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Post by lexmex on Feb 25, 2019 14:58:24 GMT -5
Hi everyone I think I’m posting this correctly?? Never been apart of a forum before. I dont currently have any ferrets but I do plan on getting some very soon (already gotten a double ferret Nation and made some fleece liners for it as well). I figured that I would join before I got the ferrets so that I can maximize the amount of knowledge I’m getting. I have a habit of over researching my pet prospects (I have no clue how people impulse buy lol!). Anyway just thought I would say hi. I look forward to interacting with everyone.
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Hello!!
Feb 25, 2019 15:22:16 GMT -5
Post by powerwoman on Feb 25, 2019 15:22:16 GMT -5
Hi everyone I think I’m posting this correctly?? Never been apart of a forum before. I dont currently have any ferrets but I do plan on getting some very soon (already gotten a double ferret Nation and made some fleece liners for it as well). I figured that I would join before I got the ferrets so that I can maximize the amount of knowledge I’m getting. I have a habit of over researching my pet prospects (I have no clue how people impulse buy lol!). Anyway just thought I would say hi. I look forward to interacting with everyone. Welcome!
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Hello!!
Feb 25, 2019 19:04:04 GMT -5
Post by peacexlovexpets on Feb 25, 2019 19:04:04 GMT -5
Welcome and congrats on the research (it's nice to hear)!
As far as fleece liners go: you may want to not use them right away, as new noodles (unless you are adopting rescues) tend to have accidents and you will be washing them non-stop. It took about 2-3weeks to get my kit trained/cleaned up enough to put my fleece liners in my cage.
Have you decided where you are getting your ferrets from?
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Hello!!
Feb 25, 2019 19:12:00 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by lexmex on Feb 25, 2019 19:12:00 GMT -5
Welcome and congrats on the research (it's nice to hear)! As far as fleece liners go: you may want to not use them right away, as new noodles (unless you are adopting rescues) tend to have accidents and you will be washing them non-stop. It took about 2-3weeks to get my kit trained/cleaned up enough to put my fleece liners in my cage. Have you decided where you are getting your ferrets from? Good to know about liners! Currently I’m thinking of adoption as I don’t know of any breeders near me. although there aren’t many for adoption I can find here in Las Vegas. There’s two I’ve found so far but there might be others once I’m actually ready to get one. The pet stores around here sell only Marshall’s ferrets and those are poorly bred I hear (although an adopted ferret would also likely be a Marshall’s ferret). I know guinea pig owners make fleece liners with an absorbent layer in them could that be an option? If not what type of bedding would you suggest?
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Feb 25, 2019 19:21:53 GMT -5
Post by peacexlovexpets on Feb 25, 2019 19:21:53 GMT -5
What I did with my boys is I left them w/ no liners in their cage while they were litter box training (I have two rescues at 3yrs, and one 4-5mo kit). It helps with the litter box training if you restrict how much of the cage they have access to (as in, only give them half of the double critter nation to start) and if you use the right type of litter box (low lipped, I make my own by buying heavy containers that fit the cage width perfectly and then cutting out the front of the box, so the lip is only about 1" high for them to step over)-otherwise they tend to get in the habit of pooping right next to the litter box as opposed to in it. My boys sleep in hammocks: www.etsy.com/listing/628848340/hammock-small-pet-ferret-chinchilla-rat?ref=shop_home_active_4&frs=1www.etsy.com/listing/632755058/hammock-for-ferret-rat-chinchilla-guinea?ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1And then I would leave some cheap fleece throws ($2.50ea at Walmart) in their cage. They seemed to soil the blankets almost daily, so I kept a bunch and just rotated so they always had clean ones that didn't smell like pee, otherwise they would think it was okay to keep peeing on the blankets. Make sure you use the right litter (paper based, non-clumping litter) in the boxes. Also, I found it helps if you give them a "bathroom" smell, so they don't have to rely on the smell of feces already present in the litter box. I spray my boxes w/ dilute vanilla water twice a day after I clean them out, so the ferrets have associated that vanilla is the bathroom smell, so I can keep the litter boxes completely clean and not have to worry about future accidents.
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Feb 26, 2019 10:21:33 GMT -5
Post by abbeytheferret6 on Feb 26, 2019 10:21:33 GMT -5
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Feb 26, 2019 14:36:47 GMT -5
Post by lee on Feb 26, 2019 14:36:47 GMT -5
Hello and welcome.
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Feb 26, 2019 22:25:48 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by lexmex on Feb 26, 2019 22:25:48 GMT -5
What I did with my boys is I left them w/ no liners in their cage while they were litter box training (I have two rescues at 3yrs, and one 4-5mo kit). It helps with the litter box training if you restrict how much of the cage they have access to (as in, only give them half of the double critter nation to start) and if you use the right type of litter box (low lipped, I make my own by buying heavy containers that fit the cage width perfectly and then cutting out the front of the box, so the lip is only about 1" high for them to step over)-otherwise they tend to get in the habit of pooping right next to the litter box as opposed to in it. My boys sleep in hammocks: www.etsy.com/listing/628848340/hammock-small-pet-ferret-chinchilla-rat?ref=shop_home_active_4&frs=1www.etsy.com/listing/632755058/hammock-for-ferret-rat-chinchilla-guinea?ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1And then I would leave some cheap fleece throws ($2.50ea at Walmart) in their cage. They seemed to soil the blankets almost daily, so I kept a bunch and just rotated so they always had clean ones that didn't smell like pee, otherwise they would think it was okay to keep peeing on the blankets. Make sure you use the right litter (paper based, non-clumping litter) in the boxes. Also, I found it helps if you give them a "bathroom" smell, so they don't have to rely on the smell of feces already present in the litter box. I spray my boxes w/ dilute vanilla water twice a day after I clean them out, so the ferrets have associated that vanilla is the bathroom smell, so I can keep the litter boxes completely clean and not have to worry about future accidents. Thanks for the litter training tips. I didn’t know that about the “bathroom” smell most other articles I’ve read just said leave some soiled litter in their litter box so that will come in handy I’m sure!
