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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2015 10:58:26 GMT -5
That one of the reasons why I am a ferret-compatible owner hahaha they adapt very well to whatever. I only have 1 now and he is out 2 hours during my lunch break where I get to go home and then another 3 hours when I'm home after work and horse riding and I can play with him
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2015 10:29:52 GMT -5
My boyfriend is working full time right now while I go to classes, but we'll both be in school in the fall. Right now I'm finding our staggered schedules help (and spoil them a little bit). I'm very nocturnal, so I go to bed shortly before he gets up. They end up only being alone a couple hours a day. He takes them out when he gets up, they sleep while I do. They get out again when I'm out, and can stay out through the night. We go for walks to ensure I get some excercise. People ask how I get any work done and I always respond with how they sleep so much! The truth is they remind me to take a break to play and keep me sane.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 9:58:49 GMT -5
A Play pen was one of the first on my list of buys, if I'm busy I just set them out with water and food in the spare room with plenty of blankets and toys and stuff in their pen and I know they're getting the exercise they need (usually with lots of play fights). Really a good buy, though like other people I had trouble with pesky escapees! I swear my Sebastian is Houdini reincarnated.
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 23, 2015 10:23:10 GMT -5
This is a great thread! Most of my ferrets are from homes where "they didn't have time". There is always time! And honestly, they don't want to play with me as much as they want to explore & get into trouble My ferrets have their own room (about 50 sqft), with a huge cage, ball pit, tunnels, tubes, toys, etc so they are out all the time. I pop in & play/cuddle with them for 20 minutes a few times a day, plus we get them out for 1-3 hours every night. I put them in the bathroom while I shower. Bear & Willy love dashing in & out of the shower, then tumbling in a mountain of towels. Occasionally I forget to put the garage can up (it has a lid) and they use it to climb up onto the toilet, and pull down several rolls of toilet paper and shred them. Expensive & unintentional entertainment, haha. If I'm doing cooking or ferret meal prep I put them in the kitchen with me. Throw a few boxes on the floor, some blankets, toys. At night we put them in the bedroom, and they will come to us if they want to play. But usually they are too preoccupied with stealing & hiding my husband's socks. We also have toys tied to the bed, which they love wrestling with.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 18:26:43 GMT -5
This thread is a great idea! I found that the best solution for us is free roaming - they have the entire house for themselves (except for the kitchen because bella is a garbage lady). They seem to pace better, so instead of sleeping all the time and going insane when let out of the cage, they use up their energy playing with each other throughout the day. And when we come home, they get our attention too we have dinner together, breakfast together - I usually wake up 30 min earlier than normal when going to work just to spend some time with them before leaving. we work, I also study, and my work schedule is really hectic, changes from day to day. but it never caused any problems. We travel with them, we take them out, they have toys, tunnels, digboxes, but most important, they have each other
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Post by katt on Sept 24, 2015 0:19:44 GMT -5
A Play pen was one of the first on my list of buys, if I'm busy I just set them out with water and food in the spare room with plenty of blankets and toys and stuff in their pen and I know they're getting the exercise they need (usually with lots of play fights). Really a good buy, though like other people I had trouble with pesky escapees! I swear my Sebastian is Houdini reincarnated. Careful with the playpen. They are definitely very useful, and certainly better than not getting out, BUT keep in mind that a playpen is really just a bigger cage - the pen should definitely not be their only time out of the cage.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 2:34:31 GMT -5
Great post! I try to change the room we play in from day to day. One day we will be in the bedroom, the other in the living room, the other in the kitchen. I notice that this helps him not get bored as easily, as he tends to start getting into things and doing things (like scratching at the carpet) if he's been playing in the same room too many times in a row. Also changing out the toys help. He likes noisy toys, so those are perfect for him when I'm not home, hah. I will also bring home boxes from work and cut holes in them and put crumpled up paper in them which he really seems to like. Walks help a lot, even though he loathes the harness mwahahahah When I know I'm going to be gone for a long time and don't have enough time to give him a proper play before I go, I will set up the playpen so that I can keep his cage open so he has access to a bigger area (on linoleum, of course!). Not the best, but definitely something! Also a friend helps! I'm currently looking for a playmate for him, despite the fact that he's a hissy, snobby butthole!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 8:29:30 GMT -5
A Play pen was one of the first on my list of buys, if I'm busy I just set them out with water and food in the spare room with plenty of blankets and toys and stuff in their pen and I know they're getting the exercise they need (usually with lots of play fights). Really a good buy, though like other people I had trouble with pesky escapees! I swear my Sebastian is Houdini reincarnated. Careful with the playpen. They are definitely very useful, and certainly better than not getting out, BUT keep in mind that a playpen is really just a bigger cage - the pen should definitely not be their only time out of the cage. Oh it's not, even if I've had a busy day I get them out for play time for at least 2 hours in addition to whatever time they spent in the pen!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 9:10:58 GMT -5
I should also add I'm in the process of cleaning out and ferret proofing the spare room so when that's done I will do away with the pen.
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Post by katt on Sept 24, 2015 13:35:09 GMT -5
It's always good to have a pen around.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 14:12:57 GMT -5
The pen will probably move to the garden, here in the UK it's mild enough for them to roam around and I think they'd really enjoy the experience!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 17:07:00 GMT -5
Just be careful with playpens outdoors - mine dig under them in seconds, and if the bottom is covered, the climb out. And if the top is covered they push it off or open it from the gate panel (I used the marshall playpen). Tried ziplocks there but for the rest, I only allow with supervision, and it kinda ends up being a battle - them throwing a tantrum and me trying to keep them inside ) i may just have wackos, I actually tried doing smth nice for them outside, and they didn't seem to appreciate it
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 18:27:34 GMT -5
Glad u told us that Abs.
I use two playpens surrounding my senior's cage at night, or she would visit baby across the room and give her a thrashing. ( cut hole for a side ramp on both cages ,so they r permanently open)
Waiting for snow this winter and will let them have some fun. Might get one more later. maybe they will not feel confined and want out.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 18:28:47 GMT -5
I had problems with my pen till I added some sturdy chicken wire type stuff to seal off all the gaps between the bars and stuff. It also comes with ground hooks for pinning it down!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2015 11:22:14 GMT -5
This was super helpful, thank you.
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