|
Post by shayla on Dec 9, 2018 13:23:26 GMT -5
Hello, I hope this is the right place to post this. Back in August I adopted a young male ferret, Eden, but he had a severe limp. After immediately taking him to the Vet we did X-rays and felt his legs, joints, etc and saw nothing wrong. We put him on antibiotics and all that but nothing really made a difference.
My Vet recommended I wait until Eden is fully grown before introducing him to my other 3 ferrets (Rose, Kingsley, and Ivy). Eden is 6 months old this month and still has his limp, same as always, even after limiting his playing to carpet only and no climbing as well as being a solo ferret.
I started introducing him to my smallest female, Rose, since she is extremely gentle and half his size. They got along great! I then introduced him to Kingsley, my other male, because he has always been easy to bond though he is a bit rougher so playtime is always monitored.
The problem arises with my other female, Ivy. After Eden got along with the other two I thought why not try with Ivy, so I brought them out together and had them share a treat (Egg yolk). Things were fine until the treat was over, Ivy went to check Eden out (she already knows well of him since she's been around his cage and smelled him for months. I've also introduced them with cage bars between them in the past). She was just sniffing at first but suddenly then pounced on him and went to attack. I separated them immediately so she never really got the chance to attack him because I am a little scarred from a rescue I fostered a while back that hurt Kingsley. Ivy seemed to show the same level of aggression as the rescue I had.
My other two ferrets love Eden but whenever Ivy sees him she tries to lunge at the cage to get to him. She goes from sleepy eyed to completely alert and ready to attack when he's in the cage room (my bedroom). Eden currently is caged separately in the spare room.
Eden is completely okay with Ivy, even now he wants to play with her but I worry she will never take a liking to him. Eden definitely is a ferret loving ferret and should be together with his siblings. Even though I play with him a lot, he's so happy when he's playing with Rose and Kingsley.
How do you guys feel about the situation? Do you think Ivy and Eden have a chance? If so, what other steps should I take to make sure they have the best chance?
|
|
|
Post by abbeytheferret6 on Dec 9, 2018 17:06:02 GMT -5
I wouLd certainly let him play with the two he gets along with. I have two groups---3 girls in one group and then my lone male. Sometimes when I am cleaning one of the girls will slip out of the ferret room---my hands will be full with potties. My male will be having the house for his free roam day. It is always instant attack here too, so I have resigned myself to two groups.
When I first brought my male home one of my girls chased him thru the house and caught him in the laundry room where they tusseled. The next day she was holding her paw up(butterfly break in leg). The owners of my male told me he liked playing with their puppy---but after being attacked---I think my girls' chances of having another playmate is gone.
|
|
|
Post by shayla on Dec 9, 2018 17:32:24 GMT -5
Yeah, that's what I'm worried for. I've had to completely rework my husband and my's schedules temporarily to make sure each group for the last couple months has had enough free roam around the house. But unfortunately with us both working full time it would be very unlikely they each group would get enough play time if I have to keep them separated so I'm hoping someone may be able to help me figure out a way to help Ivy tolerate Eden.
Ivy is completely fine playing with Rose and Kingsley; she was even mellow with the rescue I fostered a while back, though he did try to attack her so she didn't get to spend much time with the rescue while he was staying with me.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Dec 9, 2018 19:24:44 GMT -5
Personally, I'm never good with forcing an integration. It usually results in ulcers and stress issues. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. It's like asking you to play with the bully even if you can't get along. We choose the ferret's playmates, sometimes it works out...you've got 2 playgroups that I can see at the moment. Is there a small space that one can play in and every other day or something have those two ferrets switch their playmates. You might eventually be able to work this out, but when one ferret deliberately hunts another, the chances are usually slim that integration and peace is possible, so other solutions must be found ciao
|
|
|
Post by shayla on Dec 9, 2018 23:24:30 GMT -5
Oh man, I hope that's not the case! I'm just living in a basement suite currently so there's not much space I could use to separate them aside from having one group be in the living room/kitchen area and one in my bedroom but then the other group wouldn't be able to access their cage if they wanted to which bugs them.
|
|
|
Post by abbeytheferret6 on Dec 10, 2018 8:25:56 GMT -5
Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/24926/bonding-issues?page=1#ixzz5ZHqLZKJeWhen my girls r free roam they can't access the cages either. I have a little storage closet with blankets on the floor. One or two will sleep in there(they crawl under the door) while another will sleep behind the couch. A nightstand with drawers with a blanket is sufficient too. Boxes or baskets with blankets tucked here and there may be enticing.
