Michael Cook - You had asked about cage construction: One of the best ways
I've found to build a cage without wood and without a wire bottom is to use
sheet metal shelves (the ones that are usually green or grey and held
together with nuts and bolts).  I picked up a set at a garage sale that used
shelves 3' long and 1.5' wide.  The support columns (which are sheet metal
angles) are 3' long.  I used one shelf as a bottom and cut a piece of scrap
linoleum to use as a floor.  The linoleum is easier to clean and not as cold
as the metal.  Besides, the shelf I used had punched holes in it.  The sides
and top are 0.5" hardware cloth as is the second floor.  I've seen cages
with chicken wire as well, and they would work fine, but would probably not
be sturdy enough to use as a second floor.
 
Note that in my cage the second floor is completely covered with a scrap of
carpeting so my ferrets never walk on wire.  I attached the pieces of
hardware cloth to the frame with wire and attached the top and floor to the
sides using the wire from the hardware cloth.  For a ramp between floors, I
have a piece of 4" drainage tubing (the black corrugated kind you find at
hardware stores).  It is secured to the second floor with a couple of
coathanger wire loops.
 
I've never had any significant problems with my ferrets trying to pull up
the carpet or linoleum as it fits so well they have a hard time pulling it
up.  The quit trying after a week.
 
I had used doors make of hardware cloth reinforced with coathanger wire, but
they didn't survive the wear and tear of opening and closing, so I replaced
them with cake cooling racks (upon advice found here on the FML!) and use
springs from the hardware store along with coathanger wire fashioned hooks
for latches.  The doors work great and the cage is just about perfect.  I do
plant to replace the 2nd floor with a wood or metal panel covered with
linoleum someday so I can have more levels and denim bridges, once I've
figured out a good way to secure them.
 
Inside, I have homemade hammocks and tubes for them, but what they use the
most is a cardboard box.  I sealed up a box about 1' x 0.5' x 1.25', cut a
hole on one side towards the end about 3.5" in diameter, put in a couple of
towels, and the ferts sleep it in all the time when in their cage.  Like all
other towels, I change these about every 3-4 days.  They use to sleep in a
hammock/tube made out of the leg from some jeans, but now only play in it
and sleep constantly in the box.
 
By the way, I cover the linoleum main floor with rags (old towels).  With
out this, I wouldn't get an almost 100% hit rate in the litter box on that
floor.
[Posted in FML issue 1875]