DIY Outdoor Ferret Pen (Pic Overload)

[Jen]

Hi y'all. Sorry haven't been posting in a while. I've been lurking around. Home situation has changed so took away free-roaming from the boys... felt really bad, so built them an outdoor enclosure! HUGE thank you to forum member lorelei, because she answered my many questions for days in the planning stages.

I ended up using this plan for a poultry pen, but changed dimensions to 12 ft long x 6 ft wide x 3 ft tall: www.motherearthnews.com/Hands-On-How-To/Poultry-Pen.aspx

Thank goodness I work with a nice guy who did pretty much the entire pen except the floor. Total cost estimate: about $225. Got everything from Home Depot (they cut all the wood to size for me)

Here's pics:
(Day 1) - don't mind the headstones, we built it at our work before they carried it to my yard


(Day 2)



(Day 6)




(Day 8)





Last night was their first day and night in their new pen. The small cage has a couple of hammies and a big quilt on bottom. Temperature got down to 51 degrees F and they spent less than half the night actually in the blanket. They didn't want to come inside last night. Usually they'll crawl up my arms when I reach in for them, but Weasel just poked his head out and went back to sleep.

I'm still working on it, but this is what we have after about 6-7 days of work. I'll add a better nesting box and weather protection around the small cage soon. Texas weather is ridiculous... from low 50's to low 80's this week. *sigh* Hot days and cold nights currently.. Any input welcome and I'll answer any questions if interested in making something similar. I bet my boys love this compared to their indoor cage.

[Forum Administrator]

AMAZING! That is truely and awesome pen! Did you see the sticky about the insulated nestboxes? I bet it would be great to add to the pen.

Oh man, my doobears would be SO jealous if they saw this!



Only thing I can think to mention is that since they are going to be outside alot more, it really wouldn't be a bad idea to put them on heartworm prevention. You can use revolution (which also covers fleas, ticks, and earmites) or if you prefer something less "broad spectrum", your vet can get you a plain ivermectin solution (which JUST covers heartworm). Its getting cold, but HWD is pretty prevalant down south even when it gets cooler. Might not be a bad idea to put them on some heartworm preventative (if they aren't already), just in case. It only takes one HW to cause serious problems in a fert because their hearts are so small.

[Jen]

Thank you, Giuli. Good idea about heartworm prevention. I was planning on getting them some and also switching flea prevention methods, since mosquitos and fleas are bad out here (seasonally). I saw the insulated nestbox thread and thought it was awesome. I'll surely do something similar, cause I want them to keep warm and for the box to be sturdy.

[Forum Administrator]

Probably the best broad-spectrum flea/tick/heartworm preventative for ferrets is Revolution. My vet has me split a kitten/puppy size between my two ferrets, though I have heard of vets recommending splitting the adult cat sized one. You'll have to ask your vet what he/she recommends.

You are so lucky, I wish the weather here in MO allowed for my ferts to be outside, but its just so unpredictable. Plus I live in an apartment so I can't build an outdoor enclosure. I guess I could move their cage to the balcony, but there are many birds of prey around here so that would make me nervous (even if they were in a cage).

[ferretdroogies]

That's awesome! I wish we had a backyard to do this I live in Texas, too. We see quite a bit of heartworm problems come in to the clinics here. I hate using anything unnatural if I can help it, but sometimes my paranoia gets the better of me I use diluted ivermectin (in propylene glycol). No problems so far. I can make it myself at work It's cheaper, but only does heartworms like Giuli said. IMO, heartworms are the thing to worry about the most in Texas. I'm not sure about the area you live, but ticks aren't very common out here in San Antonio, in the city at least. If they are in your area, I would go with the Revolution.

*Goes off and dreams about an outdoor enclosure*

[Jen]

Thanks y'all for the info I'll ask the ferret rescue mom what she thinks. She'll tell me what to ask the vet for since she knows more about ferrets than local vets here. Revolution sounds good since it helps against fleas and heartworm. The worst we have here are fleas and mosquitos. I haven't seen ticks in years.

Another problem we have here is fireants. There weren't any around the pen to begin with, but when the boys start leaving food on the ground, the ants will come. I hope to save and plan for a couple of weeks to build a hutch (which would have a nesting box/weather protection and feeding area).

I'm also getting Weasel microchipped next week, since he'll mostly be outside now. Slinky has his since he is a rescue ferret.

From what other ferrents say, we have mild winters in TX. Ferrets can be outside in 30-40's, as long as they have a good nesting box full of fleece. They can be outside in low 80's if they have lots of shade, airflow and a small pool for swimming/cooling off. "Chin-chillers" will also be good for summer, but when gets over low/mid 80's, I'll need to bring them inside.

Giuli, I bet you could turn your entire balcony into a ferret enclosure, but it would be completely closed off with welded wire/mesh.. landlords probably wouldn't like that. Do you still take the boys on walks? I bet they love that

Hiya ferretdroogies Nice to meet another "local" (5-6 hours away, lol) ferrent How many ferrets are in your avatar? I counted 2(?)

