Ferret math!

[FireAngel]

I've had my little beasties for almost 7 weeks now and I am loving every second of it, but I was in Petco yesterday looking for a litter box when I saw this lovely silver sable who's markings make it look very much like a little wolf and what I think is a dew with silver guard hairs. I cannot stop thinking about them and am seriously contemplating going to get them like right now! I think I have a real problem! Lol 

[FireAngel]

My husband stopped at the store this morning to look at the wolffish looking one but it was gone. If the DEW is still there in an hour it won't be when I walk out!

[Heather]

Just a word of warning....that little wolf coloured one would or will be a DEW by next summer Those colours are very unstable and the ferret looses them within the first couple of years.
Good luck with the new fuzz
ciao

[FireAngel]

Thanks, I have noticed slight changes in Sir and Missy's coats already but they have basically stayed the same. Sadly I will never know what the Wolfy one turns out to be and who knows I may be too late for the Dew with silver also but if I am then I guess it just was not meant to be!

[Heather]

There is a reason for many of the near misses....good luck
ciao

[FireAngel]

So I went to the store and my hubby was mistaken, Wolfy was still there and I was faced with "what do I do now?". Do I take them both or just one? Realistically I can only afford one (and that is stretching the meaning of afford lol), so I decided it would be up to them. The clerk took out the little DEW whose eyes I think are burgundy like Missy's and handed her to me. She is perfect and snuggles and is perfect. The clerk tells me she thinks I have been claimed but I have her take out Wolfy anyway, and he is big and rambunctious and perfect in his way. The clerk explains that if I want one to tire my other 2 out he would be the guy and all I can picture is him and Missy going at it for alpha spot. The picture is not pretty and then he lunged at me. Yup little docile DEW it is. Missy and Sir keep me on my toes enough and I would not change it but they are enough. The clerk tells me how happy she is that Belle is coming home with me because the others in the pen really give her a hard time, then she tells me she thinks she is deaf also. I have to say I agree, pretty positive she is deaf. The only time she startles is if she didn't see you coming. I will do more experimenting on her hearing later. I let her and the older beasties meet and they did a fantabulous job with each other, Sir even tried to give her some chicken chunks but of course she wanted nothing to do with that. He is a great big brother. Missy kind of hovers like a mother over her and well it makes me sad that I am not keeping them caged together yet (I want to catch her up on the raw diet as I do not want them eating her food). Here she is though!

[Deleted]

I love it when a title starts out Ferret Math. :boing:

Belle is just beautiful. Congratulations to all of you.
I think you will be surprised by how protective you feel towards her, and how much she will come to mean to you. Maybe it's because the little deaf ones seem more vulnerable or maybe it's just because we feel they need us, but it's a special bond.

My little deaf girl makes the sweetest happy noises. Her warning squeal makes me want to pick her up and cuddle away her fear.

Have fun and I can't wait to hear more stories and see more pictures, pretty please.

[FireAngel]

No worries @poncesmom I'll keep taking as many pictures as I can, hopefully I can get all three of them in the same picture soon! The entire family adores her already, she's so sweet. I just want to hold her all the time. I'm pretty sure she is a true waardy also, her gait is unsteady I fear for her on ramps. I have her in the small cage on her own for now and I decided to only put one other level in it to cut the fall risk. I did more testing with her hearing and she does indeed seem very deaf. Missy has a few physical features like the broad head and her legs are a little short for her body but otherwise she is the ring leader and troublemaker, Sir just kind of follows along lol. She hasn't eaten anything since I brought her home except a few licks of the soupie I got her to take. Gabbie (my daughter) made a comment that she didn't even seem to know how to eat yet. She must at least know a bit of how to otherwise she would not even be the pound that she is but I seriously wonder. I put the bowl with the evil kibble in her cage for her and she looked liked she was trying to get it but didn't really know how. I will be paying close attention to it tonight and I might try to syringe feed her some soup if she does not seem to be actually eating. I had to leave to go take care of my mom for a couple of hours and she was sleeping on my chest when I left. I loathed putting her down but taking her with me is not an option.

[Deleted]

She sounds so sweet. My heart just goes out to her.

Maybe you could try putting some kibble mashed into water on a plate for her. See if that is easier for her to eat. Try spoon feeding her first, then lower the spoon to the plate. She may still be under some stress. If she doesn't eat by tomorrow, maybe you could go to the store and pick up some plain baby food. Pure turkey or chicken, nothing added. Get a couple of jars and even if you have to water it down alot, it will give her some calories.

You can also cover those ramps with tube socks or even hand towels. Just make sure that it's secured somehow, maybe take a few quick stitches in it.

I'll be looking forward to hearing more about her. She seems very special.

[FireAngel]

Already have the baby food and was already thinking of mashing the kibble for her and yes I was thinking it may have been the stress of coming home also, the ramps in her current cage are plastic, it is a kaytee cage. The ramps in the FN cage are all covered already though the ones I just put on today are not fleece and even the bigger 2 are having issues getting up or down them, they are like slides hehe, but those 2 have steady feet and I am not worried about them falling.
That pic by the way was her sleeping in the hammock before I took her out to sleep on me. I love how she stays asleep or goes right back to sleep, Sir and Missy wake right up and want to play. I am so looking forward to getting to know her little personality better.

[FireAngel]

[FireAngel]

I added a bit of soup and some water to the kibble and she ate for me. I just hope I'm not giving her a tummy ache.

[FireAngel]

Just a little update on baby Belle. She is doing great, balance and gait are much better, plays wonderfully both with Sir and Missy and alone. Also plays with us normally, my little snuggler has grown into a very normal acting kit. Maybe she will be a snuggle bug again as she mellows again. In the meantime she has become fully integrated with Missy and Sir and is eating exactly what they do. She loves socks and since she is deaf the eeps that worked with the other two do not work with her. I am using the pick her up and move her to another location, distraction method with her and she has gotten better but it is just a longer process. Of course I went to the pet store for supplies yesterday and they had an 8 week old little girl there, so tiny and adorable who gives real ferret kisses and did not try to bite me after. She was very hard to put down but I did it. I think at least for now I have all I need with my trio. Sir is my snuggler, Missy is the alpha wild child and Belle is the independent special one although I think she will give Missy a good run for her money in the months to come. Also it's kind of funny but my deaf little Belle is the most vocal of them. She was barking at Missy this morning while fighting over that one piece of duck neck! Lol love my babies!