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Post by Forum Administrator on May 6, 2008 18:12:56 GMT -5
A great way to provide enrichment for your ferret(s) is to periodically change the way you arrange your ferret's cage. You can move shelves around, switch the position of hammocks, add new items and toys, replace any ramps with tunnels (or vice versa) or even block off access to a certain part of the cage for a short period of time. Changing the living environment of your ferret provides a stimulating change of pace. Why not give it a shot? Your ferts will thank you.  |
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Post by jennifer5799 on May 7, 2008 0:18:54 GMT -5
Wow - I never thought about that! I always put everything back the way it was when I cleaned out the cage. Great idea! Thanks Giuli!
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Post by jojodancer on May 7, 2008 7:19:51 GMT -5
When we had four ferrets, we cleaned the cage every 2 weeks (on spa day) and usually changed some things around:
* change out a cube for a hammock
* remove all ramps and only use hammocks
* use different toys
* hang things at different heights (using more or less shower hooks)
* use things with different fabrics (swap fleece for knit)
We don't change the location of the food, water, or litter boxes. The ferts are always excited to see their new cage and the layout and they inspect every corner!
Now that we have 6, I think we need to change every 7-10 days. However, seeing that one is 8.5 years old and blind (and I think deaf), we won't change alot of things around. But we will put in different fabrics and cubes and types of hammocks. He has just found the corner "cube" on the second level, so we'll have to put something similar there for him next time we swap out.
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Post by jojodancer on May 7, 2008 7:21:30 GMT -5
Oh, and we'd sometimes move a shelf from one side to the other. (We won't do that now, seeing that it may be dangerous and harmful to Mr. Lynx.)
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 7, 2008 16:50:07 GMT -5
Yeah, thats a good thing to note, jojodancer, that older ferrets might not benefit from this type of enrichment activity.
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Post by buzzonesbirdie on May 7, 2008 22:46:13 GMT -5
I also do not change my cage around anymore. Once we found out that Fatty was blind we stop changing the cage around becuase we have some dark boxes in their and he would fall through the holes in them. Poor guy. But for those without blind ferrets i think it is a good idea.
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Post by kuuipo61606 on May 22, 2008 20:09:11 GMT -5
o yea. i do this every week, when i wash the bedding, it's like getting a new cage to them, they don't stop sniffing and walking around it's so cute to watch cuz they'll keep standing up on their back legs to see whats up on the "new" shelves...it's adorable. then they all collapse and snooze...  |
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