Keeping breeder & farm ferrets together

[Jeremy's Boggle]

I am working toward having a pair of breeder ferrets. For pets only. I also know that we will always have rescue farm ferrets at the house. There have been some things I've wondered about keeping both.

1. I know there is talk/theories about about lymphoma being caused by a
virus. Have any breeders had one of their ferret who live with farm ferrets
get lymphoma or see this as a possible issue?

2. Are there usually problems housing them together. We don't have a large
house but do have enough space to keep them separate if necessary.

3. Any issue that have come up with ferrets you've placed?

[Deleted]

Aside from the issues that can always happen if ferrets don't get along with each other, I think the main additional thing you have to worry about is intact males going into rut.

You will most likely need a separate place for your intact male to live if / when he's in rut. That is if he's not neutered or implanted with DES. When he's in rut he will most likely not be able to live with the females, even the spayed ones, and he might even not be able to live with the males either. Every ferret is different. My Finn for example when it rut is able to live with 1 neutered male but the other neutered male, he molests all the time so he can't be with him. And he absolutely can't live with my spayed female when he's in rut, he goes after her in a flash.

Then if you have more than one male and they are not neutered or implanted with des, they may or may not be able to live with each other while in rut. Probably not. They would probably fight too much when in rut. Once again, this depends on the individual ferret.

So, I would say that to be safe, if you have breeder ferrets mixed with farm ferrets, assuming you have X groups of farm ferrets that get along with each other, and then you have Y intact hobs, then just to be safe and cover all your bases, you will need X + Y cages and X + Y separate playtimes or separate play areas.

For example if all your farm ferrets live together in one group and then you had 2 hobs, then during rut, you would most likely end up needing 3 cages and 3 separate playtimes, or else 3 play areas that don't mix. Then when they are not in rut, they might be able to be integrated with the others.

I can't tell you about the intact females though as I haven't owned one It is my understanding that they can co-exist with your farm ferrets, but then when they are in season, they might get territorial so at the very least they would need their own hidey hole or nesting area in the cage, and at worst, they might actually also need their own cage. I think with the females this depends on how they were raised as well.

[Heather]

Mikey's right. There are so many variables. It's far easier to plan them to be separate and be surprised when they choose a playmate than to plan to have them with someone only to have them be territorial. During their off season, they're very laid back and could easily be mistaken for farm ferrets by attitude. It's only when they're in season they become difficult ....driven is probably a good word to use. I have two hobs who are totally bonded....they're totally in tune with each other. To separate them would be cruel. In season they push the envelope about being allowed to stay together though. Especially, when they're aware that Lady Morgain is in season. They compete for her affections. Things are often a bit tense after Bacchus (who is my v-hob) comes back after spending a couple of nights in the honeymoon suite. His brother is often jealous and there is tension between them for a few days. I would think that young kits would be much simpler to work into an existing business but....it will depend on what they are like when they grow up. Unlike our farm ferrets, these little ones will grow up.
ciao

[nancyl]

Jills tend to be much more disagreeable than hobs and seem to recognize family members. I assume by scent. Joan has had mother/daughter pairs who live together in perfect harmony but who will not tolerate others, even sisters of the mother half of the pair. Cricket and Zoe hate each other, for instance, and if they ever got together it wouldn't be pretty. Zoe hated all the farm ferrets I had when I first brought her home. At the time, I had a little MF jill who was an alpha as well. They had a couple of major battles when Zoe got out at an inopportune time. She would also seek out and attack the boys.

Be prepared to separate but hope you don't have to. Depending on what breeder you get kits from it may not be necessary.

[acodlin]

Nadia is my intact female. She has a DES implant. She is a total hellion. I love her but she makes some of my other furkids lives h*ll. She holds a serious grudge against my farm ferrets who picked on her when she was a baby. She seeks them out multiple times daily for butt kickings. Sometimes I have to put her in time out just so the others can play or eat unmolested. She attacks Naobi too who is my special needs girl that wouldn't even hurt a fly. Now the farm ferrets that are in HER cage she is fine with. She never attacks them or hurts them, even when she was in season. I may have to eventually set her up so she only has play time with her cage mates. I hate having multiple play groups so I hope she grows out of this lol. She's like a teenage girl full of hormones, always talks back to me and tries to nip me if I tell her no or correct her bad behavior.

[Jeremy's Boggle]

So it seems that the issue is the same as always when introducing a new ferret. Know that you may have to do separate everything.

My only concern with getting hobs is the rut season. The breeder I've been talking to is Ann Barzda- Hillcrest Ferrets. She was recommended to me and my husband travels to her area regularly for work.

[Heather]

I think the first season is the worst. If you survive that you're golden....just get their lighting right when you bring them out ;D Tico is much more civilised this year...but then maybe the upheaval and moving to a new home was the issue and not his rut at all. He seemed much more intense and snarky last year. He's still restless and can be nippy but not nasty nippy this year. Playful nippy. He's much more fun and snuggly, a real sweetie this year....unfortunately...there's the smelly too.
I'm sure that Ann will help you get through this too. Lean on your breeder when you've got questions or having problems. They're a well of information, after all...they've been through a lot of what you're going to be dealing with many times. They also know their lines and the temperament of their lines. This offers huge insight when dealing with hobnoxious behaviour ;D.
ciao

[nancyl]

Ann Barzda is a very good breeder and has very nice stock. Keep in mind that any of Sarkany's get are hybrids and they are NOT the same as pure ferrets. I have a houseful now. They are quite different and much more challenging that the others.

[crazylady]

awwww heather you mean tico is not smelling of roses for valentines day lol take care bye for now
Bev

[Deleted]

Maybe he smells like roses to a jill in heat Bev?

[crazylady]

lol to a jill in heat he is the water in a desert you dont care how dirty the water is as long as you can quench your thirst lol

[Sherry]

;D ;D ;D

[Jeremy's Boggle]

;D ;D well I'm so glad that there is not going to be any romance among my furry friends ;D ;D

[Heather]

Unfortunately, a hob will make it where he chooses....he will have furry romance with whomever is his companions (male or female) which is why separation is often necessary . They're certainly a ferret on a "mission" ;D Finding the right companion who will put them in their place or roll with the punches when they're feeling frisky is the hard part.
ciao

[darlene]

Feb 12, 2013 8:50:38 GMT -5 Jeremy's Boggle said:

My only concern with getting hobs is the rut season. The breeder I've been talking to is Ann Barzda- Hillcrest Ferrets. She was recommended to me and my husband travels to her area regularly for work.

I would love to get a fert from her