| im new to ferrets and have a couple of question - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| hondacivic |
| alright i baught a ferret a couple of months ago and its probably 6-7 months old and she is really hyper she never wants to be held or played with she just likes doing her own thing , In her room we have a big office desk that her cage sits right on top of it and its blocked of on the front but on the back their was a small opening which she liked to go in and hide stuff but we had to cover it off cus she was kicking food out of her cage and when shes out she hide the food under the desk and i cant have her eating old stale food and soo when she found out we covered it she tweeked out and started bucking like a horse did i do the wrong thing by doing that. then also she use to never bite before she use to just nibble when she wanted attention but ever sense a couple weeks ago she was playing with her stuffed animal and one of her nail got cought on a thread and started tweeken out i went to grab her to un hook her from it before she got seriously hurt and she bit me real hard her teeth punctured my skin and i knew she was just scared but ever sense then she gets real sensitive about things like when sittin down watchin her she tries to crawl into my pant leg and i grabbed her to pull her out and she bit me again but it didnt puncture my skin. and do u think maybe she is just lonely cus i only have her but im planning on getting another girl does anybody know what i should do |
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| Tonytcla |
You must get a good book on ferrets (amazon has a choice) there are many things you need to know to look after them properly.
Female ferrets, called jills, must be neutered if they are not to be used for breeding (breeding not recommended for inexperienced owners). If a female ferret is not neutered it will come into season sometime after it is 6 months old usually in early spring. If the ferret is not mated then it will remain in season indefinitly this will result in the bone marrow not producing red blood cells (Aplastic Anaemia). the ferret will die.
Ferrets can be mated wih a vasectomised hob (male ferret) and this will bring them out of season.
If the ferret does come into season and not mated then this can be terminated with an injection.
Ferrets do not do well if they are kept in a cage full time, they need to run around and explore their suroundings for a couple of hours each day (at least).
Ferrets need their front nails clipping every couple of weeks or so they are animals that are meant to dig so claws grow continuously.
You need to ferret proof the rooms where the ferret will be loose, they get through very small holes (a 30 mm gap will be no problem to a small ferret). ferrets do not have a homing instinct, if they get out, they get lost.
They will use a litter tray if trained, otherwise you may get little messages left in a chosen corner.
Ferrets bite as a form of play when they are with their fellow kits,ferrets have very thick tough skin and have to be taught that humans have a more delicate skin, Make a loud ouch sound and say no loudly and put the ferret down when it bites, give treats when it doesnt bite, they are fast learners.
Good luck, Tony
My home is ferret proof - my heart is not. |
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| Tonytcla |
More info until you get a book.
Ferrets like to have companion to play with they will chase each other about and have ferret wrestling matches.
Ferrets dance about twisting and turning and running backwards (sometimes called a weasel war dance). this is a ferrets invitation to play.
You need to find a good ferret vet, you can try ringing around a few local vets and asking them if they are experienced treating ferrets or look in the phone book for vet adverts. Try to find if there is a local ferret club, they can give you a lot of advice.
Tony
My home is ferret proof - my heart is not. |
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| Skunx |
Any animal can get nippy when hurt or frightened (as you have found out yourself) ouch! but you are her 'everything' including playmate, have you seen how rough ferrets play? to them us mere humans have skin of tissue paper and completley usless for having a decent scrap with, if she is a bit bored it won't be long before she susses out that she will get a 'fun' reaction from you if she does for instance run up your trousers, they are like kids they don't care what attention they get, as long as there is attention. if you haven't got as much time with her that you think you should have then it might be an idea to get a playmate but only if 'you' want another ferret, you will have to make a point of paying them both undivided attention by putting one away while you play with the other, and you might have to except the fact she may not want another ferret in the house, she may well be quite happy as the only one, bare this in mind (though it does sound to me if she would love a little friend)
anyway good luck with your little lady. |
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| hondacivic |
| and one more question i was planning on moving her to the basment but there isnt any windows down there and im not sure if they need certain hours of light or somthing but if i grab a timer how should i set up the hours of light |
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| Skunx |
Probably not the best idea if she is not happy with being handled at the moment she will need as much interaction with you as possible though i presume she is not going to be locked down there on her own for hours on end, I imagine it would be quite a cool play den, you will just have to make sure you make the time to handle and play. she will need natural light for health they get vitamins from sun light and she will not thrive if kept in a dark enviroment so will need regular outside play, do you walk her on a lead?
if you are putting lights on timers I would follow the daylight hours, on at sunrise off at sunset, it can confuse their natural body clocks if this changes, if she is still entire artificial light will interfear with her seasons (this is how breeders get kits out of the 'normal' breeding season) but it is always best for her and yourself if not breeding to get her spayed anyway. will she have the free run of the basement rather than being caged? I have a friend who when not at home lets her ferrets have the run of the celler, they have the best time, it is kitted out with ramps and tube etc. I hope this has helped? |
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| hondacivic |
| she's played with all the time she's out of her cage for about 6 hours each day or more or until she decides to go back in her cage, how many times a week should i take her outdoors i havent taken her outdoors with the leash to much cus inside when i try to put it on she seems to slip right out, |
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| Skunx |
I am hopeless walking mine on a lead, lol, you need to get a decent harness rather than a collar, and one with quick release clips rather than buckles then you can adjust it to the best fit, I would let her walk around indoors with the harness for a while each day and when she is used to wearing it venture outside, give her a treat while you put the harness on and then she will see it as something to look forward too. but even if you don't actually walk her outside (it is not as if it is the only time she is exercised) you could just sit outside with her on your lap in the fresh air (preferably in the morning when the sun is not too hot) for however long she is happy to cuddle up, be it ten minutes or an hour, I have two Skunks who do just that, they curl up on my lap and have a sleep while I have a cup of tea, it is a bit easier as they are not as active during the day as the ferrets. or you could use a rabbit run though I would supervise at all times as she will dig out or climb over unless very secure, don't forget a ferret can get through 'any' gap that his/her head will fit through, it might take some time but even the fattest of them will manage it. any time outside will be good for her it is just what you can provide.
I would love to see a photo of her, can you do that on this board.
Let me know how you get on |
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| Skunx |
WHAT A BABE !!!!! sigh
How is she doing? |
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| hondacivic |
| she doing fine now i figured out that the food i was giving her had tourine in it and thats like coffee for them.and here is another one of her resting |
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| hondacivic |
| skunx how long have u had ur thiefs for can u get some pics of yours |
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| hondacivic |
| today she was sleeping and woke up and and went to the corner to go to the bathroom after i notice she was drinking her urine is that normal |
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| Tonytcla |
This is not that uncommon. It also doesn't SEEM to be harmful. No one seems to know why some ferrets do this (some dogs do it too).
Here is a site where you can search for ferret health problems.
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
Tony. |
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