Hi everyone, Fi-Fi has advised against supplying the following information,
on the basis that is against the interests of ferrets in general! I have
ignored her, so for Linda, and any other interested feret folks, here is
my recipe for ferret proofing a yard or run.
1) ferrets can dig an amazing distance so ideally you need a concrete
floor or paved area, you can spread dirt for playing on top of course.
alternatively a wire mesh floor will work, it must be made of the half inch
welded, galvanized mesh, and in one case I have seen a large detirmined male
chew through this. In my case Fi-Fi has a run along the side of the house
she lives in .
       I          I
 side  I          I 6
 wall  I*________*I foot
 of    I          I high
house  I   3'     I fence        The ends of the run are sheets of
       I          I              fibro-cement fastened to timber staves
       I  by      I              driven into the ground on the outside
       I  20      I              of the run.  The ends are about 3 feet
       I  yards   I              high
       I          I              The entire floor area is concreted right
       I__________I              up to and over the edges and corners.
                                 the run has an adapted dog kennel in it as
                                 a home and lots of bits of drainpipe, wood
                                 old boots and other play things.
 
 
My back yard is reasonably ferret proof but I do keep an eye on her as
half an hour of concerted digging would see her escape. I suspect that
my yard would be unusual in America, but to give you an idea it has a
6 foot (god its a drag converting everything from metric!) high fence
of fibro-cement sheeting buried about 18 inches in the ground, basically
I went around and any holes gaps etc were blocked with timber, cement etc.
 
 
           ______________________________________________
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I              BACK YARD                       I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I                                              I
          I---------------------------------------       I
          I            I                         I       I
          I  GARAGE    I    BACK PART OF HOUSE   I       I
          I            I                         I       I
                       I                         I-------I
                                                 I FI-FIsI
                          I  RUN  I
                                                 I Run   I
                                                 I       I
 
 
 
     The house is built on a concrete slab so there was no problem
     with access under the house.
     O.K. hope that helps some Linda, the main thing is whenever
     you think you have ferret proofed a yard or run is to spend lots
     of time watching them trying to find a way out, and if they do
     then blocking that particular route.
 
     Bye for now from Rick, Michelle and Fi-Fi Houdini!
[Posted in FML issue 1031]