|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2015 2:29:04 GMT -5
I hope, we can keep them together until they got their implants. For now we just separate for a moment until they calm down again.
|
|
|
Post by crazylady on Aug 29, 2015 15:47:01 GMT -5
Hi look on the internet for sudocreme its antiseptic and it heals them up fast I have used it for years oh heather Tico is shameless lol he has never changed ( well maybe in weight lol) you need to keep him away from the cat food dish lol B&E are pure darlings always have been well apart from there Breaking and Entering and stealing your turkey lol ( there initials stand for breaking and entering lol and oh boy has Heather some stories to tell about there antics lol take care bye for now bev
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2015 12:54:55 GMT -5
I can't get Sudocreme anymore :-( It won't be delivered to Germany anymore. It can be ordered online via Amazon, But I got a good alternative from the chemists. Works good so far. The looks a tiny bit better after one day.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2015 14:57:11 GMT -5
Their rough play got be bit less rough... It didn't escalated so often. Dexter's neck is still sensitive, but at least less new scratches added to this mess... I put some creme onto the scratches and it improved the skin condition. But he hates being treated. Poor little boy.
I noticed some dominance behaviour from Dexter. Maybe they're finally sort it out...
They're a lot nicer and easier to handle these days. Sometimes it was a hart time. Potty accidents, some good nips, to heavy play fights, one got hurt, frustration... Pew. Feel better now.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2015 15:17:17 GMT -5
Nice to hear that it has gotten a bit better ^_^ I also think that ferrets, just like human kits are having periods of defiance.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2015 15:21:20 GMT -5
I also noticed a physical growth. Junior looks slimmer but is still gaining weight. Maybe this was making him feels uncomfortable... Like human baby's can be grumpy when they're growing...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2015 14:47:51 GMT -5
Some days are nerve wrecking... Some play fights still switch into fights. Not the worst I've ever seen, but a few end with puffy tails and a nice stink bomb. Dexter's neck won't heal, his neck and some of his back is covered with scratches, some tiny, some heavier. He's sensitive and avoid being touched on the back, it seems to hurt him. I don't know what to do. I try to avoid separating them. Will this end sometime? I thought, putting two kits together won't cause so much trouble :-(
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 10:19:02 GMT -5
I'm at my wits end. The behaviour doesn't change at all. Dexters back is covered with bite marks. He avoids being touched on the back. His fur is a bit thinner on the neck too, because of the constant fighting. Junior has some good marks too, but not that worse... It's barely noticeable because of his thicker fur.
I don't know, how long I can stand this anymore. It's a lot more work than fun at the moment. I have to supervise them constantly because of the fighting. But how should I manage to supervise kits at this age for 4 hours or more? I have to go to work, clean the house, cook, etc. I barely do anything besides of supervising the kits while playtime.
Am I doing anything wrong? How can I change this behaviour? I'm craving for help. I don't want to give them away, but this isn't acceptable anymore :-(
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 13:18:38 GMT -5
Maybe get a playpen, have one roam & one in playpen for an hour then swap over. They still get out of cage time but in separate areas to prevent fighting. It sounds like they are getting their male hormones kicking in at present. Once winter hits you may find them OK with each other again as their hormones will settle. It sounds like you may need to separate them until their implant. With a playpen they can be out of cage but separated and you can get on with your chores peacefully. Once they are ready for implants it may take up to 4-6 weeks I believe to fully kick in and settle their hormones. After this you can reintroduce them. They will still play rough at first but once they establish who's boss they should settle quick and get back to play wrestling.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 13:29:38 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind words. I'm feeling a bit helpless and alone with this atm... I don't have real life friends with ferrets to ask for advice. They're my first kits, I was prepared for biting (me...) or problems with potty training... But not with kits who know each other since 8-10 w/o "fighting" each other...
They don't try to kill, there is no blood, no pooping, no peeing... They just don't want to lose the fight and one bite harder than the other... Besides that they are fine with each other, sleeping in the same bed and so on...
I'm a bit confused, I thought, this stage wouldn't come that early...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 14:09:39 GMT -5
By the time my first two hob kits were 18 weeks old they played really rough. This is what Haggis did to Neeps neck(his brother) just as I introduced my third ferret Tatties who was 20 weeks old
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 14:14:57 GMT -5
They stayed together as intact ferrets over winter but Haggis did get a bit rough with Tatties neck as they came into season from January 2015 I got Haggis & Tatties surgically done on the same day I think about Feb Haggis & Tatties were separated due to fighting & ragging on necks. Either could live with Neeps fine and did not hurt him so he got a different friend to sleep with every 2 days A few weeks after castration and after a day of wrestling they got back together and have not really been separated ever since. Neeps got done after I added two more boys in late spring/early summer. He was a stinky hob but very gentle.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 14:20:50 GMT -5
This helps a lot, thank you! After seeing Neeps neck, Dexter's isn't so bad... Just tons of tiny scrabs and thinner fur...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 14:31:02 GMT -5
Sudocrem works great needless to say Neeps had short fur on his neck until Spring but it healed pretty quick. On another note I recently added another five ferrets to my business and one of my new boys Willow kept getting into dominance scrapes with Tatties & Haggis who are pretty dominant. Its taken 2 months of wrestling and most of the time Willow has had some minor scrapes on his neck from all the rough play and wrestling which he mostly initiates but now they are settled who's boss and his neck is almost healed. They are all castrated. Just letting you know ferret boys will play rough sometimes Just keep a close eye on them in case they get rougher. Maybe a playpen to separate during playtime when your busy doing other things and can't supervise and once they are ready for the implant I'm sure you'll see a difference in behaviour a few weeks later. They will still play rough on occasion but with more emphasis on fun and play. And you may get a cuddly one too as they mature but as intact kits boys are lil wrestling terrors. And they eat tonnes too lol
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 14:57:58 GMT -5
I tried something similar to sudocrem and ended up with a sick Dexter... He likes the taste and licked everything away... Got an upset tummy one night and was good next morning... Poor boy.
I was expecting more wrestling as the girls... Yes... But was not prepared that they actually hurt each other... To be honest, the girl were pretty easy as kits (got them at 6 month old)... No biting, 100% potty proof (not kidding) and super easy to handle. How should I know...
Today, as example was pretty easy... Just two fights and they end it after 5 minutes by them self... Only one stink bomb... *phew* Yesterday: 5 fights, ended by putting them into timeout (both). They stopped finally after being totally worn out... Dexter was panting. But after this, they went to one bed for a nap... Together... Silly kits!
The breeder suggested castrating them sooner/now, but that's to early in my mind. They need to mature mentally and also physically... They're still baby's, okay, let's say small toddlers... They definitely need more time.
But your words eased my mind a lot. It can be overwhelming... They eat the raw like champions and potty training is getting better each day... I lost my heart to them and needed to vent... My partner is a lot more relaxed, but he isn't so involved emotionally and don't spent soooo much time with them like me...
|
|