ideas

[sarasaphantasia]

this place in my room is the only space i have to  have a cage. i would love to make some kind of pen or soemthing for my bunny but i have ferrets who have to share the same space as you can see. so have any ideas?

[jerseygirl]

I don’t know….I’m thinking a pen might be more trouble than it’s worth in that space. So currently she has run around space in your room? Honestly, adding a pen will limit her run around space.

Have you looked into cube condos? With these you can use vertical space well by building them tall. You can use them for ferrets too. Though I’m not sure how they’d work there so you can still get to your drawers etc. Sorry, I’m not being very helpful! Do you have any built ins in your room? Some people have set up their rabbits in the lower half of built in closet with their clothes still hanging above.

[Beka27]

This space is too small for the number of animals you have in there, and as I mentioned in your other thread, ferrets and rabbits should not be housed together in the same room. Ferrets in particular need vertical height in their housing. Where else can you create a space for one or the other? Is there a dry basement space, a family room?

[Otti]

You could make two condo-type cages… One with more vertical space for your ferret and one with multiple levels for your rabbits. You could put them in an L shape. One cage against the wall at the back of your picture and one cage against that white wooden piece of furniture (not sure what it is).

[sarasaphantasia]

Becka they dont stay in that space forever. they only sleep theree. they have their playtimes trade off often.

[Karla]

How about something like this for your ferrets? And then the bunnies can have the floor? Lots of horizontal space makes it possible for the bunnies to do binkies and bunny 500’s which they love. Then, when you want the ferrets out (don’t know if bunnies and ferrets are out a various times or at the same time?) and you don’t want the bunnies out, you just put the bunnies in their cage and cover it up.

 Could that be a solution?

[sarasaphantasia]

i had one of these cages once it fell apart pretty fast actually i wasted alot of money on it too … so you want me to leave the bunny out… with the ferrets in this kinda cage… then when its the ferrets turn but the bunny in the ferret cage until the ferrets are done? i liked this cage but it didnt last long and it was super expensive i dont have that kind of money anymore. think a cube solution would work in some way? i woudl have to use like a fine mesh though my ferrets can fit through the smallest cube thing…..doesnt seem to be a way to win anymore QQ….

[mocha200]

what about doing a cube thing for your rabbit and your ferrets? like you could make an L type thing like Otti said, and then have the bottom L part for the rabbit and the top L for the ferrets, and on the ferrets part, put some mesh around the sides. and thy could both have two levels even. do you know what i mean?

[Sarita]

So are you looking for the same cage for the ferret and the rabbit? One in while the other one out? I would not do that – each should have their own cage or area. I have no idea what to tell you though about a ferret cage…

[Otti]

Yeah I like mocha’s idea of one L shaped cube cage with four levels. The bottom two for the rabbit and the top two for the ferrets…

[sarasaphantasia]

hmm i could try some cube invention this weekend see how it works out. gotta plan some stuff. we have a ton of those cube things because we have alot of shelving and so on. i never said i would keep the bunny in the ferret cage someone mentioned it to me. L shape with 4 levels hmmm….hey what about i make a 2 story for the ferrets right and it sits off the ground one level and the bunny pen is under it… win win yes?

[jerseygirl]

Good thinking Otti and MirBear! An L shape would use the space well. Also with one species on the top and one on the bottom, they won’t come face to face thru the grids.   Since you have grids, you can play around with them to get it right. Adding wire mesh might be an idea on both habitats too, so ferrets can’t poke noses in when they have their out of cage time. 

 

hey what about i make a 2 story for the ferrets right and it sits off the ground one level and the bunny pen is under it… win win yes?

Are you thinking cube condo gorund level for the rabbit? Or having ferret condo raised so you can have pen under it? I’m not sure how sturdy a condo would be raised. You’d need a cube ground floor level. Does that make sense. I’m going to go hunt for pictures.

[sarasaphantasia]

i was gunna outline the bottom of it with wood so it would be sturdy. and then have it stand on legs maybe……or possibly just make it as large as the bunny pen will be so it will be supported that way. i will draw up some plans later this week. so for flooring i saw someone say they use those foam puzzle piece floor tiles… will those work? nice and soft ^^

[jerseygirl]

I see. Building the ferret condo up on a framework or table would work.

