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Post by PatienceTheVirtue on Mar 18, 2020 13:44:03 GMT -5
Hi everyone!
I'm Patience, 21, from central WI. I work as a CNA casually and am currently in nursing school. My significant other is 19 and works at a factory, with plans to pursue a career in construction (woodworking, carpentry, or electrician work). We are getting our first two ferrets this weekend from an elderly couple that had an accident and aren't able to care for them anymore. I was told they turned 1 on March 8th and are both fixed and descented. Their current names are Bandit and Emily, but we may end up changing them once we get to know them better. I quite like the name Bandit because of their adorable face stripes and need to steal things, so that name is probably safe. Emily might end up somewhere very different - Slinky, Sly, Sundance? Apparently we like S names for her, but it all depends on her personality as it comes out. I've been absorbing information like some kind of sponge-Shamwow hybrid to give them the best life possible. I'm incredibly interested in switching them to a raw fed diet to prevent insulinoma and any other health issues, and this is the best community I've found to encourage it (plus the Facebook group I've already joined!). I'm also interested in ways to enhance their enrichment experiences in and out of cage, and in hearing what others have to say about veterinarians near me (through PM of course as per the rules). There's always more to learn and new information coming out, so I hope that this is a good resource for the years I have with the furbabies I'm bringing into my home. Thank you!! |
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Post by bluedragonshai on Mar 18, 2020 13:59:39 GMT -5
hi and welcome!
just joined yesterday and your babies sound adorable,
little sad theyre descented though, across the pound here in the UK its considered animal cruelty but I can see why it happens, I wouldn't miss them skunking that's for sure!
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Post by PatienceTheVirtue on Mar 18, 2020 14:28:32 GMT -5
hi and welcome! just joined yesterday and your babies sound adorable, little sad theyre descented though, across the pound here in the UK its considered animal cruelty but I can see why it happens, I wouldn't miss them skunking that's for sure! Oh no, is it really??
It sounds a lot like declawing cats. It's illegal most places in the world but people in the US still do it out of convenience for themselves.
I can't guarantee they're descented because they're being rehomed from older individuals that speak very little English, and I speak very little Spanish (must have missed the ferret unit in high school) so it's hard to get information between us. I just know it's common practice in virtually ALL pet stores in the US still, and that's likely where they came from originally. Very sad to hear it's not considered proper practice globally - another reason why pet stores won't be getting my business when it comes to live animals
Thanks for the welcome, and welcome to you as well!
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Post by bluedragonshai on Mar 18, 2020 14:54:07 GMT -5
hi and welcome! just joined yesterday and your babies sound adorable, little sad theyre descented though, across the pound here in the UK its considered animal cruelty but I can see why it happens, I wouldn't miss them skunking that's for sure! Oh no, is it really??
It sounds a lot like declawing cats. It's illegal most places in the world but people in the US still do it out of convenience for themselves.
I can't guarantee they're descented because they're being rehomed from older individuals that speak very little English, and I speak very little Spanish (must have missed the ferret unit in high school) so it's hard to get information between us. I just know it's common practice in virtually ALL pet stores in the US still, and that's likely where they came from originally. Very sad to hear it's not considered proper practice globally - another reason why pet stores won't be getting my business when it comes to live animals
Thanks for the welcome, and welcome to you as well!
Yes, any chain pets store here such as pets at home (English Petco), don't stock ferrets either I put it down to the smell and ban of descenting, as not everyone likes it, though you can find them over here if their owner lived in the US I had a ferret with the tattoo dots, something marshall brand do to show they have had the chop and are descented. but all ferrets come from breeders here you still have to watch them though a full angora will easily sell for £200 ($231) alone, and some charge those prices for a semi or half. |
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Post by PatienceTheVirtue on Mar 18, 2020 15:13:26 GMT -5
bluedragonshai Interesting about the price! Here a generic single young ferret is $205 at the big chain pet shops, and the smaller ones currently have a little boy priced at $225. So barely a difference between us despite the big differences in laws and common practice. I've heard a lot about Marshall that adds to another reason I won't be buying from pet shops directly, but I'm a sucker for animals needing new homes. The ones I'll be getting this weekend have been looking for homes for weeks and I couldn't stand it anymore. Not as prepared as I could be, but enough to give them much better lives right away. Now I just need the veterinarians to open up shop again!!!
