|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 13:23:10 GMT -5
Hello everyone, after 20 minutes of trying to work out where to post this I would like to ask what everyone's feelings are about Angora Ferrets. I have found them to be absolutely stunning and there is a breeder in the UK that specialises in them.
So I was wondering, do they have any different health problems? What is grooming like? And would it be better to go for a short haired ferret over an Angora?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 13:42:21 GMT -5
Angoras have long guard hairs but lack a proper undercoat so, in theory, they don't cope as well with the cold as a normal ferret.
They also have deformed noses (cleft noses I think they're called) and often have hair growing in their nasal passages which means they also don't cope as well with the heat as normal ferrets.
Full angora jills rarely, if ever, produce enough milk for their kits if they are bred hence why you will see angora ferret breeders often have a mixture of semi, half and full angoras.
They are very striking to look at and are certainly very popular here in the UK. The nose deformity, lactation problems and lack of a proper coat all put me off.
I would say to do your research and decide if you are comfortable with what they are. Unfortunately, they are not simply longhaired ferrets.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 7, 2016 13:45:50 GMT -5
I know some preferr them, and some breeders are trying to get rid of the health issues, but angora is a mutation and I refuse to have one myself.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazylady on Feb 7, 2016 13:49:10 GMT -5
Hi I have seen angoras from when they first came to be ( from a fur farm a genetic mistake ) they cannot feed there young( maybe natures way of saying this is not viable) so its unlikely to be 100% angora even though you will pay the full price of one the jaw is usually either over shot or undershot they develop lots of breathing problems due to a deformity in the nasal passages ( they also have hairs growing out from the nasal passages ) they need a lot of grooming there temper is not very sound( while judging them I suffered a great many bites lol) and there life expectancy is not great even though breeders will often say oh they don't get adrenal or insulanoma like other ferrets this is simply not true the choice has to be yours but personally I don't think you can be a good strong English albino or poley remember a lot of albinos and poleys are only shorthaired during spring and summer come winter they grow a nice long thick coat and they are happy to be groomed spring and summer ! just my two pennies worth take care bye for now
Bev
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 14:01:35 GMT -5
I like the look of the angoras, I see them at the ferret shows that I go to, the chairman daughter has them. Most angoras are inbred and have health issues, cleft palate and have an extra two nasal passages, there's more than one breeder in the UK that specialises in breeding them, all of which are trying to get rid of the health issues and mutations. Without the undercoat they don't cope too well with the cold so they most keep them indoors and also because they have no undercoat, they don't smell as much. They're coats don't need as much grooming as you'd expect, nearly non at all, same with standard ferret which need a quick brush every now and then. Full angora jills can't produce their own milk for their kits so a standard jill that's having a phantom is needed for breeding angoras and even then not a lot of kits survive since it isn't their own mother's milk. I've heard that they make just as good workers as standard ferrets but are sometimes too big as they're a lot bigger than the standard ferrets, usually 3kg or over, with being too big they get stuck in the rabbit warrens and can't turn the rabbit around if they get to a dead end which mean they'll make a kill instead meaning lots and lots if digging. Personally I wouldn't have one unless it was a half angora or less, and didn't have the blaze and mitt marking most have which is another health risk so you're better off with a standard shorthaired ferret, they're hardier, much healthier than the angoras and live longer too  |
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Feb 7, 2016 14:11:55 GMT -5
I wouldn't have anything to do with them. A genetic defect bred on a creature already ripe with health issues, no wouldn't have one as a gift. That's just me. If it's bred on a defect, can't reproduce without interference, has a number of of physical defects, cannot feed it's own young...no not meant to be
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 14:22:03 GMT -5
I wouldn't have anything to do with them. A genetic defect bred on a creature already ripe with health issues, no wouldn't have one as a gift. That's just me. If it's bred on a defect, can't reproduce without interference, has a number of of physical defects, cannot feed it's own young...no not meant to be ciao I totally agree with you |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 14:27:12 GMT -5
Alright. Thank you for your input!
It was Frisky Business Ferretry I was looking at specifically because they only breed standard females to full Angora males and stay away from those with too many problems. She's also never had any that have come down with any problems.
I'd been thinking of rescuing but the closest rescue is the same distance away as the breeder and the rescue tends to only have pairs, triples or quadruples that need experienced owners and seeing how I've never had ferrets I'm not the most ideal of candidates.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 14:53:02 GMT -5
Whereabouts are you in the UK? There are many good breeders of standard ferrets about, and many rescues too  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 16:01:17 GMT -5
Alright. Thank you for your input! It was Frisky Business Ferretry I was looking at specifically because they only breed standard females to full Angora males and stay away from those with too many problems. She's also never had any that have come down with any problems. I'd been thinking of rescuing but the closest rescue is the same distance away as the breeder and the rescue tends to only have pairs, triples or quadruples that need experienced owners and seeing how I've never had ferrets I'm not the most ideal of candidates. You're better off getting a standard ferret from a small breeder for a first ferret, most kits from small breeders are handled from a very young age so they have no behaviour issues, some large breeder don't handle them until 3 weeks of age but say that they handle them from a younger age. I handle my kits from birth and so far there has not been any issues other than when Bobby's first owner broke his tail which cause him to nip hard, no blood, just a hard nip so he was returned and now he lives with his younger half brother Scout |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 16:34:57 GMT -5
Whereabouts are you in the UK? There are many good breeders of standard ferrets about, and many rescues too I'm in Salisbury |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 18:39:40 GMT -5
I wouldn't have anything to do with them. A genetic defect bred on a creature already ripe with health issues, no wouldn't have one as a gift. That's just me. If it's bred on a defect, can't reproduce without interference, has a number of of physical defects, cannot feed it's own young...no not meant to be ciao I understand where you're coming from but at the same time it's those mutations that created dog breeds, cat breeds and even us humans. Blue eyes were caused by a mutation. In snake breeding new colours are produced all the time using mutations. It's all about responsible breeding. But it's why I'm doing the research. I really want to rescue but unless I'm being dumb I can't seem to find a rescue that isn't the RSPCA (which in other news is rumoured to be dropping the "Royal r") The problem with that is they're only after experienced owners and they've all been neutered already, I'd prefer to go down the jill jab route, of which I still need to do research on or using a vasectomy(?) hob. Mostly because adrenal disease sounds like a scary thing and most if not all of the owners on here have found not neutering or late neutering can stave of adrenal for a while. |
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Feb 7, 2016 18:45:40 GMT -5
Oh, I totally understand that but to use a "product" created by a fitch farm with little regard to health or proper genetics and then to breed from it is for a great cause for concern. I can look at any number of "genetic" errors that had been created and have caused nothing but grief for the breeds involved....persian cats, boxers, cavalier spaniels, munchkins....the list goes on and on, there were no favours given by man's need to meddle with genetics
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by Klarissa on Feb 7, 2016 19:43:42 GMT -5
Genetic mutations in dogs has not been kind.. Dachshunds with their long backs, Bassett hounds with their long backs, twisted ankles. Great Danes only live 6 - 8 years on average. Westies allergies & ear infections. Flat faced dog breeds. Deep chested dogs & predisposition for bloat. Large breeds & hip dysplasia. Small dogs Legg -Calves Perthes.
I work as a dog handler. I see dozens of dogs a week. The healthiest dogs are always mixed breeds, or pure breeds that weren't bred for show quality.
|
|
|
|
Post by Klarissa on Feb 7, 2016 19:53:39 GMT -5
And, cellular biology has many mechanisms in place to prevent genetic mutations.
|
|