You can use foam mats but a lot of rabbits like hard cool surfaces anyway. If your rabbits a chewer then I’d stay away from foam. You can use a lot of things, coroplast, vinyl, cotton mats, even cardboard.

I’m trying to load pic of part of a condo that shows the L shape or right angled condo but having trouble. Sorry!

[sarasaphantasia]

image? i dont see one

[sarasaphantasia]

i was thinking the foam more for the ferrets now i think about it. bunny gets weird about stuff like that. i could try cardbard but i dont see that lasting long.

[jerseygirl]

I edited my post. Having trouble. Try this link you can see front area of this condo pen has right angle part. http://www.mnhouserabbit.org/assets/images/Bun-Guinea%20Condo.jpg

[sarasaphantasia]

oh i see. that is so kool wish i had space for something like that. and one day i will but for now no luck.

[sarasaphantasia]

i dont see why ferrets need multi levels all they do is sleep….and then they play for like 3 hours… then more sleep. i used to have a multi level cage for them (that exact picture) and thats all they did sleep and poop lots of poop. in fact they didnt like the cage very much they didnt like the ramps or the bars. they seem to like this one they are in now they sleep more comfortably and play more happily( bars made them grumpy and snappy towards each other). coraline would enjoy more space though i can see that. but the ferrets dont care really so long as they can sleep lol.

[Kiley Rose]

I was told by a woman who runs a ferret rescue that rabbits are a ferret’s natural prey. I don’t think you could do cube condos, there would be a lot of work to make sure they couldn’t get to eachother…accidents just happen so fast.

edit. You could also look on Craigslist for different inexpensive mulit level cages that don’t seem like they would take up too much room. I see them all the time under the pet section. Just a thought?

[Beka27]

Don’t do a cube condo for ferrets. It’s not going to be sturdy enough. You need something much stronger for them. Cubes work for rabbits because rabbits aren’t typically escape artists like ferrets are.

[sarasaphantasia]

then why dont you suggest something useful for me to use that will work.

[Sarita]

Yeah, I’m not sure why you need another cage for the ferret other than the one he has if he just sleeps and gets plenty of out time. However, I don’t know a dang thing about ferrets to even begin to advise you on that.

I would consider the cube thing for Coralie though if you like building things. Maybe you can just put the ferret’s cage on top of that if it’s sturdy enough.

[sarasaphantasia]

maybe i will try that. instead of making them their own cube thing.

[Beka27]

We are trying to help. I don’t have ferrets b/c I’m aware of the risk they pose to my rabbits, therefore I have very little knowledge about them and their specific housing requirements. But common sense would dictate that a homemade cage made out of thin plastic ties will not work to keep a ferret in a cage (or out of a rabbit’s cage) if they are very determined to get past the barrier. Every approved ferret habitat I’ve ever seen has been like the one posted previously; constructed from strong, single sheet, metal panels, but you say that these have not worked for you in the past.

I agree with Sarita that a cube condo is a great possibility for your rabbit, I am just concerned that it’s not going to be enough to protect her.

[sarasaphantasia]

hmm maybe the smaller mesh shelving i mentioned in my other post would be an option then i will try to get a picture of it. i know they cant fit through it and it would keep them away from her…..and i think it would be a bit sturdier since the panels would be closer together and a finer mesh. let me find some pictures to show you what im talking about first.

[Beka27]

Are you referring to the NIC-type grids that have mesh instead of metal bars? I’ve seen that kind before at Bed Bath & Beyond.

[sarasaphantasia]

i suppose thats what i mean. let me find a picture or take one if we still have one left.

[jerseygirl]

Are they similar to the type in this hay rack?

  They would be a good option. 

I think Beka was referring to the plastic zip ties that hold the grid panels together being a concern before. I don’t know much about ferrets either or that they were so wiley about escaping.  Anyway, if you’re not looking to do condo for ferret but rather for the bunny, then there’s not the worry. You could use wire to secure the panels instead of zip ties for added safety, but I gather you supervise the ferret(s) when they’re out anyway.  

[Beka27]

Wire ties instead of plastic zipties is a good idea. I hadn’t thought of that.

[sarasaphantasia]

perhaps. and i supervise all exercise either ferret or bunny. neither can be trusted by themselves so i found…..

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