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Post by Charlie on Jan 12, 2019 11:23:28 GMT -5
You're an awesome mama!
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Post by shayla on Jan 12, 2019 21:48:14 GMT -5
Thank you guys so much!
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Post by shayla on Jan 14, 2019 10:47:40 GMT -5
Hello!
So, my husband and I have been taking Eden and Ivy outside everyday this weekend. We decided to do it again this morning before work. We were only outside for probably around 5 minutes when both of them wanted to come inside away from the cold. We brought them inside together and gave them some oil. They seemed fine so I blocked off the living room area and the bedroom and gave them a short playtime in the kitchen/hallway/bathroom (didn't want them getting under the couch and/or bed together. She treated him almost just like her siblings except she was a little more interested in him and would sniff him quite often. I brought out their favourite toy (thru-way tube) and Ivy and Eden played in it.
My comment today, though, was that Ivy was completely fine playing in the tube with Eden. But once they left the tube the second play session in it, she pinned him lightly and then he pinned her. I felt like it was about to turn into a bit of a dominance battle (which isn't always bad) but because of some worries off of past experiences with my former rescue, I separated it. I gave them both some pets and they went back to just exploring. I only let them play for another couple minutes before figuring that was enough exposure to one another and I put Eden back away in his cage and let Ivy continue playing with the others. Should I have let them continue with pinning each other? Or should I keep the exposure short enough that there's no dominance battle?
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Post by Heather on Jan 14, 2019 11:27:32 GMT -5
At some point you're going to have to allow some rough up, it's the unfortunate part of the whole integration and acceptance. I would have let them go a bit longer. They've got to be able to tussle if they're going to work it out. You've done really well. The fact that she pinned him and then he pinned her and she didn't turn it into a full on battle is huge advancements ciao
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Post by shayla on Jan 14, 2019 18:09:41 GMT -5
Thank you for the advice, Heather! I know you're right, it's just a tough pill to swallow.
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Post by Charlie on Jan 14, 2019 21:16:18 GMT -5
You obviously know Ivy well enough!! Sounds like you are making great progress. You go at your pace. Yes, they will probably fight a little more. I was the same way when I had my sister's ferret here for a short time. At my sister's house there were no issues but at my place Charlie was a little more territorial because it was his place. So I did intervene a little more than I probably should have. But I also didn't want Charlie to hurt the baby because she was much tinier. But boy can she dish it back!! lol Just keep increasing the exposure a bit longer each time and before you know it they will be playing all together!! Yay!!
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Post by shayla on Jan 14, 2019 22:20:36 GMT -5
Charlie, you are so encouraging! Thank you so much! I'm glad to see so much progress but will definitely continue taking it slow and being patient with them. It's such a tough thought of letting her give him a little battle! He is bigger than her, though, so I think he would be able to hold his own. I'll keep the exposure short and sweet still for the next while just increasing a little at a time. If anything changes whether positive or negative I'll keep you updated!
Thank you for being here through the integration!
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Post by Charlie on Jan 15, 2019 3:02:06 GMT -5
. That's one thing I have is a lot of patience. I'd be doing the same thing and taking it slow and giving the 2 ferts a really good chance to be able to integrate. Down the road, I may bring in another fuzzy. Who knows. I know Charlie will be ok with it because he has shown me he can with my sister's ferret but maybe the new ferret I bring in may not want to integrate with Charlie. Although I am having so much fun with just Charlie and I right now, we have such a special bond. Ivy just needs more time to warm up to Eden.
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Post by shayla on Jan 16, 2019 12:45:17 GMT -5
I know! I still have a special bond with Rose, she was my first. I had her for only around 7 months before adopting a second. But because of that period alone with just her and me, she still has a special connection with me. If I'm cleaning or anything she will climb the couch or my bed and jump onto my back to sit on my shoulder while I clean. She goes out of her way to search for me and is my little shadow. As much as she loves her siblings, she always prefers time with her mum!
