|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2016 12:28:33 GMT -5
This year for the first time I have a vasectomised hob and I don't like any of my ferrets living alone so he is living with a spayed Jill. He was the quietest hob I had out of three possibilities which is why he was vasectomised but just this last week he has started ragging his cage mate around. I have two older entire hobs who both live with castrated hobs and spayed jills and Ive had no problems in these groups but one of them is 8 and one of them is 3.
I am now wondering whether to separate Barley (8 month old vas hob) from Flower or to leave them together and monitor things and wait for him to settle into his hormones. Flower has a slightly scabby scruff now but otherwise okay and not hiding or losing weight.
I was just wondering what everyone else's experiences were as I don't want Barley to live alone if he doesn't have to and also don't want him to live alone long-term when in season either but I don't want Flower to be unnecessarily stressed either.
If I was to split Barley and Flower this year, would there be a chance of him calming later in the year or in further years to the point where he can have company?
As its my first year with a vas hob I just wondered what everyone with experience thought. He does have an in season Jill to cover in a few days so will that teach him the difference between an in season Jill and a non receptive Jill and help?
|
|
|
|
Post by crazylady on Mar 5, 2016 12:52:26 GMT -5
Hi Vicki what I normally do is once spring starts my vas hobs go into a cage of there own because boys will be boys lol they don't care if the ladies are fixed or not lol its also easier to take a jill to a hobs territory than the other way round ( one of my older vas hobs who is doing his job as I type doesn't like anyone watching so he takes his ladies into his nest box lol) I don't know what your time frame is but normally I wait 8-12 weeks then just try them with one jill and bite my nails for six weeks to make sure everything has worked lol after breeding season I place my vas hobs back with there original cage mates and they settle back in as if no one has been away ( I normally cage them with 2 or 3 jills so the other jills don't miss him ) he is usually to shattered during breeding season to think hey where are my wives lol infact come September a few of them are looking at me as if to say oh god mom no no more women lol take care bye for now
Bev
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Mar 5, 2016 15:43:53 GMT -5
I've got a wee sprite who's running with my vassy and an intact hob but they don't live together. Mimsy (sprite) has fallen head over heals for my vassy. I don't want her to live with them because I don't want to give them the opportunity to practice on her and I don't want her to become overly bonded to the pair just because I want her to be able to live on her own, if the boys become too rowdy. Our intacts seem to be much better able to cope with their ever changing partners. Much easier than our alters but then maybe it's because our alters are kept in families like kits. I don't like them to be on their own either but my hob (Tico) becomes hobnoxious during the summer and cannot be left with his girlfriend (Lady Morgaine, is not a loving type during the whole mating season either....true poley attitude working overtime). This pair return to being best friends come August and once again move in together. As for the B&E twins they so far treat treat wee Mimsy with respect and allow her to tag along and have not harassed her. She doesn't pick up on their passes (she's an early alter, a Marshals product) and they're older so don't force themselves on her.
Perhaps, your vassy's hobnoxious behaviour toward his partner is because this is his first season. My guys are 5 yrs old this year and Bacchus is a really soft and gentle vassy
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2016 15:31:10 GMT -5
Hi Vicki what I normally do is once spring starts my vas hobs go into a cage of there own because boys will be boys lol they don't care if the ladies are fixed or not lol its also easier to take a jill to a hobs territory than the other way round ( one of my older vas hobs who is doing his job as I type doesn't like anyone watching so he takes his ladies into his nest box lol) I don't know what your time frame is but normally I wait 8-12 weeks then just try them with one jill and bite my nails for six weeks to make sure everything has worked lol after breeding season I place my vas hobs back with there original cage mates and they settle back in as if no one has been away ( I normally cage them with 2 or 3 jills so the other jills don't miss him ) he is usually to shattered during breeding season to think hey where are my wives lol infact come September a few of them are looking at me as if to say oh god mom no no more women lol take care bye for now Bev Barley was vasectomised back in November/December and I sent the bits we took out off for histo so luckily I already know we took about 6mm vas deferens both sides thank God! Hopefully he has not decided he is going to work anyway in the meantime! I have taken Flower out from Barley for now and she seems very glad to be back with her girlfriends, so I think Barley will have to stay on his own for the time being, I may try him back with Flower a little later in the season but she needs a break for now I think poor bean. I just hope he calms later on in the year or in future years so that he doesn't have to always be in solitary when he is in season. He will have 3-4 jills at least to bring out of season this year so maybe he will feel like he's had enough quite soon! Heather it's reassuring to know you have found the same with your older vasectomised/entire hobs so fingers crossed he is just being overzealous because it's his first season. I feel too mean to let him take it out on Flower though, I think she will be glad to sleep without being hassled tonight! I will just keep trying as the season goes on, or in future years and see. Housing is not a problem, I have 3 empty pens at the moment so plenty to split up hobs as and when it is required (I also have a pair of half brothers yet to come into season fully so hoping they will stay together but who knows!) ... naught Barley will have to manage without his girlfriend tonight ... but tomorrow he gets an in-season jill so he probably won't be too worried! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 14:15:11 GMT -5
Well ... so the jills went to their respective hobs today. And I have to say Barley bless him is a gentle lad and does seem to know his job.
Basil, on the other hand, is possibly an inexperienced hob (even though he is 3) ... he is not as nice with the ladies as Barley and Sydney. Little monster!
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Mar 7, 2016 15:58:41 GMT -5
Hmm, have a bit of a Neanderthal do you? Tico was horribly mean to Lady Lola this year. I did figure out the problem (took him to a new honeymoon suite) and he was upset by the new smells and noises. Once I gave him back his own room he was good to go but he was just horrible to her. He did take her out so we will see what happens.
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 16:04:53 GMT -5
Yes, I think I do have a Neanderthal  Glad I'm not the only one but it does make me feel horribly guilty and sort of makes me want to remove her straight after the first tie ... but I know that she probably won't get in kit if I do that and it will be for nothing. I have been spoilt really as Marley was a really gentle hob, Sydney is always gentle and Barley seems to be the same with Nutmeg today. Basil is just a bit mean though, more scruffing and scrabbling that is entirely necessary I feel. Bizarrely though, he does live with a delvo-ed jill and does none of this to her. It is only in-season jills apparently that deserve this sort of treatment. Or maybe Bracken suitably disciplined him before I had them (bought them as a bonded pair)  |
|
