Amy, we made the transition to not having a cage in the ferrets room
gradually.  Since we have 2 groups, of 2 ferrets each, once we had the
room, we alternated who was out, each pair returning to their own cage.
Then one of the cages broke, sending bubble tubing crashing to the floor
and terrifying my largest ferret.  We then alternated who was in the
remaining cage, but it was the smaller one and didn't give the 2 big boys
any room to play.
 
We divided the room in half with a 5/8 inch laminate covered shelving
board, 24 inches high and 8 feet long.  The finished edge is down, the raw
top edge is capped with a plastic cover for shower rods.
 
Once we were comfortable with having them out all the time, had made nest
boxes, etc., we removed the cage completly.  They'd been staying out over
night, that had been part of the program early on, and when there was only
1 cage left, only 1 pair of course could occupy it at a time.  Petco, by
the way, gave a full refund for the cage with broken tubes.
 
Some of our ferrets are climbers and jumpers, so they were never able to
get into their cage(s) from the floor.  The cages had to be up on tables
out of reach or they'd have been used as launch pads to other objects.
 
Spacing is important.  Short objects can be used to climb to tall objects,
from whence a dedicated escape artist may attempt to launch themselves over
the barricaid.
 
Be sure to let us know what you come up with regarding your ferrets new
room.
 
Georgia - the left coast one...
[Posted in FML issue 2997]