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Post by katt on Mar 31, 2010 3:21:23 GMT -5
I am developing a serious love-hate relationship with Koda's cage. It is "collapsible," but a PAIN in the butt 2 person job to set up and take down. It is nice and big, giving him plenty of room (still haven't added the shelves yet!). It also has nice high sides so that no poop or food or litter falls out. BUT It is a metal frame set in a wooden base and there is a bit of a gap between the bars and the base. Which traps food, and everything else. Which then builds up, even when I clean regularly, and SMELLS!!!! So, I figure I can paint this cage up, and sell it and get a new cage. But I need some advice. I can get the Marshall's Folding Mansion for at least 20% off www.petco.com/product/104532/Marshall-Folding-Ferret-Mansion.aspx. What are the pros/cons of this cage? I WANT a FN142 cage. I am not sure where to find one in town though, and shipping to Alaska costs twice as much as the cage!!!! I am not sure where to find one in town, but I might be able to find one at Pet Zoo. I won't have time to really go scouting until after finals are over in about a month. Any advice on cages? The Marshal's Folding Mansion? What about other suggestions? The cage he is in now is about 3x4 feet, and 5 feet tall, though he doesn't have use of the height yet, just the base. So I want something of similar size, though a smaller base, but with some shelves and height is good.
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Post by katt on Mar 31, 2010 18:00:39 GMT -5
The only place in town that has a FN cage sells them for about $300. I don't have that much money. So plan right now is: clean, paint, and sell Koda's current cage for about the cost of the new cage, and buy the Marshall's Folding Mansion, then keep an eye on Craigslist until another FN cage pops up for a decent price. Buy that, and sell the Folding Mansion.
Can anyone give me some input on the Mansion?
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Post by Heather on Mar 31, 2010 22:35:20 GMT -5
I have 3 of them Here they're priced approx the same as the ferret nation. My complaints are the cage sits on a molded plastic board held in with metal pins. The plastic board has a large groove that the metal cage sits in, this is a groove that cannot be cleaned without tearing the cage apart. It collects food, litter and poop and smells if not cleaned regularly. The trays or levels are too narrow and the cage is so tall that a ferret can suffer severe injury if they fall from a top shelf. The doors are too small to allow ease of cleaning and I've found myself more than once getting muscle cramps trying to suspend hammies and sleeping cubes. To make it more serviceable I got a lady to make large hammies (20 x 20 inch) and (24 x 24 inch) to serve as soft floors that cover most of the cage leaving just enough room for the ferret to change floors. I use the stairs or ladders that come with the cage to let them climb between floors attaching the hooked end onto the horizontal bars of the cage. I don't use the plastic shelves. I did originally make hard shelves that had holes drilled into them to allow the ferrets to move comfortably between floors but because of the doors it made it much too difficult to clean. The door that opens to create a ramp is a ferret leg trap and I use a towel type cover to provide a safer ramp for the ferrets. You can use leggings or oversized socks with the feet cut out and attach them to the ladders to prevent injuries. Always make sure that the hooks that attach the door to the cage are well attached. I had a ferret impale himself on one of the hooks that had come undone. The fold out door provides the ferret with a bridge into the cage but its also great for tripping up the unwary. That being said you can certainly make it serviceable and there are a lot worse cages out there, it's just that the ferret nation is a much better cage. There are improvements that need to be made to that one too but at the moment it's one of the best on the market. ciao
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Post by katt on Apr 1, 2010 0:15:53 GMT -5
I have 3 of them Here they're priced approx the same as the ferret nation. My complaints are the cage sits on a molded plastic board held in with metal pins. The plastic board has a large groove that the metal cage sits in, this is a groove that cannot be cleaned without tearing the cage apart. It collects food, litter and poop and smells if not cleaned regularly. The trays or levels are too narrow and the cage is so tall that a ferret can suffer severe injury if they fall from a top shelf. The doors are too small to allow ease of cleaning and I've found myself more than once getting muscle cramps trying to suspend hammies and sleeping cubes. To make it more serviceable I got a lady to make large hammies (20 x 20 inch) and (24 x 24 inch) to serve as soft floors that cover most of the cage leaving just enough room for the ferret to change floors. I use the stairs or ladders that come with the cage to let them climb between floors attaching the hooked end onto the horizontal bars of the cage. I don't use the plastic shelves. I did originally make hard shelves that had holes drilled into them to allow the ferrets to move comfortably between floors but because of the doors it made it much too difficult to clean. The door that opens to create a ramp is a ferret leg trap and I use a towel type cover to provide a safer ramp for the ferrets. You can use leggings or oversized socks with the feet cut out and attach them to the ladders to prevent injuries. Always make sure that the hooks that attach the door to the cage are well attached. I had a ferret impale himself on one of the hooks that had come undone. The fold out door provides the ferret with a bridge into the cage but its also great for tripping up the unwary. That being said you can certainly make it serviceable and there are a lot worse cages out there, it's just that the ferret nation is a much better cage. There are improvements that need to be made to that one too but at the moment it's one of the best on the market. ciao Hmmm that is basically the issue I am having now with my current cage...
