HUTCHES AND NESTS. 39 



If clay is handy, fill in four inclies deep; if 

 not, sliayings or straw will do. Make a nest box. 

 You can keep them in fine thrift in such a hutch 

 and there is no danger of them getting out. 



This plan is followed by a party who raises 

 several dozen each year. A ferret should not be 

 kept in a dark, dirty barrel or box, but should be 

 kept in a light, clean, airy shed. My pens are 

 about five feet long and four feet back from the 

 front. I generally put a shed roof on about six 

 feet high at the front and five and a half at the 

 back. The building can be made as long as one 

 desires. This building should be cemented and 

 about one foot of dirt put on top of the cement. 

 About two feet from the top of the dirt I build my 

 nests by placing a ten-inch board along the back 

 of the pen. I next place a board about five 

 inches wide on top of my ten-inch board and 

 then place a cover over this on hinges. This 

 makes a nest about five inches high by ten inches 

 wide by five feet long. Saw about three inches 

 square out of the five-inch board in front of the 

 nest for the ferrets to go in. Put four-inch board 

 from these entrances down to the front of the 

 pen. I leave the upper half of the pen open on 

 the front for light and air. One-half inch mesh 

 wire screening may be used to enclose this upper 

 part. Each pen containing twenty square feet 