As far as Eden and Ivy are going, it's great. I let them have a bit of a dominance battle, it didn't last long. About a minute or two of pinning each other. No hissing or anything but Ivy was super chatty while it was happening. Then they just started playing together through the tube and in their little cube den. Whenever I expose them there's always a little session of pinning but nothing heavy.. It's great news!
You've been so good with ferret math so far! It became a weakness of mine; I can't even look at a ferret without wanting to adopt it. LOL
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Post by Charlie on Jan 16, 2019 17:05:41 GMT -5
LOL I have seen many ferrets and not have had the urge to get another yet. Wow, sounds like the integration is going well! I know my sister's ferret was also very chatty when Charlie and her were getting acquainted. There's no hissing going on. Has Ivy stopped lunging at Eden? I think Ivy is just voicing her dislike for getting pinned. lol Just make sure that they both have somewhere to escape and that they aren't fighting in a closed in area so one of them can't escape if they have to. I think you will have one big business!!! So funny Charlie, jumps on my back too when I'm cleaning his cage.
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Post by shayla on Jan 16, 2019 23:28:56 GMT -5
Fantastic self control! LOL Yeah, it seems to be going really well. She doesn't lunge at him at all anymore, just follows sometimes. They do have little pinning battles here and there but nothing aggressive. I can't even explain how happy I am about it! They have full run of the house together with the siblings when I'm exposing them to each other, except my bedroom because under my bed is the one place I definitely wouldn't be able to get to. Don't say that! haha! I keep promising my husband.. "this is the last one" "no more, I swear!" That's adorable! Gotta keep a close eye on you while you're mixing up his bedroom!
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Post by Charlie on Jan 17, 2019 16:50:36 GMT -5
LOL No I mean 1 big business as in all your ferrets will be together soon and not have 2 separate play times and eventually all living together. I didn't mean as in getting more ferrets. haha
The little pinning battles is them playing. Charlie and Mitzi did that all the time too. It was funny watching them because Charlie would just lay across Mitzi. lol Mitzi on the other hand would always go after Charlie and grab him behind the neck. Charlie would do that sometimes but mostly just lay on Mitzi. haha
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Post by shayla on Jan 18, 2019 20:24:00 GMT -5
Yeah, I think she's fully accepted him at this point. When I took him to the vet today I brought the other three along (I have a pet stroller ) and she cuddled up with him in it. I brought a carrier as well incase it didn't go well but they were happy. I'm still going to keep him in the other cage for a little longer. Partially because I want to make sure she's completely comfortable with him around the house before he joins her in their bedroom but also because I want his toe to heal up first! Mitzi and Charlie's situation sounds pretty similar to Ivy and Eden at this point. I think they will be the best of friends in no time as they both are the most energetic of all! Thanks for all your support Charlie!
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Post by Charlie on Jan 18, 2019 22:12:00 GMT -5
Oh Mitzi went home already. I never had them sleeping together knowing that Mitzi would be going home. I didn't want them completely bonded but just as play friends. They were great with playing with each other. I hope when I go to visit my sister that Mitzi and Charlie remember each other.
Yeah probably a good idea to let the toe heal! What you can do is have a bed or something in the area where they play and stuff so if they get tired they can cuddle up all together as one big group!! So when Eden's toe is all healed up you can just put him in with the others.
I had a carrier that had a hammock in it on the floor and Charlie would go in to take a nap and Mitzi would crawl in too. AT first Charlie would leave because he didn't want to hang with Mitzi in there. lol Then at the end he did but it was like a 10 minute nap. haha
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Post by shayla on Jan 21, 2019 10:21:30 GMT -5
That was probably the best way you could do it: not letting them sleep together. Would probably be pretty lonely once Mitzi went back to her home! That's a good idea, I do have a large bed and a hidey hole in my living room but they choose to curl up on the floor under the couch instead together Your carrier situation reminds me of when I first adopted my second. Rose was always annoyed when I adopted Ivy because Ivy ALWAYS wanted to be wherever Rose was but Rose was used to having everything to herself. I remember at one point Rose settled on sleeping butt to butt! They would both be in the cube hammock but Rose's head would be out one side onto another hammock and Ivy's would be out the opposite hole onto a floor of the cage!
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