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Feb 28, 2019 9:06:28 GMT -5
Post by unclejoe on Feb 28, 2019 9:06:28 GMT -5
Hi there! We have a couple hammocks in the cage, and we also have a bed box on each level which we line with old t-shirts. We put a shirt or two in the hammocks as well. We have 3 litter boxes in the cage because there are 2-3 ferrets per level, and one with poor vision. We put newspapers around the boxes on his level.
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Hello!!
Feb 28, 2019 10:45:29 GMT -5
Post by abbeytheferret6 on Feb 28, 2019 10:45:29 GMT -5
I have had no difficulty with ferrets poohing on cage floors--- as long as I had a litter box on each level. My waardy would not come down to first floor at night to use her litter pan, so I put one on top floor--- that worked. There have been some problem babies here though. I use Marshall's square litter pans, but you can make your own. Ferrets want something that their body will fit into and can turn around in. So the little corner ones are really useless.
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Hello!!
Mar 1, 2019 16:32:12 GMT -5
Post by peacexlovexpets on Mar 1, 2019 16:32:12 GMT -5
I have had no difficulty with ferrets poohing on cage floors--- as long as I had a litter box on each level. My waardy would not come down to first floor at night to use her litter pan, so I put one on top floor--- that worked. There have been some problem babies here though. I use Marshall's square litter pans, but you can make your own. Ferrets want something that their body will fit into and can turn around in. So the little corner ones are really useless. How big of litter pans do you use? I have 3 boys in a double critter nation. I have one box on the bottom level of my cage that takes up the full width of the cage (about 22"x14"), and then my one on the top level is perhaps too small (8"x14"). They tend to have an accident every other night or so on the level with the small box (I have caught one of my boys standing with his front feet in the box and pooing outside of the box more than once). Would rather not give up so much of their space to another giant litter box, but I'm not sure if that's what they are ultimately going to need. In order to fit another big box, I would have to take out their scratch pad that they love to roll on and dig at Decisions decisions
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Post by Charlie on Mar 2, 2019 0:30:40 GMT -5
Hi! You aren't the only one who did a pile of reading and researching before getting a ferret!!! You will feel very well prepared when you get one! Ferrets like big retangular litter trays over triangle ones. I just got a kitty litter box from the dollar store. He uses them all the time and has only had an accident once outside his box. I keep one on each floor of his ferret nation cage. I also use Worlds Best kitty litter. It's made from corn. It's a clumping litter and can be scooped with a kitty litter scooper. It's 99% dust free. That's awesome that you've sewn a few things for the cage already! I have done that too!
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Hello!!
Mar 2, 2019 16:11:46 GMT -5
Post by peacexlovexpets on Mar 2, 2019 16:11:46 GMT -5
I also use Worlds Best kitty litter. It's made from corn. It's a clumping litter and can be scooped with a kitty litter scooper. It's 99% dust free. How many pounds of litter would you guestimate that you go through in a week with the corn based litter? It comes out about $1/lb. I currently use "Yesterday's News" by Purina and it comes out to $0.60/lb. I go through about 30lbs/mo for 3 ferrets (one is a kit and pees/poos an excessive amount). I clean my boxes about 2+ times a day. The paper litter has very poor odor control and doesn't absorb pee the best, so I'm looking for safe alternatives. Thank you!
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Post by caitmonster on Mar 2, 2019 17:29:26 GMT -5
Going to put in a plug for wood stall pellets (for horses)--I pay about 6$ for 40lb from Rural King. Woodstove pellets are pretty much the same thing; they're both just compressed sawdust. And no worries about the oils that would otherwise be a problem such as with the shaving beddings.
I only have one ferret, so I've had my bag since... October or November, maybe? It does get tracked everywhere, tho.
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Hello!!
Mar 2, 2019 21:24:11 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by lexmex on Mar 2, 2019 21:24:11 GMT -5
Going to put in a plug for wood stall pellets (for horses)--I pay about 6$ for 40lb from Rural King. Woodstove pellets are pretty much the same thing; they're both just compressed sawdust. And no worries about the oils that would otherwise be a problem such as with the shaving beddings. I only have one ferret, so I've had my bag since... October or November, maybe? It does get tracked everywhere, tho. I’m curious. Would aspen wood shavings be considered safe? I’ve had a lot of pet rodents (mainly hamsters) and they have very sensitive respitory systems and most wood shavings (like pine and cedar) are considered unsafe because of the oils but aspen is widely used as it doesn’t have the same problem. Anyway I’ve also read that people on here use swheat scoop so I’ll have a look at that as well.
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