Hammock preferences and patterns

[Tina Tomastik]

Does any one have a ferret that prefers not to use a hammock?  So far Felix only has the hammock that came with his Super pet cage.  It isn't a very nice one, no lining and I wonder if I have it hung to tautly.  We have only seen him in it a few times and not sleeping in it.  He sleeps curled up on the floor of the cage snuggled down in his bedding with all bedding pushed out from under him.  I would think he'd like to have more padding under him while sleeping.  Does anyone have a hammock pattern they would like to share with me?  In the mean time should I hang the hammock looser, any other ideas?

[CAM]

OK this is an easy one. I don't want to hear any wisecracks about men
sewing either... but if it wasn't for ferrets and an inspirational boy
named Alex I would never imagine me behind the sewing machine. Here
goes 'nothing'... head out to your favorite fabric store (we go to
JoAnn's when they have a sale) and pick up several types of fleece.
You will need at least 15" by 15" for the main piece. Remember that is
minimal... go bigger. I buy it by the yard and have material to make
more stuff. You will also need some small pieces to make holders for
the clips. You can use either those smaller clips that latch really
tight or heck - shower curtain clips work great. You can order plain
shower curtain clips on eBay. OK on to the design. Once you have the
fleece cut to size you will need 4 holders, one at each corner. I take
material and make a tube out of it say perhaps one inch wide doubled
over and six inches long (these sizes are off the top of my head -
don't hold me to it lol). Sew the tubes shut on one long side and fold
inside out so the sewing is on the inside. OK - now this is the part
my wife helps with... she pins the corners on to the main piece then
folds the sides over so that they are covering the corners and she
pins all that stuff together to hold it until I can sew it. When
sewing something this thick REMEMBER SEVERAL THINGS - you will need a
THICK needle, I think I use a 100 or 110... I wouldn't have to guess
so much if I wasn't @ work now lol. Sew the sides and handles all the
way around the edges. Remember - when you are sewing through the
handles you are going through LOTS of layers of material. BE CAREFUL.
I am not responsible for anyone gettnig a broken needle in the eye.
Really.. I am not responsible. Tada! You have a hammock. All you need
are those shower curtain hangers. No guarantees that the ferret will
like this though lol... they are a weird bunch I tell ya.

Dave

[Diane Kromke]

I find that mine prefer to sleep all over, not just in hammocks or sleep sacks or in blankets at the bottom of the cage. They like variety!

 

I make my hammocks very similar to the description in the response you got from CAM. I make mine double or triple thick with an opening in the top that they can climb into and snuggle in, and use carabiner clips to hold it up. The way I have my cages set up, the hammock is fairly loose, and hangs just a few inches from the bottom of the cage. I put my fist in it and push down to make sure it doesn’t hit the floor with the weight of the ferret in it.

 

If you send me your snail mail address, I can send you a copy of my paper “pattern” and my directions.

 

I like to use cotton sheeting for the bottom outside layer for stability with flannel or a thinner fleece as the inside liner, and a thicker fleece for the top layer that covers the ferret while they sleep inside it. Or sometimes they just lay in it and hang their heads over the edge and try to make me think they are dead.

 

 

Diane Kromke

Di...@FerretsUnlimited.org