how to stop your fuzzy stashing meat

[lyles]

I would also like to add, as Heather mentioned, smaller pieces can help down on stashing. I noticed that when I chopped the bone-ins into 1-1.5 inch pieces they were much more likely to eat by the dish than to run off with it. They still do with certain meats though. Ferrets also have their favorite places. My Alice, for example, loves the bathroom and closet for some reason. I caught her trying to sneak some in them. It's just in their nature, all I can really give for advice is eliminate the areas that they can get in/under that is welcoming sites for them to stash and they will be less motivated to do so.

[olenka]

Mar 7, 2018 22:02:39 GMT -5 Blue said:

That reminds me of this adorable video -- I know many of us here have seen it. It's a Momma long-tailed weasel getting her babies over a wall. You can hear the babies honking, and the Mom doing a rapid-fire dooking to get everyone moving. The ending is pretty hilarious.

Yes, I saw this video before, as well as many others with ferrets climbing up different obstacles. This is why I assumed that they are climber:) 

[LindaM]

Yeah, but that video isn't about a ferret. And sadly, there are so many videos all over the internet and Youtube that shows ferrets doing one thing or another, or something other owners advise that is completely unacceptable. I don't even touch Youtube for videos of ferrets anymore, because I will without a doubt come across something that isn't good for them, or some owner without a clue leading the masses even deeper into the hole of bad care for ferrets.

[Sherry]

Linda is right- A black footed ferret isn't a domestic one. I believe Heather has noticed a tremendous difference between her hybrids (polecat/ferret x) and her domestic ferrets. Besides a massive difference in eyesight, they appear to have better balance and depth perception. Which would enable them to jump and climb much easier.

[Blue]

As I mentioned above, those are long-tailed weasels. It was just an example of a mustelid climbing, since we were talking about the possible biological origin of climbing. Plus it's just awesomely cute.

[mermaidsirena]

Mar 2, 2018 13:52:05 GMT -5 Heather said:

Try creating a feeding den. This often saves from stashing. Weigh and measure their food....too much food means it gets stashed. The other is to get into the habit of looking for meats. You can feed just in cage....but they still stash, so it's something one needs to be aware of. Even my mink stashes. It's the nature of the beast.
ciao

I created dens early on and these have prevented almost all stashing. It is rare instances and when it happens it is usually large chunks of meat. Mine seem be a bit lazy at times so my chunks stay the size of two 'four-dot' legos stacked together.

Here are my two dens, side by side.