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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 12:53:13 GMT -5
Hi all, I don't know where to post this but am wondering if someone could make any helpful suggestions... I got my first ferret nearly 2 years ago, he was around 6 weeks old when I got him as his mother was taking him to the top of his cage and dropping him off!! He's been an only one for all of this time and has been spoilt to say the least having all of my attention, he is nip-trained however, I'm very strict on that... He's perfect. I decided that I would like to get a rescue ferret so went to a ferret rescue, I now have a 2 year old jill who I named Lilly... I don't know anything about her past apart from that when she reached the rspca she was full of ticks and fleas and looked very sorry for herself... I had been told by the lady at the rescue to put both Lilly and my other ferret, sully in the same cage, so I took Sully with me to the rescue to meet Lilly and they got on amazingly. The day after I went to pick her up, when I brought her home I got her out with sully and they really did not get on, sully just seemed to be scared of her and want to bite her... To put a long story as short as I can, she is now in a cage of her own, and getting lots of attention, however she is very clingy, all she wants to do is sit on my lap and groom me which can be quite painful on my arms!! She also bites a lot,and it's not just a nip either, she will hold on to me which also hurts a lot!! I'm used to bites as It took a while to nip-train Sully... She also constantly tries to climb up to my face and neck which worries me as I don't want her to bite my face, my other ferret, Sully has always been face safe and loves kisses! ... I understand that it will take time to get Lilly properly settled in etc but I don't know whether she is acting the way she is towards me because she is only used to ferret contact rather than human contact, so I don't know whether getting another ferret for her would help... There's no way I'm getting rid of her and will do what ever it takes to help her to settle more... Any suggestions will be very welcome Thank you in advance  |
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Post by RedSky on May 19, 2015 15:13:45 GMT -5
This seems to be a frequent thing with new ferrets. They are fine during the first meeting but then they realise that they are sticking around and they need to decide who is in charge. Unfortunately they do this with their teeth, squabbles, biting scruffs, chasing is all normal. The rule on the forum is no pee, no poo, no blood, no foul. Basically as long as the 'victum' isn't scared to the point of emptying their bladder or bowels and isn't left with wounds then they are just working out their ranking. It can take minutes to months.
The more you interfere the longer it usually takes. As long as both ferrets are healthy and fit it is best to leave them to it.
When I brought my three ferrets home they were already bonded but the change unsettled the female who felt the need to remind the males that she was in charge. She still does every now and then, sort of a parent reminding their child to mind their manners, or stop running inside. It's normal and they should be allowed to get on with it for the most part. She was a little too rough with one of my males so they were caged separately but let out for playtime together (I aim for at least 4 hours a day, but usually more) as I would be around and he is a squealer so I could come check things are okay and not getting too much.
So basically don't give in on them becoming friends. It sounds normal so far with their introduction. If things get a little too rough there are things that you can try, but my post is getting long enough.
Have you read the thread about nip training? It's really helpful and while we are still a work in progress with my female it worked really quickly with my male when he started biting my feet.
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Post by Heather on May 19, 2015 15:20:26 GMT -5
How long have you had her? It sometimes takes months for a ferret to really settle in and this wee mite has no history. Rescues are like that. I would definitely keep her away from your face until she's shown she can behave herself. She's scared, her life has been a complete upheaval and she's no idea what the rules are or even if she wants to obey them. This all takes time. When I'm dealing with bitey ferrets the sin bin comes out (a very tiny cat transport cage with nothing in it). I use time outs for hard biting (no more than 3 minutes at a time) and ignore for nips that are harder than I care for.