|
|
|
Post by shayla on Dec 10, 2018 9:52:13 GMT -5
I have pet beds all around my suite too, my ferrets don't use them. They're most comfortable (excluding Rose) sleeping in their cage.
|
|
|
Post by shayla on Dec 10, 2018 9:57:44 GMT -5
So does anyone have any bonding tricks I could try? I've never actually tried to bond Ivy and Eden, because I'm a little petrified from the rescue I had. They haven't been together for more than a couple minutes until I saw her lunge. I just want to make sure I try everything I can in the best way before trying to settle with the idea it just isn't going to happen.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Dec 10, 2018 20:52:18 GMT -5
You can try exchanging blankets and such. You can also try setting up a playpen that allows them to play alongside each other while not really accessing each other. It will also allow you the opportunity to observe and see if the aggression continues. I've never been very fond of the whole bathing them together as misery loves company but I suppose you could try that. Everyone is miserable together and everyone smells the same. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Charlie on Dec 10, 2018 21:11:27 GMT -5
You can also try switching cages with each of them while the other 2 play outside of the cages. So put Ivy in Eden's cage and Eden in Ivy's cage. I was also going to suggest bathing them so they both smell the same but I wasn't thinking to bathe them together. lol
Usually when introducing new pets they also suggest doing it in a neutral place. But if all your ferret's have been everywhere in your place that might be hard to do.
I brought my sister's ferret home to care for her while my sister was out of the country. I just gave them very short play times together and slowly increased their play time.
|
|
|
Post by shayla on Dec 11, 2018 0:31:50 GMT -5
Hmm, I never thought to put Ivy in Eden's cage. I will definitely try that! I don't overly have a neutral area for them unless you think maybe outside on leashes would work? I truly appreciate the advice, I'll try having Ivy sleep in Eden's cage while he's out for playtime in the coming days and bathing them. Thank you, Charlie!
|
|
|
Post by Charlie on Dec 11, 2018 20:04:20 GMT -5
Hmm, I never thought to put Ivy in Eden's cage. I will definitely try that! I don't overly have a neutral area for them unless you think maybe outside on leashes would work? I truly appreciate the advice, I'll try having Ivy sleep in Eden's cage while he's out for playtime in the coming days and bathing them. Thank you, Charlie! Like Heather said, don't force it though. If Eden isn't peeing or pooping or running away to hide then it's good and Ivy isn't drawing blood. Be close and break things up. I started with very short play times. If I didn't like how it was going and too much noise I stopped it. You obviously know Ivy very well, because you can see her body language too, like with the foster ferret. It may take a really long time for them to connect but be patient. You could try taking them outside with leashes. That way you have control and how close they get and keep them far enough apart with the leashes. I can tell when my ferret has had enough of the other (sister's) ferret. Then it's time to separate them. My guy does a lot more hissing so I know he's annoyed with her now. lol Like other animals, you have to give them space and time. How long have you had Eden now?
|
|
|
Post by shayla on Dec 13, 2018 13:08:47 GMT -5
Heather o my goodness, I didnt even notice your second message! I will definitely try the playpen thing. Don't worry, I won't try to force them; I would never do anything to put them under too much stress! I just want to make sure they have their best chance. Charlie yeah I thought the leash approach may be a good idea too. I'm starting this whole thing out really slow. So far I've just been putting Ivy in Eden's cage in the morning when he's out to play with the other two ferrets and she's fine with it. She curls up right in his bed! I adopted Eden in late August I never tried to bond them though until this past month because he had a severe limp in his back end that the vet wanted to see improve before he played with the others.
|
|
|
Post by kraesmom on Dec 13, 2018 13:47:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Charlie on Dec 13, 2018 16:40:35 GMT -5
Heather o my goodness, I didnt even notice your second message! I will definitely try the playpen thing. Don't worry, I won't try to force them; I would never do anything to put them under too much stress! I just want to make sure they have their best chance. Charlie yeah I thought the leash approach may be a good idea too. I'm starting this whole thing out really slow. So far I've just been putting Ivy in Eden's cage in the morning when he's out to play with the other two ferrets and she's fine with it. She curls up right in his bed! I adopted Eden in late August I never tried to bond them though until this past month because he had a severe limp in his back end that the vet wanted to see improve before he played with the others. Oh ok! That makes sense so Eden wouldn't be running around with his leg. You may also want to put Eden in Ivy's cage as well so then Eden's smell is in Ivy's cage too.
|
|