Do I need a second mortgage?

[mhuerter]

I've had many ferrets before but all were adults and all kibble fed.  When I brought my two boys home, I bought a bag of Orijen kibble.  They didn't like it.  I bought a different brand.  They liked it and they ate....a lot!  Within only a few days I found this forum and switched to raw.  I do agree that it is more cost effective than quality kibble and even if it wasn't, it's better for them so that's what they will eat, regardless of cost.  I am wondering though, if I should apply for that second mortgage on my house now or if their food intake will decrease soon?  According to my calendar they are now 12 weeks old and they eat so much!  They typically eat 16 - 20 oz of food per day (that's for both of them, so 8 - 10 oz each!) and there is very seldom anything left by the next meal.  Am I feeding them enough?  Are they over eating?  I did learn here that young ferrets will eat me out of house and home but at what age does their appetite start to decrease?  I read somewhere that ferrets are pretty much full grown at 4 months old...true?

Different subject, does anyone use a pen of any sort to give them outside, play in the grass time and if so, what kind?  Anything I've seen in store looks like it would be way too easy for them to climb out of.

[Blue]

LOL! I guess your little ones are still in the "tummies with teeth" stage. Hopefully someone will come along and tell you when that gets better.

As for for the outside pen, the only store-bought one Maisie has been unable to climb is the classic Marshall ferret pen, although I know quite a few ferrets have managed to make their way over that one too. She did dig her way under once, though, so there's that. I was watching her do it so it was quite safe. I figured it was good enrichment! Just don't leave them alone out there! Maisie was bored very quickly with the pen. Taking her for walks was much better for outdoors time.

[abbeytheferret6]

Maisie was bored very quickly with the pen. Taking her for walks was much better for outdoors time.

Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/24491/second-mortgage#ixzz5JwAW3THR


Agree on that. You would think that they would want to dig in grass or dirt, but they seem to know that they are in a pen 

[Heather]

LOL.....little babies.....they can eat as much as 2 adult ferrets in a day per kit. They keep this up until they're at least 6 months old(they will give you a bit of a break at 4 months of age when they cut out that forth meal. If they're breeder ferrets, then they will continue to grow well past their first birthday. Ferrets reach sexual maturity at around 6 to 9 months of age (unless they're altered as babies then this never occurs until adrenal sets in). They reach full physical maturity at 18 months to 2 yrs, depending on lines or until you surgically castrate. If you chemically castrate for some reason this only marginally affects their physical growth and they maintain most of their musculature and continue grow.
Good luck with your wee ones.
ciao

[bishop24]

I don’t have one but I’ve seen others with this one www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XTG94TH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gZRoBbG71ZA5C
It’s made out of plastic instead of metal bars so it looks more difficult to climb

I would love one but I can’t even get a mortgage yet so I’ll just have to wait for now. I still let them play in the park’s grass when they’re on their leash which they still love!

[unclejoe]

Be careful leaving them outside alone. Ferrets dig, and if you are rural enough there could be hawks eagles stray dogs etc that could be a problem.

[Heather]

I don't know of any pen, short of a permanent set up with a top and a bottom that I would trust a ferret in. I have a permanent set up that my Magicman dug his way out of....that's 2 ft of fencing that was sunk down 2 ft and extended 2 ft horizontally. It then had patio stones place on it. It didn't matter the sod got out. If you want to take your wee ones outside to play, put them on a leash and take it from there. Ferrets are expert escape artists I would not trust a normal playpen to keep them confined outside
ciao

[Blue]

I have a permanent set up that my Magicman dug his way out of....that's 2 ft of fencing that was sunk down 2 ft and extended 2 ft horizontally. It then had patio stones place on it.

Wow, that is impressive! Go Magicman! Did you notice him outside? Did he just come back on his own?

[Heather]

I had seen him outside hunting chipmunks earlier in the outdoor run.....I knew something was wrong when I called him later on and he didn't return. He always comes inside from the run when called. He had to have either heard me calling or come back on his own. When I ran into him, he was coming to me. I was walking the property perimeter. He came out from behind the jill's run. Where ever he'd been before, when I was calling him he either didn't hear me or was too far away to get to me in a timely fashion.
ciao

[Blue]

"Oh hey Mom, fancy meeting you here!" Too funny, although I guess he could have run into problems. Thankfully he's OK! Maybe he was ignoring you calling him in favor of checking out the jills