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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 9:12:43 GMT -5
My mum is very adamant about having an outdoor enclosure for when we get ferrets which I guess is okay. (sniff) I want to know if it would be better to keep them outside with an hour playtime inside everyday or have a ferret nation in my room but with a longer playtime around 3-4 hours. I also think she is worried about the smell and them biting. If anyone has advice on that to perhaps reduce the smell and to stop them from biting, please let me know. Thanks (dance)
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Post by ferretbrah on Sept 7, 2015 11:26:19 GMT -5
Most important question is where do you live? What are the temperatures throughout the year, wild animals there, etc
As for smell, mop often (once a week), vacuum once or twice a week, get a carpet steam cleaner and do that a few times a month. Wash the ferret bedding and your bedding often. Their 'smell' build up on fabric. When washing, try to wash their sleeping fabrics with a hyper allergenic unscented detergent, instead of those flowery ones.
Imo it is better to keep them indoors and either set up some type of pin outside or just take them outside when weather permits.
If indoors though you want to avoid artificial light as much as possible.
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Post by Heather on Sept 7, 2015 12:55:07 GMT -5
I would be very concerned about a ferret left outside. I know it's done but even in areas that normally have moderate temps ferrets are now at risk with the erratic weather. My ferrets have access to a play area, the wilderness I call it. It's accessed by tunnels but it's irrelevant except they've not been allowed to use it right now. It's too hot. The temp reads almost 40 degrees today. Every year ferrets die from heat issues because they live outdoors. If you live in either Canada or the US the possibility of living outdoors 24/7 is practically nil. Even in Australia the rescues are now advocating keeping ferrets indoors, especially in the summer. Even if the temps are conducive to allowing him to live outdoors the mosquitoes and diseases are not. In Europe the problem of heart worm doesn't exist. It does here. All it requires for the larvae to become active is the temp to be consistently higher than 68 F for more than 2 weeks. You mention it yourself....being allowed to play and interact with you for about an hour a day, yet if he lives indoors he will be allowed to interact with you for 3 or 4 hrs. Which do you suppose would be better for your ferrets? My vote is for indoors, at least in that respect even on days that you don't really feel like interacting you will have to. Outdoor ferrets can be ignored. I'm not saying you will but care has a tendency to be much more consistent and better for indoor ferrets. Ferrets, especially low numbers have no reason to smell. Cleaning their bedding and litter boxes and feeding a species appropriate diet goes a long way to keeping the smell down ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 13:06:50 GMT -5
One thing about ferrets. They are very smart. Think of a two year old toddler. The little ones are happiest and that leads to a healthy ferret when they have alot of attention and stimulation.
I don't think that this is a good idea. I know that working ferrets live outside in Europe but they receive alot of stimulation and attention. They have a purpose to their lives and their ferrents are invested in making sure that their ferrets are well fed and receive alot of attention.
I would worry about bugs, wild predators, boredom and very unhappy little ones. You say that you don't have ferrets yet. Maybe you and your Mum should sit down together and really talk it out before any ferrets come home.
Some research and learning about ferrets will surprise you. They are not little animals like bunnies or guinea pigs. They are funny, curious, smart, very loving and have strong emotions. They build loving bonds with their friends and ferrents. They truly can be as smart, if not smarter than some dogs and cats. When I say they are like a two year old, I mean that. They can problem solve, want hugs and kisses and will throw tantrums but mostly they want love. Love and attention makes for a very happy ferret. They need to be with their friends and they want to be with you and part of your home.
I wish you the best and hope you find a good solution that works for both your mom and you.
