Young Ferret with Older Ferrets

[topher8]

I may have posted something similar to this in the past but I guess I wanted to follow up...so I have 2 older ferrets, probably little over 5. I have one young ferret that is little over 1. My younger ferret usually comes bolting out of the cage full of energy and usually over time the older dudes slowly start to play with him (depending on their mood). I've noticed though as the older guys settle down after playing (normally at most an hour) they then go pass out somewhere. The younger guy seems to still want to play and then kind of realizes the older guys are passed out...and then he goes and passes out as well. I guess my question is that is this ok for the younger one? Should I not let him just go to sleep when the other guys do? Should I keep him entertained when the old guys start napping? Is there any harm if the younger guy isn't playing as much or only plays as much as the older guys? Not sure if it really matters but I wanted to ask to see if it was normal or healthy if the younger guy just goes with the flow of the older guys. Let me know. Thanks!

[Sherry]

You can try getting him to play with you solo. It would be a good bonding time for the two of you.

[topher8]

So when I come home from work sometimes I have other stuff to do so I just let them loose and go do my stuff. I guess my worry is while I'm doing other things I assume they are all playing together, etc. But sometimes when I come back from doing house stuff they are all passed out. I guess I just feel like maybe the 2 older guys get tired first and pass out and then the baby has nothing to do. Is that something I should worry about? I try to dedicate more time but sometimes I just have too much to do so I just let them loose while I do stuff.

[Tasha]

Before my oldest past away he would play with the little ones until he ran out of energy and then he would go for a nap. I have more than one younger ferret so they would usually continue to play together. Just make sure you have a lot of toys and dig boxes and such for your little one to play with and try to play with him as much as possible and it should be just fine. As long as he gets at least 4 hours out of cage there shouldn’t be a problem. Sometimes when I’m busy I’ll put dangles on my feet and play with them that way while I work, or even just giving them a little chase around the room. I find that my little ones have 30 minute spurts of super crazy energy so I try and poop them out during that time! Tubes and tunnels are really awesome toys for them, and depending if your ferret is deaf or not little mouse toys that squeak are a hit (just make sure they don’t get to the sound box!)

[crazylady]

Hi most older ferrets tend to mellow out and sleep more ( remember out in the wild they would sleep all day until dusk ) then they would come alive go running and hunting for food then back to the nest by dawn eat there meal and crash out all day lol oh for the life of a ferret lol
Bev