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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2015 16:45:03 GMT -5
This spring/summer we plan on getting another ferret. Can anyone share their experiences in introducing a new member? So far Kaiju is an only ferret, and we would love her to have another fuzzie to play with! I've been wondering whether she would be more likely to accept a kit over an adult or the other way around? We would ideally like to rescue this time. She's fine around other animals, but apart from her sisters she's never had a ferret playmate (she has us but we don't fit in tunnels  ) so I don't know how she will react. Sometimes I play her ferret sounds on my phone and she giggles and jumps on me. Also how to you monitor raw feeding with more than one ferret? I know how much Kaiju eats as there's either nothing left in her cage after a meal or just small bone bits. How would you know how much each ferret is eating if they are in the same cage? Thanks in advance for any advice! |
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Post by Desiree on Mar 28, 2015 17:07:18 GMT -5
Keeping track of food is done for me by weight. Since I have 4 fuzzies and I free feed all the time, I just make sure no one loses too much weight. I also feed my insu baby three times a day to make sure she is good BG wise.
My ferrets have always accepted a new ferret, young or older, right away for the most part. Riot had some dominant behavior with Tundra when he was little but that was over within a week. I used desitin (sudecreme) to get Riot to stop biting ears.
If you can rescue, maybe ask them to let you bring Kaiju so you can see how they interact together.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2015 17:30:20 GMT -5
Ah ok, that's a nice simple solution  I did think about asking to bring Kaiju along to meet (choose) a friend, but when I was trying to find videos on introducing ferrets, they quarentine them first, so I wasn't sure if it would be ok? |
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Post by Desiree on Mar 28, 2015 18:25:33 GMT -5
I have varying opinions on quarantining. I understand the want, but if a ferret has ECE which is a bad one to pass on, it can still shed the virus for up to six months. I quarantined my first kit and didn't do my second. I'm sure a small meeting to see if they will get along will be better than getting another ferret and finding out Kaiju is a single. Even if you wanted to, you could still do the quarantine afterward, the small meeting shouldn't be to long and hopefully won't pass anything along.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2015 18:32:44 GMT -5
I just introduced my new baby to my two older ferrets the other day. It did not go well. Abbey the one i thought would not bother her attacked her, but not in front of me .
Abbey kept trying to smell her head or whatever--I brushed her away a few times. Her actions made me suspicious, but i put them all in room for the night, that is when she was attacked.
I would supervise them and not put them together at night---maybe after a few days. Babies r so fragile they can not defend themselves.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2015 19:06:23 GMT -5
Oh no, Hope she's ok! Yeah this worries me about getting a kit. Kaiju is rather large for a female too. I can keep them separated in the cage, but I'm thinking it might be better just to get a second one so they have more space for the time they need apart. If they let me (im assuming they would) I will def take her along to make sure she isn't a single ferret! I would hate to get her a friend thinking he/she will keep her company, for them to both just be unhappy! I assume shelters vet check their fuzzies no?
Also, does gender make any difference to how they interact? Or siblings?
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Post by Desiree on Mar 28, 2015 19:15:35 GMT -5
Most shelters do vet checks prior to release and well let you know if the animal is sick.
Gender doesn't make a ton of difference. Males tend to be lazier and cuddlier. Females will tend to run their business.
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Post by Blue on Mar 29, 2015 11:29:40 GMT -5
I think on average girls have a harder time accepting other girls, but there are plenty of examples here where that is not the case. I guess if you bring home another female just make sure they have some kind of rapport before doing so.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 11:46:53 GMT -5
We would really love a boy this time, but of course it will depend on Kaiju and who she makes a connection with (if she does!) We have been offered another kit from Kaijus parents, I don't know if they recognise siblings. Its an option but I really would prefer to rescue and give a fuzzie in need a loving home.
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Post by msav on Mar 29, 2015 11:55:56 GMT -5
I have never had much luck introducing ferrets. It always seems to be the newbie gets attacked.
I have taken mine to some ferret events where we have allowed a community play area. They have always got along.
When I brought the latest 2 rescues home everyone was friendly and they played together. I thought this is awesome they are all going to get along. However once my guys realized that they newbies were not leaving things turned.
now everyone wants to attack the new ferrets. I am waiting until they get some weight on them and get a little more comfortable. Right now they do not have any claim on the territory so they are not fighting back, Just trying to run away, but it is hard to run away from 5 angry ferrets.
I setup a 10 foot diameter playpen outside and once the grass dries off I am going to try a neutral territory play session.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 12:50:09 GMT -5
Do you have an Alpha of the group? I have 0 experience whatsoever when it comes to indroductions , but I did watch a video where a lady introduced the newbie to the alpha first. Once they had built up a connection, and things were going well, she let the rest of the group join them and it was all very uneventful. I have no idea if this actually works though!
I'm not sure that Kaiju is bossy or territorial, but I have nothing to go on when it comes to other ferrets. She did used to follow her sister everywhere before they were old enough to be rehomed. The sister was the tiny runt of the litter so it was almost like she was protecting her.
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Post by msav on Mar 29, 2015 12:57:32 GMT -5
only one I could think of being Alpha was Koufos, He is now partially blind so I cant imagine him still being alpha. they other do avoid him though. sometimes they will be really hyper and jump on his back, but then realize who they jumped on and slink away before he can retaliate.
there are occasional squabbles over sleeping spots and he always wins and gets the spot.
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Post by RedSky on Mar 29, 2015 17:17:49 GMT -5
Sounds like Koufos is still alpha ferret to me.
I know in my group Korra is the boss. My males are pretty laid back, not to say they would be perfectly fine with another ferret, but the rescue said they had trouble getting Korra into any of their other groups. She won't accept another female.
The rescue I got mine from were really good, they really knew the ferrets, did their own quarantine so that allowed owners to bring in their healthy ferrets for a visit to see who they got along with. The rescue had many in groups that didn't seem to have a special friend, but if they had an obvious one or had come in with another ferret (and they got along well) they would insist they go together. Hence my trio taking so long to rehome. So be prepared that you may find a friend who already has a friend. Don't worry, for many the perfect number is 3. I think my perfect number might be 33... Seriously they are like pringles!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 16:01:23 GMT -5
33 does sound pretty perfect! I will have no complaints bringing home another 2 if that's how things play out will see what the queen bee thinks about having friends! |
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