:wave3:
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:02:22 GMT -5
Most important question is where do you live? What are the temperatures throughout the year, wild animals there, etc As for smell, mop often (once a week), vacuum once or twice a week, get a carpet steam cleaner and do that a few times a month. Wash the ferret bedding and your bedding often. Their 'smell' build up on fabric. When washing, try to wash their sleeping fabrics with a hyper allergenic unscented detergent, instead of those flowery ones. Imo it is better to keep them indoors and either set up some type of pin outside or just take them outside when weather permits. If indoors though you want to avoid artificial light as much as possible. I live in Wales I have been trying to convince her for a few weeks now that I would rather them inside because it is quite rainy. (I have never liked the thought of keeping an animal in a shed)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:07:43 GMT -5
I would be very concerned about a ferret left outside. I know it's done but even in areas that normally have moderate temps ferrets are now at risk with the erratic weather. My ferrets have access to a play area, the wilderness I call it. It's accessed by tunnels but it's irrelevant except they've not been allowed to use it right now. It's too hot. The temp reads almost 40 degrees today. Every year ferrets die from heat issues because they live outdoors. If you live in either Canada or the US the possibility of living outdoors 24/7 is practically nil. Even in Australia the rescues are now advocating keeping ferrets indoors, especially in the summer. Even if the temps are conducive to allowing him to live outdoors the mosquitoes and diseases are not. In Europe the problem of heart worm doesn't exist. It does here. All it requires for the larvae to become active is the temp to be consistently higher than 68 F for more than 2 weeks. You mention it yourself....being allowed to play and interact with you for about an hour a day, yet if he lives indoors he will be allowed to interact with you for 3 or 4 hrs. Which do you suppose would be better for your ferrets? My vote is for indoors, at least in that respect even on days that you don't really feel like interacting you will have to. Outdoor ferrets can be ignored. I'm not saying you will but care has a tendency to be much more consistent and better for indoor ferrets. Ferrets, especially low numbers have no reason to smell. Cleaning their bedding and litter boxes and feeding a species appropriate diet goes a long way to keeping the smell down ciao Thank you so much for your feedback I am really trying with my mum to let them inside I don't think she realises how much I actually want them inside.(giggle) I have been trying to tell her all I have learnt about ferrets since I have been on this amazing forum but i'm not going to push it We won't be getting them for a while so I have plenty of time to show her how much I care for them having the best. Thank you for your advice (Maybe I can show my mum this forum (dance))
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:12:18 GMT -5
One thing about ferrets. They are very smart. Think of a two year old toddler. The little ones are happiest and that leads to a healthy ferret when they have alot of attention and stimulation. I don't think that this is a good idea. I know that working ferrets live outside in Europe but they receive alot of stimulation and attention. They have a purpose to their lives and their ferrents are invested in making sure that their ferrets are well fed and receive alot of attention. I would worry about bugs, wild predators, boredom and very unhappy little ones. You say that you don't have ferrets yet. Maybe you and your Mum should sit down together and really talk it out before any ferrets come home. Some research and learning about ferrets will surprise you. They are not little animals like bunnies or guinea pigs. They are funny, curious, smart, very loving and have strong emotions. They build loving bonds with their friends and ferrents. They truly can be as smart, if not smarter than some dogs and cats. When I say they are like a two year old, I mean that. They can problem solve, want hugs and kisses and will throw tantrums but mostly they want love. Love and attention makes for a very happy ferret. They need to be with their friends and they want to be with you and part of your home. I wish you the best and hope you find a good solution that works for both your mom and you. :wave3: I hope I can find a solution too. I don't want to leave them in a shed. I have been trying for a while to let me have them inside, I think she is worried about the smell and biting mainly so I am looking everywhere on this forum for tips. Hopefully I will be able to convince her before we get them (Next year)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:16:08 GMT -5
If you feed them a Natural Diet then they don't smell like kibble fed ferrets. I can't answer for intact ferrets. We're in the States and most of ours are already descented.
Biting training or nip training is simply a matter of teaching them their social skills. When you work with them and spend time with them, you're going to have snuggles and kisses.
Wales must be very beautiful.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:17:59 GMT -5
I should mention that I have a friend who is a breeder. She has a basement with around 35 ferrets. Intact and not intact. Her basement does not smell. It's alot of work to keep up with cleaning that many cages but you would never know that she had a basement full of ferrets.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:19:43 GMT -5
If you feed them a Natural Diet then they don't smell like kibble fed ferrets. I can't answer for intact ferrets. We're in the States and most of ours are already descented. Biting training or nip training is simply a matter of teaching them their social skills. When you work with them and spend time with them, you're going to have snuggles and kisses. Wales must be very beautiful. Okay thank you for your advice. I do plan on feeding a raw diet I have written down a few points from the frankenprey menu. (giggle) And yes Wales is beautiful I love walking in the countryside.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:21:06 GMT -5
Wow 35 ferrets! That must be ALOT of cleaning
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:21:45 GMT -5
That's great! When all is settled, we have a Mentoring program that you can sign up for. Take a look at some of the Members switching threads and you'll see how the process works.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:24:16 GMT -5
Oh really that sounds great I'll have a look when I have them (Hopefully they will be indoors )
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Post by Heather on Sept 7, 2015 14:35:55 GMT -5
My wee Lady Lola came from Wales. I'm watching her playing with her two daughters and the B&E twins (a pair of 'bino boys from northern UK). I would miss all this if they were outdoors. I wouldn't house my guys outdoors only because I would miss the interaction that I get. I hope you can convince your mother that you will look after them indoors. Remember there isn't much difference between ferrets and cats. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2015 14:43:04 GMT -5
Oh wow A long journey for Lady Lola then. I will keep trying to convince her. There seems to be alot more Albinos over here I think its because they are easier to identify whilst hunting.
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