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Post by valkyriestorm on Apr 5, 2012 16:09:20 GMT -5
So tomorrow I am meeting up with someone, so that I might adopt their 3 year old male ferret. Is there anything i need to know or do before going ahead with this?? I will be bringing him home to my 4 year old male ferret Thomas. I hope they get along. She said he does not have any vet records. The lady already has two ferrets of her own. And says this one gets along with her kids. The ferret I will be getting was left at the house by her sister who just left him there.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2012 16:29:21 GMT -5
Meet the ferret twice. First time, go by yourself. The second time, bring your ferret--but only if the ferret isn't sick with anything contagious. Then this way you will have an idea of how they'll behave together
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Post by valkyriestorm on Apr 5, 2012 16:37:24 GMT -5
That will probably not work, we live kinda far apart. Thanks.m but that is what I would have done if we were closer
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2012 16:43:50 GMT -5
It has just been my experience, that where feasible (i.e. health concerns, etc) bringing your established ferret(s) is a great way to ease the transition. Every time the situation has been the opposite (I've brought one in, etc) it hasn't been easy to integrating or, in the case of my two newest babies , even possible to integrate into the existing business, so now I have two playgroups. Of course, that is just *my* personal experience with introductions. Remember, too, that even if they hit it off, you still need to supervise them during playtimes, and don't just lump them together in your established guy's cage - that can set off ill will like a flash. Even if things go smoothly, just take your time in transitioning them to being housed 24/7 with each other, and make sure your established guy still gets quality one on one with you, to head off any jealousy, as well! Other tips: you can try introducing new toys with the new guy - it gives everyone something mysterious to focus on; you can either bathe them together, or put them in water together (usually okay to scent with vanilla) so they smell similar but can still take in each other's scent (with the water being a distractor so it's not just >  who are you and what are you doing here? type of thing). (also, oh my jeebus, post pics when you can  ) |
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Post by Sherry on Apr 5, 2012 18:17:05 GMT -5
Frankly, given that I have some very territorial ferrets, I'd take your little one along to meet the newbie. It will give you an idea as to whether or not they may get along.
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Post by valkyriestorm on Apr 5, 2012 18:27:35 GMT -5
I did introduce him once to my friends ferret and I dont think it went so well. There were screams and no blood because I stopped it. So I dont know, but I feel like he is lonely and needs a weasel friend
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Post by Sherry on Apr 5, 2012 18:40:28 GMT -5
Even my fuzz who get along scream at each other  You'll notice the difference if it's an actual fight. Lucrezia goes for the throat. Willow just attacks over and over and over again. And she draws blood. The other ferret just winds up curling up and whimpering, or trying to hide and not come back out. |
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Post by valkyriestorm on Apr 5, 2012 19:02:02 GMT -5
I just dont want to end up with two fighting ferrets. I will not have time to play with both separate times. Would it be better if I got a younger one or a female?? or does that not matter?
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Post by Heather on Apr 5, 2012 19:08:26 GMT -5
It doesn't matter. Age isn't the issue, it's the personality of the ferrets. I just introduced Atreyu who is 3 or 4 to Minion who celebrates his gotcha day on Sat (he's a little over 1). The issue was that Atreyu had never seen another ferret since his time in the store. There was screaming and Atreyu did pee himself which is not a good start. They did work it out in the end and now they're inseparable. Introductions are never easy but is you can find a place that neither has been, they usually spend far more time checking out the new space than fighting.
ciao
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Post by valkyriestorm on Apr 5, 2012 22:10:12 GMT -5
Since I have a Ferret Nation Cage is it ok to keep them separated in that. Or is that to close to each other??
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2012 22:16:55 GMT -5
oh no thats perfect. you just have to shut off the levels and then you have to make sure theres room for a litterbox, food, toy, etc.
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Post by valkyriestorm on Apr 5, 2012 22:20:20 GMT -5
good I did it before with two little ferrets I brought home from work because they were to young to sell. But my ferret freaked out I think because he had really bad diarrhea after I took them back. I had to take him to the vets a few times. One vet thought it was ECE. I never let them play together, They were only here for a few days
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2012 22:23:20 GMT -5
was the poop neon green? then chances are it couldve been. And if your ferret is a lone ferret, yes his poop could have been a stress indicator. it says "oh look, another thing. what is that? it looks like me. OMG, it smells like me and makes the same noises like me...what is that thing?!?!" and they kinda get jealous and upset n stuff.
Its normal. Sometimes they get over it, sometimes not.
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Post by valkyriestorm on Apr 5, 2012 22:28:57 GMT -5
AT the time he was not the only one. I still had SKunkers then. he was fine but Thomas freaked. And yes it was green and it was EVERYWHERE. All over the walls and cage. It lasted on and off for a couple weeks. But he has been fine ever since and this was like last summer as I remember
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Post by Sherry on Apr 5, 2012 22:38:24 GMT -5
Some ferrets Are simply carriers of
ECE with few to no symptoms. Has your guy ever been tested during the time he had the green stools?
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