New here, and ISO a Ferret :)

[Britknee247365]

I am new to the ferret community. My boyfriend LOVES ferrets, and he has a little guy. I am the type of person that researches everything! I discovered that his little guy needs a friend. He has a brand new ferret nation cage set up, and have room dividers on the way for extra play space, and we are working on liter box training (so any advice on that would be great!) He is an older ferret, not sure how old because he was given to my BF when the owner could not care for him. He has basically an entire room dedicated to him during free roam time. 

We have pet stores near us, but I worry about how ethical they are. Ferrets aren't super popular around here, and I can't find any in rescues or shelters. We live in Southeast Indiana. If anyone is looking for a new home for their fuzz noodle, or knows where I can get more information, please let me know

[Charlie]

Hi and welcome!!!

Ferrets don't like to soil in their beds so you can put on a bunch of blankets int he cage and around the litter box so he thinks it's his bed and won't go on there. Is it a single story ferret nation cage of a double? If it's a double then have a litter box on both levels. Have the litter box big enough so that the whole ferret cans tend in it. They don't like the little corner litter boxes. I actually use a cat litter tray in the cage from the dollar store. Put toys, food and water in the other corners opposite of the littler box. Also have to poop in the litter box so he knows that's what it's for. When he first wakes up put him in the litter box after a few minutes, they tend to go then. If you see him backing up into a corner he is getting ready to go so scoop him up and put him in the litter box then praise him after he goes int he box.

[caitmonster]

Hi, welcome welcome.

Here's a post about litter-box training: holisticferret60.proboards.com/post/13093/thread

And litter box "boot camp" if you're encountering a more stubborn case: holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/common-behavior-problems/litterbox-boot-camp/

I'm in SW Ohio, myself. It's true pet stores aren't ideal, but if you really feel the burden to give your ferret a friend and they're what you need to use, then that's fine too. You may end up having to drive a ways if you decide to adopt from a rescue or breeder, though. Have you checked out Five Points Ferret Refuge in Indianapolis? There's a list of some breeders here, too: www.hofarescue.org/breeders-circle.html

[Britknee247365]

I will look into all of that. My boyfriend loves his ferret, and I am more of the researcher. Now I am finding out, despite best efforts, we've been doing some things wrong. He normally doesn't like raw food, but seeing how important it is we are going to try to incorporate it more. I am a teacher, and he works nights, so he definitely needs a friend for when we aren't able to play with him. It is a double stacked ferret nation cage. We have his litter box on the bottom, we will get a second one for the mid-level. I imagine I will also need one for the pen/free roam area.

[unclejoe]

Here's how I see it: If you have questions about how your local pet store threats their "merchandise," based on your experience, say something to the local authorities. We had a private pet store in town here and they had numerous complaints about the cleanliness of the cages, feeding practices, etc. and they were eventually shut down. One of my co-workers told me about them. They were located near where I worked. She knows I have ferrets and she would tell me when they had some so I could hopefully rescue them.   Also, when I lived in FL there was a Petco that did less than a great job keeping the ferret pen clean and they would put a bowl of wet ground Marshall food in the cage in the morning and that was all they got till next day. They wouldn't touch the mush once it got dried out and brown, I told the manager and from then on they cleaned the pen and provided fresh food 2x a day. (I showed them 3 forums where I was a moderator, lol)

A ferret needing a home is just that. They can't control where they come from or who sells them.