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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 8:54:14 GMT -5
I've been thinking about this for a while - I've done some research, but I don't feel I found enough answers. I am wondering how much does the lack of natural light affect the fuzzies? I read in some places that it may be linked to an increase risk of adrenal.
Here, we lack natural light in the winter season, which is at least half a year. In dec at least, we have just about 3 h of something like...twilight, not real light, and then it slowly starts to increase. But usually from Oct/Nov until just about March/April, the days are very short with just a couple of hours that are brighter (not like a day, but.. it's something!). I try to keep the lights on from morning until evening, to give a feeling that it is daytime, but I know that artificial light is not the same as having daylight.
On the opposite, we have about 5-6 months of pure daylight, no night, but that is a bit easier to manage with curtains.
What are your thoughts?
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Post by RedSky on Jan 20, 2015 9:41:20 GMT -5
Wow, not sure I could cope with that, I have vit D deficiency as it is in the UK! I've heard many times that not having proper day/night cycles is thought to be one of the contributions to adrenal, although I'm not sure of the effect of artificial lighting. I would be worried about the vitamin D requirements but have no idea what dose a ferret would need. If I were you I would invest in a reptile UV light, having it on a timer for at least a few hours a day. I'm also not sure of the optimum hours of day light to help them with their yearly cycle. I hope someone with who knows will be along soon to help you.
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Post by Desiree on Jan 20, 2015 12:38:29 GMT -5
I was actually very curious about this too. I know that a natural simulation of sunlight with as little artificial light is the best if possible. We use an orange bulb if we need in the bedroom to see so to disturb my little guys as little as possible. But what is considered a natural schedule? Could you base your light schedule on where polecats are most common?
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Post by Heather on Jan 20, 2015 13:27:18 GMT -5
Lighting is indeed very important. The idea is to not allow your artificial lighting and your normal daylight to exceed the "normal" amount for the time of year. Ferrets are photosensitive and their reproductive cycle is geared to this, which is why adrenal is directly linked to the amount of light received. 8 hrs of light appears to be the magic number. Once you get closer to 10 or more hours per day your ferret will come into season...meaning that adrenal can become active after that point (seemingly 16 hrs is the optimal number to bring a ferret into "breedable" status). I think it's best to allow your ferret some natural lighting but to never exceed the "normal" for the season. If you've only got 2 hrs of daylight then you can probably use another 6 hrs of artificial light without causing a reaction ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 14:33:21 GMT -5
RedSky sometimes I wonder how we survive everyone here is taking vitamin D in the winter, and that's also why we get sunburn everytime we go somewhere with a little bit of sun . For the winter time, I was considering giving my boys vitamin supplement, I'm not sure if it is necessary. I do feed raw - but the issue is that the meat is originated here, therefore they have the same deficiencies as everyone else... Have you used that type of light before, does it make a difference? I'll read more about it, it may be worth it. In the summer it's insane, I live here and I still go into overdrive when the summer comes, and stay awake for 48h or more in a row until my body collapses, because I have the feeling that the day never ends, adn my body reacts to it as being the same day. Heather That's an interesting point - because I think that up until now, we left them way more light than 8h a day. I mean, I think at least three hours. You mention the coming into season - does that still affect neutered ferrets? I'll try to make sure we leave it for less than 10h, and in the summer when we have 22h of daylight and about 2 of twilight, we use curtains. It's not pitch black, but it's better than outside. Our boys are very active (more than I expected), sometimes they're awake for almost the whole day - just snooze for an h or 2, and then wake up again,especially in the summer.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 14:43:50 GMT -5
Since ferrets sleep all the time, the thing i always try to do--- is make my babies' sleeping quarters a black out situation. I don't force him/her to sleep in the light by not having dark out curtains on cage. mine r free roamers, however when they nap, they go for their dark cages, or a drawer--but mostly the cages. I always try to limit my time in their room when i shut them in for the night,also. I have gone in with my flashlight instead of turning on the overhead light--- I maybe way out in left field but i am skiddish about that too.
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Post by raynebc on Jan 20, 2015 14:47:32 GMT -5
My ferrets have their own room with a window. I have to use some artificial lighting to take care of them because it's dark in the mornings and evenings, but it's a dim-able bulb so I usually keep the brightness down just in case that helps (although there's probably no proof that it does, it's the only thing I can do to decrease their exposure to artificial light).
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Post by RedSky on Jan 20, 2015 16:04:01 GMT -5
Do ferrets need light for vitamin D? Now that I think about it it's all about natural light on your skin, since they are covered in fur do they absorb the light through their fur or not need it? I suggested a UV light as that is what reptile keepers use for their lizards that need natural light for vitamin D, without it they can't absorb the calcium from their diet the same as with us.