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Post by katt on Apr 1, 2010 3:17:27 GMT -5
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Post by katt on Apr 1, 2010 3:40:05 GMT -5
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Post by Kerit on Apr 1, 2010 8:21:58 GMT -5
Looks to me like the original plastic pan is still underneath the grate they built, so no problem there. But the screw in the lower left corner isn't in, so the side panel looks like it's sticking out a bit at the bottom. If they're missing a screw you should be able to replace it.
However, FNs are not what I would call "portable." If I ever have to move mine again, I'd rather pack stuff inside of it and tote it whole than break it down and reassemble. You might be better of disguising it as storage than trying to hide all the pieces away, unless you have lots of time and patience. Just take the doors off (that part's actually easy) and make it look like a cabinet!
It should come with one shelf, if they still have it -- it's probably the old design, though. Otherwise you can call Midwest and ask for replacements.
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Post by katt on Apr 1, 2010 14:54:21 GMT -5
Looks to me like the original plastic pan is still underneath the grate they built, so no problem there. But the screw in the lower left corner isn't in, so the side panel looks like it's sticking out a bit at the bottom. If they're missing a screw you should be able to replace it. However, FNs are not what I would call "portable." If I ever have to move mine again, I'd rather pack stuff inside of it and tote it whole than break it down and reassemble. You might be better of disguising it as storage than trying to hide all the pieces away, unless you have lots of time and patience. Just take the doors off (that part's actually easy) and make it look like a cabinet! It should come with one shelf, if they still have it -- it's probably the old design, though. Otherwise you can call Midwest and ask for replacements. Hmmm...good eye! And thanks for the storage shelf idea! That is fantastic! I am building my ig a new cage and was going to put him in it saying that I needed parts from the old cage to finish the new and had to keep him somewhere meanwhile lol I like your idea MUCH better! Aaaand...Good news! I found an FN142 for $200! The lady lives an hour away but works in town and said she can bring it this weekend! I can paint and sell Koda's current cage for about $100-200 and will not really be out much money at all! Minus the several bedding sets I am now going to have to buy... hehe I am so excited! No more struggling to keep meats out of corners! The one thing I do LOVE about my current cage though that is not a feature of the FN is a high siding on the base to keep littler and stuff IN the cage. What do you guys do to fix that? I could get some wood panels and attach them across the bottom edges maybe? Also, my current cage is low to the ground bc there is no storage shelf under it. When I leave the cage open Koda will go into the cage and use the litter box, as well as using the 2 outside of his cage. I will eventually get a ramp for him if it doesn't have one already, but do any of your ferrets take the time to actually climb up the ramp to go potty? Lastly, she said that she has her 2 FN142 cages hooked up by tunnels, but that the tunnels can be removed. How does that work? There aren't going to be holes in the side of the cage or anything are there? I have ever really seen one up close and personal, so sorry if any of my questions seem silly. Thanks guys!
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Post by katt on Apr 1, 2010 15:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by mjohn143 on Apr 1, 2010 17:36:44 GMT -5
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Post by mjohn143 on Apr 1, 2010 17:40:03 GMT -5
BTW I really like the second link bc the cost of the bedding goes to her and her husband rescuing ferrets. They started taking in "less adoptable" ferrets and she makes bedding to cover the medical expenses and food costs and all that. So, its kind of like donating to a charity and getting bedding for it.
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Post by katt on Apr 1, 2010 20:26:35 GMT -5
Thanks! I KIND OF know how to sew lol By hand. But I have absolutely NO patience for it. And if someone gets a sewing machine started for me I can run fabric through it hahaha But I have no idea how to start it or stop it.
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Post by katt on Apr 3, 2010 4:53:34 GMT -5
AH!!!! I KNEW it was too good to be true! The cage has holes cut in it from tunnels that they attached! I will probably still get it, but I am very disappointed. She is sending me a picture of the holes and how they sealed up tomorrow. Blah...I have a thing about things looking nice... I don't need a lot, but I like what I have to be nice. Soo...I will re-asses the cage tomorrow when I see the pics. I saw on a thread on here somewhere that someone had cut holes in the cage, and attached a PVC fulcrum of some sort that had a disk that could slip in and seal it off. Maybe I can do that with some black PVC and it will look ok... Can you order replacement Sides from the Ferret Nation company? I know you can get pins and ramps and shelves and other parts, but new sides would be nice...lol Also, how exactly do you close off the top level from the bottom? Does anyone have a picture perhaps? Thanks!
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Post by mjohn143 on Apr 3, 2010 9:15:05 GMT -5
Yea I have no patience at all for sewing by hand! You could always use the hole she has in in to make a tunnel going to a remote litter box or nesting den?
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Post by katt on Apr 3, 2010 11:09:49 GMT -5
Yea I have no patience at all for sewing by hand! You could always use the hole she has in in to make a tunnel going to a remote litter box or nesting den? It sounds like there are 2 holes actually. I'm hoping I can use that to talk down her price... I would rather not do a remote litter box - no room! haha But depending on where the holes are, I may run a tunnel from one hole to the other...I'm still waiting on those pictures.
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