Ferrets in the winter?

Question

I know a cage is best but everyone i know keeps there ferrets in a hutch. A hutch would be more convenient for me, i know i would have to keep them cool in the summer but do i need to take extra precautions for them in the winter?

Sounds liek a dumb question but i don't want them to get ill, thanks =D

Answer 1

To prepare for winter, ferrets often grow in a new winter coat. In particular, the fluffy, lighter-colored undercoat grows in much thicker, which may make your ferret appear puffier and paler in colour. Also, some of the darker summer guard hairs will be shed, which contributes to a colour change. Your ferret may also grow in a mask, or change the configuration of their existing mask. Overall, ferrets are cool-weather animals, and don’t handle heat well. If your ferrets are healthy and have a full winter coat, they will be quite happy living in what we would consider chilly indoor temperatures (such as 60 F or 15 C). In even colder temperatures, your ferret will be perfectly happy snuggling in plenty of fleecy sleep sacks, soft blankets, or fluffy towels.

Answer 2

It's not a dumb question.

Make sure they have plenty of bedding, firstly, so they can snuggle up together.

Then make sure the front of the hutch is protected from rain by something like a tarpaulin or plastic sheeting (but ensure there is plenty of air circulating!)

You can buy 'hutch covers' from scratch and newton from pets at home, or make your own, I did.

Check the water (as you would anyway) to make sure it's not frozen over.

Use your best judgement and if you're at all concerned, speak to your vet for advice. The one thing I would say, is that even if it's cold and horrible outside, they still need lots of interaction and company from you, so be careful that having them outside doesn't make you less likely to spend time with them.

Good luck.x

Answer 3

If you kept them in a hutch (not suggested from me at least) you would need to take them inside in the winter. They can get too cold. The thing about in the summer is if it gets over 80 degrees they are at risk to die from the heat. They cannot sweat, so they do not release heat.

Edit: I don't know where you live but I am talking about my winters here in New England. They get to be below 0.