Out of curiosity what do you take during winter for vitamin D? The doctors have got me on some high strength pills and ordered to eat/drink lots of dairy.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 17:41:23 GMT -5
Hmm...I wonder how it is with ferrets, if they absorb it the same way and if they would need supplementation... I though about giving them a supplement. On the other hand, they are raw fed and I read and heard many times that if the diet is balanced, supplementation is not necessary. However, where I live influences the nutritional values of the meat they eat as well.
I take a multivita complex because I need some magnesium supplementation for recovery after training (as I work as a fitness trainer), that includes D vit. I dunno if it actually is efficient, or if it makes a difference, but I know I do lack quite some stuff (not eating meat either). I do eat a lot of dairy, and as far as I noticed, it's all infused with extra vit D.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 19:23:10 GMT -5
I've been thinking about this for a while - I've done some research, but I don't feel I found enough answers. I am wondering how much does the lack of natural light affect the fuzzies? I read in some places that it may be linked to an increase risk of adrenal. Here, we lack natural light in the winter season, which is at least half a year. In dec at least, we have just about 3 h of something like...twilight, not real light, and then it slowly starts to increase. But usually from Oct/Nov until just about March/April, the days are very short with just a couple of hours that are brighter (not like a day, but.. it's something!). I try to keep the lights on from morning until evening, to give a feeling that it is daytime, but I know that artificial light is not the same as having daylight. On the opposite, we have about 5-6 months of pure daylight, no night, but that is a bit easier to manage with curtains. What are your thoughts? Not ferret related but I wanted to tell you: My best friend in the Air Force was attached to the American Embassy in Finland. She loved your country, the people and the food. She use to write me letters telling me how beautiful it is there. She did struggle though with the dark months.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 20:10:38 GMT -5
fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are stored, and not eliminated through the urine. This means that you can easily overdose your ferret, especially with vitamin A.
from a newsletter ---- ferret lovers club of Texas
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Post by Heather on Jan 21, 2015 0:52:33 GMT -5
Vit D should not be supplemented. A well balanced raw diet with sufficient amounts of digestible fats will cover any needs with Vit D. Ferrets when fed their proper diet get all the necessary nutrients that are required. We must have sunlight to help us process vit d...if we don't we must supplement. One of the things to remember is that altered ferrets suffer through the same seasons that their intact counterparts suffer through...that's why they get adrenal, their adrenal glands take over for their sexual organs...ferrets never really stop being sexual, they never stop seasoning. That's why when you've had intact ferrets in your house you will know how sensitive they are to the lighting. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 3:35:35 GMT -5
I'm not expert on lighting indoors or outdoor for ferrets but my ferrets have been both indoor and outdoor. Outdoor in the last 2 years. I will say that my fuzzies look and act much better since they have been outside. Gwen used to be a terrible biter and used to act up all the time. Since I have had her outside I can pick her up give her cuddles she will fall asleep on me. I have never had issues with Martin however but his mood has seemed to improve a lot since being outside. I live in the uk so our sunlight is pretty well regulated. We don't get super cold winters really just a lot of rain and we don't get super hot summers either just a lot of rain lol.
But they seem really happy out there. I have made their sleeping area pitch black with plenty of blankets so they can get under and block out any sun to sleep.
It might be to do with the amount of room they now have but then again when they were inside they had a whole spare room. Which was actually bigger than the enclosure I made.
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Post by RedSky on Jan 21, 2015 6:33:35 GMT -5
Good to know, so can people get vitamin D from meat? Or is it destroyed with cooking or can people just not absorb it through food?
How do the animals that are used for food get their vitamin D? Just thinking if they are kept indoors (as often they are in these mass producing 'farms') or especially in this case where they don't have sun light do they get their vitamin D from other sources. Since these animals are raised as meat for humans would anyone care enough to make sure they have enough Vitamin D, and therefore enough to pass on to the ferrets or other animals that eat them?
@dave, I'm also in the UK and hoping to get the ferrets out in the spring when I can get out into the garden to build an enclosure but want one linked into the houses somehow. At the moment though they are snuggled in their critter nation in the spare room. I think at the moment they are super happy to be in, it is very very cold outside and snowing quite a bit. All the side roads are covered, the tops aren't accessible but luckily the main roads have been cleared and gritted.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 8:07:24 GMT -5
RedSky we haven't had any snow with us yet (South Wales) but we are. Forecast. He have reflective heat pads in ours so that no warmth escapes through the floor of the hutch and we fill up the sleeping area with old hoodies and tee shirts. They even have an old dressing gown lol. We make our own pouches and stuff out of the hoods of jumpers just sow up the neck on them. When ever I put a hand in the sleeping bit it's always super warm so I am happy that they are warm enough through the winters we have.
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