[Forum Administrator]

I try to take the boys out every morning for a 30 minute walk on their tandem coupler leash/harness set. Usually I'm pretty good about doing this, even when I'm tired. But sometimes (like a few weeks ago) it will rain for weeks or be fridged cold or scoarching hot and then they can't go out. I try to take them out anyway but they run up my pant leg saying "momma, I wanna go back!" Poor doos.

[weloveourweasels]

Looks aweome I would love to have one of those for my own!

Only one thing I would have done differently and that is stained the wood. It's going to rot out there. For the colder months when the water freezes you can get a heated water bottle.

[ferretdroogies]

Hi Jen! There are 3 ferrets (Reks the sable, Pandora the DEW, and Sari the chocolate blaze) We need to convince AFA to bring a show out here in Texas

Your weather sounds great out there. We're lucky to even have much of a winter We take our ferrets out from time to time during the summer when it's not to hot/humid (which is almost never ). When it starts cooling off a bit during fall/winter, we take them out much more (as long as it's not raining ) I don't know if it's like this where you are, but Texas is pretty much known for the weather changing every 5 minutes

I have an idea for the fireants if they become a problem. Is there any way you could make a moat (filled with water of course) type thing around the outside of the enclosure? This way the ants drown trying to get in. Just a thought

We should meet up one day

[ccretarolo]

I'm definitely going to save up to build a pen like that! The climate out here in OR is pretty temperate so I could allow them to be outside for most of the year (the summer months get too hot for ANYTHING to be outside)... Maybe I would just let them play outside during the day and bring them inside at night... That would also eliminate the food issue since I feed my guys early in the morning and right before I go to bed.

I wanted to build something like that when I first moved back in with my dad but the cost was too much.

[Forum Administrator]

Something I just thought of: be aware that feeding in the pen WILL attract other predators and scavengers. Something to think about. I wouldn't recommend feeding in the pen unless you are VERY sure that the pen can withstand a clever predator trying to get in. I would hate to imagine the tragedy that would occur should a predator like a fox or a coyote break into the pen where the ferrets are at.

[Jen]

Good point, Jessica. The wood is pre-treated and should last a year without treatment. I'll add that clear weatherproof paint within the next few months.

Giuli, local predators/scavengers include dogs, cats and possums. I've seen the occasional bunny, and also a large raccoon about 15 miles away from home.

The 1/2" x 1/2" spaced (welded wire) hardware cloth is better than 1" x 1" (for keeping other animals paws out). Here's what I used for walls, ceiling and floor border: www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgg/R-100096311/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 Don't use actual chicken wire because its too flexible and ferrets can chew through.

The boys have started tunneling, so I'll probably get this and push 18" into the ground all the way around outside of pen: www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgg/R-100096311/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

[nibblesandspazz]

awesome pen! I've been considering making one for my fuzzies, not as every day use but so they could be outside a few hours a day. My littlest girl is to small to be on a leash so she never gets to go out. Is there anyway you could post a tutorial with step by step instructions?

[Jen]

nibblez, here is the plan I followed: www.motherearthnews.com/Hands-On-How-To/Poultry-Pen.aspx

Differences: I made mine 12 ft x 6 ft instead of 8' x 4'. Mine is 3' tall and the door is built on a side instead of on top. Instead of chicken wire, I used welded wire hardware cloth (1/2" x 1/2", but 1" x 1" would also work). I also completely covered the top with wire. Bought a couple of 6 or 8' long pieces of tin roofing sheets to cover a corner of the pen. For the bottom, I stapled 1 ft wide of the hardware cloth inside the border completely around the pen and covered with bricks and heavy wood so they can't slip out.

Try to have measurements of the wood you need when you buy, hopefully you can have them cut it all for you. I used:

(4x) 12 ft long 2-by-4s
(10x) 6 ft long " "
(6x) 3 ft long " "
(2x) 2 ft long " "

It took 4 guys to move it, so I'd recommend building it where you want it. We pretty much followed the link's directions (but on a bigger scale). A big help was having two people (or a big C-clamp) hold the pieces in places while another person drills and screws the wood frame together.

Hope this helps some. The link is really good; just adjust it for your needs Let me know if you have any questions.

[lorelei0922]

Nov 7, 2009 0:18:33 GMT -5 ccretarolo said:

I'm definitely going to save up to build a pen like that! The climate out here in OR is pretty temperate so I could allow them to be outside for most of the year (the summer months get too hot for ANYTHING to be outside)... Maybe I would just let them play outside during the day and bring them inside at night... That would also eliminate the food issue since I feed my guys early in the morning and right before I go to bed.

I wanted to build something like that when I first moved back in with my dad but the cost was too much.

Having grown up in the PNW and now living in england where we keep our ferrets outdoors all year i can assure you that your weather all year is totally suitable for ferrets! and a feeding den works a treat to contain foods, and keep the flies at bay...