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Post by bluedragonshai on Mar 18, 2020 16:27:58 GMT -5
PatienceTheVirtue wow a normal generic ferret goes for £20 ($23) but then again youre most likely paying for the operations they've had rather then the ferret. and im the exact same, nearly brought some rats today as they were up at the glass wanting my attention, but I try to remember that by not buying them its one less person spending money on the pet shop trade, we do get plenty of dodgy dealers here but 9 times out of 10 the breeders are lovely and I know the money goes on the ferrets not employing more brainless people, the pets at home leaflets even say feeding cucumber is a treat for ferrets
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Post by PatienceTheVirtue on Mar 18, 2020 17:02:24 GMT -5
If they were $23 here I'd have to buy a second house to support them all haha. "Feeding cucumber as a treat" though woww!! Petco here at least states they're obligate carnivores. They also get it right with temperature sensitivity. I don't put much stock in the information they give out, but at least for those who do minimal research it could almost suffice.
The cage sizes is always where it falls apart here. About $50 for a tiny guinea pig cage... Which we all know is NOT ferret friendly. It's incredibly hard to find a breeder here in my experience, but then again I always go to rehoming first just to help out those in need.
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Post by caitmonster on Mar 19, 2020 17:18:40 GMT -5
Hi and welcome to both  Southwest Ohio, here! You're in the right place, I consider this forum second to none in terms of the knowledge I've acquired and the positive effect it's had on my ferts' lives. Re: enrichment, take a spin through this section if you haven't already, tons of good ideas: holisticferret60.proboards.com/board/44/enrichmentBasically the three best toys are ones they can dig in, climb through, and stash away.  Don't bother spending money on anything branded (unless you want to!); boxes, drainage tubes or dryer ducts from the hardware store, and bins full of things are easy and just as fun. Going outside is of course a stellar activity--Rocky goes for nightly romps around the yard and down the sidewalk. |
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Post by Charlie on Mar 19, 2020 19:38:56 GMT -5
Hi and welcome to the both of you!!
That is awesome you are getting 2 ferrets!!
I'm amazed at such a huge difference from one side of the planet to the other with animals and the prices! If I lived in the UK I'd be owned by ferrets! LOL Even the cost of vet visits and bills vary quite a bit!
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Post by unclejoe on Mar 19, 2020 19:52:41 GMT -5
Hiya! In the USA, ferrets sold in stores come from 3 farms/mills. Most common is Marshall's, then Triple F and rarely Real Canadian. All are required to be fixed and de-scented before being shipped at terribly young age to the pet shop. There are private breeders, tho they tend to sell only to experienced ferrants and don't ship. We've had one private bred ferret from Canada that was not de-scented. Its a unique, pungent odor that I describe as a mix of diesel fuel and roadkill. A couple drops can clear a room, but it only lasts a minute, unlike skunk oil which is more or less permanent, lol.
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Post by PatienceTheVirtue on Mar 20, 2020 15:05:35 GMT -5
caitmonster Thanks for the link! When I picked them up today the previous owner mentioned she'd gotten multiple tubes with them and had thrown them all away. I'm horrible at hiding facial expressions, but I hope she didn't see my look of horror LOL. They've already war danced their way across the room numerous times today, tried to play chase with my dogs, and decided a bottle of hand sanitizer they pulled out of my backpack was maybe food. We've found that the boy enjoys stashing anything that isn't monochromatic or dark, with a particular fondness for lime green, bright red, and light blue  They came with a single harness, and I'll purchase a second one in order to take them out when it's not as muddy or cold. Thank you again! Charlie It's been really interesting to hear about so far! I would definitely have too many little noodles if they were that cheap here. I suppose my next best option is to spend all my money on the two I have - it'll suffice unclejoe I'd only heard about Marshall's, which is where I was assuming they came from. I'll have to look into differences in the companies and see if there's any indication of where they came from for sure! I really enjoy learning about them, so thank you for the information - especially the description of the scent gland smell haha. As it is I think the fuzzy noodles smell great - musky, but in a way I wouldn't mind burying my face into. It's sad they've lost their scent glands since de-scenting is considered cruelty in some places  I will guiltily appreciate their smell as it is now and do my best to advocate for better practices in the future. Thanks everyone for responding to this welcome post! I really enjoyed the information I've gotten so far, and am always open to more Thanks again!
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Post by unclejoe on Mar 21, 2020 16:56:14 GMT -5
Marshall ferrets have a 2 dot tattoo on the ear. Real Canadians have an H on an ear, and I believe Triple F has 3 dots. Marshalls may also have a tatt between toes of a front paw.
As for my description of ferret "musk," I meant crude oil, not diesel. Tbh, I didn't mind it, because I loved Jaffa so much. He was unique in many ways and passed way too young DIP
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