Is she biting out of fear? Are you nervous? Ferrets know this and take advantage of it. Handle her with confidence. Set your rules...make her listen to you. Don't scruff or anything like that. If she bites and it's in that range that you call too rough...off to the sin bin she goes. All this takes time. I've had abused ferrets take years to understand (and they still test) to see if you're going to slap or scruff them.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 16:22:36 GMT -5
Ditto on the advice that RedSky and Heather gave you. Ferrets take their time giving love and friendship. They also can get overexcited at the idea of attention and play. Work on building your bond with her. Pick up a teaser toy, giver her blanket rides and find ways to play but keep your hands and face away. Don't scruff her or yell at her. Put her down and walk away or use the time out method, if she is too rough. Keep the time out to two (some use three) minutes and then resume the attention. She needs to feel secure and know that she is safe and has her forever home. Sully also needs to know that she was there first, and that you still love her. Give her the first hug, the first treat and the first Hello in the door. It takes time but the rewards are great. Ferret Love is so special. Also, walk around with her and let her see everything. We call that border patrol. Pick her up and show her things, talk to her and let her find some safe places to hide. That will help her feel more secure. Hand feeding can also help build a bond. When you put her water out, let her see the sink run and show her the water. Sully is in her home and Lilly is new. Sully will want to make sure that Lilly knows she was there first, and Lilly will need to explore. They will settle down and become friends, it just may take a little while. Here is a link to the nip training thread: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/13707/nip-trainingI'm so pleased that you found her and gave her a loving home and that you are not willing to give up on her. Who knows what Lilly has been thru.  |
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Post by unclejoe on May 19, 2015 19:39:02 GMT -5
I hope she settles soon. She sounds like she'll turn into a lot of fun once she does. Be consistent with the bite training. I'm sure she'll figure it out. Rosa was a rough biter but now she gives kisses and rarely bites harder than a nip. She's just the wired type. Best of luck.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2015 5:32:56 GMT -5
Hi, Thank you all for replying I've only had Lilly 2 weeks this Sunday, I'm aware that isn't long and know it will take her a while to settle in and I'm prepared to wait... No, I'm not nervous with her at all, so it's not her taking advantage, I think she's just testing me out to see what she can and cannot get away with... I'm going to keep trying to get her and sully out together, although I have been putting sully on a harness and lead as he's a lot bigger than Lilly and it just allows me to grab him if things get out of hand... I will definitely keep persevering with them as I would love them to both be friends! They got on so well when they first met at the rescue  She is a lovely little thing and it will be amazing when she is better behaved,... After the start in life that she's had, I just want to cuddle her and protect is so she knows she's going to be safe from now... Thank you all again for your advice, it's very much appreciated |
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2015 12:04:52 GMT -5
Little update on the sully/Lilly situ... Just had them out together, had sully on his lead, I didn't have hold of it, it's just there incase I need to grab him quickly... His little meeting with Lilly resulted in him trying to bite her face and he trying to jump on him and lots of squealing I know some might say let them get on with if and settle their differences but I had to intervene as I'm scared of what they'll do to each other.... Having said that, Lilly has been amazing today and had only bitten my once!! Which is a huge improvement! Ofcourse the one bite resulted in her being in time out for a minute but she seemed to be a lot more playful today and less clingy! Hopefully this is a sign of things to come |
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2015 12:15:58 GMT -5
Hope ur two will work it out. Ferrets can be vicious  Twice my senior has shaken my baby , which she is almost 2 pds---born in January. I just could not let her do that. ( I guess the mother in me) In another couple of weeks may let them try to socialize again. Right now she is getting some play fighting practice with my 2 year old, so she is getting ready for her.  |
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Post by unclejoe on May 20, 2015 17:49:35 GMT -5
When Dar24's crew first met mine, Jaffa bullied the crap out of all of mine. He was twice or more as big as any of mine. Alice was a mere wisp of 1.4 lb and he was 3 times that. Once when she was sniffing around, trying to be friends, I assume, because she was never ever mean, he pounced and pinned her and started shaking her. I pulled him off, pinned him down and let Alice in his face. I wish I had it on video. She screamed and hissed and paced back and forth and generally let him know where he stood in HER HOUSE. Within 24 hours we found them sleeping together, and many times after. It's like he adopted her, or she scared him, lol.  |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2015 5:51:10 GMT -5
Another update! I had Lilly out yesterday and she was completely perfect! Just wanted to lick my hands rather than biting them, she did put her teeth on me twice but a simple 'no Lilly' did the trick, she bit me once but was put straight into time out... She was also venturing off and playing by herself, she did come back to me constantly to check that I'm still there and was panicking if I moved, thinking I'd left her... But how strange that she's changed so quickly! As some of you said, she may have just been testing me... I think she's realising now that I'm not going to hurt her and that she's safe... I will introduce her to sully again soon and hopefully they will begin to get along (wishful thinking) |
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