much happier (and safer) with them gone. They get to work their climbing muscles. Brady even piles up a blanket one the bottom shelf to jump onto, less impact?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 9:16:44 GMT -5
Good for people to be aware of. Thanks for posting
Jacksmomma- that's too funny!
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Post by Sherry on Feb 25, 2011 10:34:10 GMT -5
The problem she's referring to is when you use it for two entirely separate cages, as I do with one of them. The way the ramp swings up and locks, there is a gap between the wire floor frame, and the ramp, since the ramps are designed to have a slight bend in them. I just fasten the feeding den on top of it to cover it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 12:13:50 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 13:13:57 GMT -5
Hahaha nice way to advertise But very true.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 25, 2011 14:00:01 GMT -5
Not for mine! Willow very deliberately works at destroying any ramp cover I've put on there
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Post by joan on Feb 25, 2011 15:00:06 GMT -5
I've read about too many safety problems with the FN cages to ever consider getting one, plus I don't like the design. The Quality Cages are far and away the best ones I've found. but the shipping is horrendous on them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 16:15:57 GMT -5
I know quite a few breeders who prefer Quality Cages above all others. Most breeders have quite a few ferrets, so the little smaller doors with lots of access ports are VERY conventient when cleaning/feeding, etc. The two things I don't like about quality cages include: * the wire floors - my brats will move floor covering aside to poop through wires (It's most likely Tonto ) If I lock the ramp up on the FN's, I have to put cardboard over the ramp hole if I want to catch all the poop .....those kids think the floor pan cut-outs are small potty boxes when the ramps are locked up. ;D * I have trouble with those spring-loaded doors (arthritis) . I'd have to remove the latches and use a lot of clips on the doors. I can't pull the springs tight enough. That's how Kachina got her rump scar - the girls squeezed through one of those spring-loaded doors - Kachina got stuck and got a scatch on her rump. It wasn't even a true cut. But she licked it to death and made it much worse than it was to begin with. I LOVE the new shelf pans on the FN cages. So much better than th eold style. the only ramps I have in the cage are between floors. My kids have never had any problems with the ramps. I tried ramp covers, but the brats would not set foot on them....the grew wings instead, which looked a lot more dangerous than the ramps. I sometimes look at the other cage styles and want one just for a change in pace for the brats. All cages have pros and cons. -jennifer
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 16:17:19 GMT -5
I took a look at the quality cages. Those doors are small! That is what I love about my FN - large doors.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 17:53:13 GMT -5
The QCs are just as dangerous if not more than the FN cages. The QC still has grates ramps for little ones to get their paws stuck in, and the floors (if not covered properly) have much smaller grates but still big enough for a foot, whereas for the bottom shelf grates on FNs, they are large so a foot may slip through, but not get stuck.
I prefer FN, but each to their own.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 18:33:46 GMT -5
I have had all kinds of cages over the years and taking everything into consideration- I would buy FN only! I hate the new Pan shelves tho- they are heavy & easy for a ferret to push up & out of place & fall down. I have seen this so much i removed the shelf in the troublemaker's cage. The replacement design surprised me as i was led(by Midwest reps) to believe it was going to be a snap on cover for the orig style which would have been less expensive for folks. oh well thats my 2 cents.
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Post by joan on Feb 26, 2011 15:07:22 GMT -5
I cover the floors in all my cages with 12" square tiles, and use indoor/outdoor carpeting on the ramps. I've never had any incidents of ferrets catching a toe or foot in that setip in more than 12 years, The only time I ever had one get a foot caught was inbetween the pan and the side of the cage in a Martin cage.
Jackie, those large doors on the FN are why I'd never buy one, even if they had a better shelving/ramp design...there's no way I could ever keep kits in them. Visualize 3-4 kits rushing the door when you open it, especially when they reach the age where they think they can fly. <G> The two big doors on the Quality cages are more than large enough to fit a large high backed litter pan through it with no difficulty...and I don't want the door to be any larger than that.
Jennifer, I have arthritis in my hands, too, and I've never had any trouble with the Quality Cage latches. I do have trouble with the Martin latches if my fingers are more swollen and painful than usual, which is why I'm phasing them out...in addition to wanting to get rid of all the cages I have with PVC coating.
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