Ferret Nation Shelf fix

[mustelidmusk]

Since people seem to have lot of trouble with the Nation shelves, I posted some text on the FML (se below), and I'm trying to post pictures of the fix I came up with. If the pics don't make it here, I'll get somebody else to post them to this thread within the next couple of days.

-jennifer

Here's my text from the FML:
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I got my Ferret Nation cages (two, 3-story cages) when they still had the old-style shelves (the old shelves have the two parallel bars at the front of the shelf that are very close together.

I did two thngs....
1. I found a "fix" for the old style shelves as follows: I went to the hardware store and purchased thin metal rods that are just wide enough (perfect fit) to slide between the parallel bars at the front of the shelf. You need to cut a short length to accomodate the ramp. (this patches the space between the two hooks on either side of the ramp. This fixes the issue with the double bars. The plastic piece can still shift forward and backward within the shelf frame. So. I used two more lengths of the rod across the entire lwidth of the shelf. One is placed just behined the shelf frame's set of parallel bars at the front of the shelf. It must be place uer the v-shaped bars that keep the plastic piece in place. The other is plaed at the BACK of the shelf under the corner bars. Any bars that tend to fall out are seured with tie-wraps (AKA zip ties) A note about the rods/bars - get either brass or aluminum since the steel ones will rust from wet little weasel parts.
2. I contacted Midwest Support and wrote a VERY NICE complimentary email (telling them how wonderful all their products are and how responsive they have always been, etc. and I told them about the product. They had me photograph my cages (6 units built into one huge cage - it's GREAT) and email back to them - they sent me all new-style replecement shelves for free. I still use a single bar at the back of the new style shelves to prevent the plastic from shifting to create a gap at the front of the shelf. That was years ago, so I'm not sure they'll still replace the older shelves anyore. But you can always try.

I've attachd pics to this email, but I don't think there's a way to put these on the FML....I will be posting these to the Holistic Ferret Forum in the section about cages. You can access the site and pictires without being a member. Please spred the word on this and PLEASE copy the pictures and post them around on the web for help prevent other accidents.

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[mustelidmusk]

Hey!! The pics are showing up - Cool! Here's a close-up (I hope)

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[zoologist]

i dont understand what the problem is with the shelves? can you post pictures of 'old' shelves and 'new' shelves? i think i have the old ones...

[mustelidmusk]

The problem with the ferret nation cage shelves is that some ferrets have gotten their toes/legs caught in the gaps at the front og the shelves. The gaps are created by the either the wire shelf framing and /or the wire shelf frame and the plastic sheet that makes up the shelf platform.

The original shelves are shown in the pictures attached to the previous posts. If you look at the pictures, You'll see two parallel black bars at the front of the shelf. The gap between these 2 bars is filled with a silver-colored rod as part of the "fix". Ferret feet can get caught between these bars, so I filled the gap between the two bars with an aluminum rod. In the newer shelves, that second black bar that runs parallel to the front egde of the shelf does not exist. The plastic sheet can still slide around inside the wire bar frame. I have heard that some ferts can still get their feet caught between the plastic sheet and the wire bar frame. To prevent this, I put a wire bar across the back of the shelf inside the wire bar frame. This keeps the plastic sheet pushed forward in the shelf, and it prevents the plastic sheet from sliding around inside the wire bar frame. As such, the gap where toes can potentially get caught remains closed up.

-jennifer