Help ! Problem Biter - he latches on

[infernalancestry]

I got two kits three days ago (brothers, born 22nd May) and one of them, Soba, is the sweetest little angel, he'll climb all over me, groom me, let me play with him with my hands and all he does is play nip - if he bites too hard, when I tell him no he lets go !

Now.. on to Fax.
When I met the kits neither of them bit me other than play nips, the night after I brought them home, Fax decided my chin seemed like a great place to sink his teeth into.. We had just been chilling out in bed (he wanted out very late at night, his brother was asleep.)

The next day when I was putting a new water bowl in, he latched onto my hand !
I made the mistake of scruffing him (thinking it was the right thing to do at the time) and it just made him bite harder, he REALLY did not like that.

I need to pick him up by his tummy or swaddle him in a blanket or he bites me, he also has a fixation on biting feet/ankles so I've taken to wearing shoes when they're out.
Even when we're playing, he tries to go for my hand instead of the toy and it's getting exhausting constantly feeling nervous in my own room.

He seemed to be improving with positive reinforcement, he didn't latch onto me at all today while playing or any of the times I had to pick him up - he squirmed and nipped a bit but no bites.
But then.. feeding time.
I had been hand feeding him through the bars to try to gain his trust, rather than just dropping the food in the cage, so I wanted to see what would happen if I opened it and hand fed him.
He totally ignored the food and went STRAIGHT for my hand and IMMEDIATELY dug his teeth in, pulling my hand back into the cage and hissing at me ??
When he let go and I pulled away, he chased my hand and bit me again.

I don't know if me scruffing him the first few times made him distrust me, if he's food aggressive, dominant, or just doesn't know his own strength and wanted to play so I really don't know how to deal with this

Sorry for the long post, I'm just really needing some guidance right now 😭

[infernalancestry]

Oh also, the way I dealt with the bite this time was just saying "No." a few times and waiting for him to let go.
Worked way way better than scruffing him (which I now know was obviously a big mistake on my part)

I guess I'm just upset because I thought he was making great progress, but now I'm just nervous around him again

I don't want to be the person that gets rid of a pet because of behavioural problems, especially since it would leave Soba alone.. I don't want to separate the brothers, and I can't stand the thought of Fax going to a home where he ends up being abused for his biting problem

[silentdook]

Ferrets can be food aggressive from having to fend for themselves in pet stores, I'd try only giving treats like salmon oil by hand, rather than his main food. You're on the right track, it will take time and patience. Best technique when he latches on too hard is a firm No and disengaging immediately. Biting at feet and ankles is ferret speak for attention and playtime, so don't let him train you into getting results. If you have a carrier, you can use it as a Sin Bin and give him a couple minute (no longer, they are very forgetful) time-out in it.
Keep using the toy rather than offering him your hand, he may be trying to stash you It means he does treasure you.
My worst biter lately has been reformed, however he will still bite toward me if I try to disturb his sleep or reach into the cage for him, I have to let him decide to come out to me. He's otherwise so very good at calming down when I simply say "No, too hard!" now.

[Charlie]

What I did with my ferret was if he bit me, I would leave the room and leave him. I would stop playing with him. He didn't like that much and stopped biting because he had no one to play with. I would try the sin bin but the problem was when I would go to pick him up to put him in there he would bite me so it was just easier to leave the room. The door was barricaded so he couldn't get out but I could step over the barricade, Then a few minutes later I would go back in and try to play with him and if he bit too hard again I would leave.

I would say "no" too or "ouch" loud.

Also you might want to stop feeding him through the cage because if you were to put your finger in the cage then he will bite you.

[infernalancestry]

I don't want to try sin bin unless he stops making progress because I'm concerned he might be a bit nervous with hands ?
He'd probably just bite when I try yo put him in and take him back out 😅
Two of the times he latched on was when I put my hand into his cage so he may have panicked.. I've taken to just opening the cage when I'm there and letting him come and go from it as he pleases and that seems to have helped a lot.
I try to only lock them up when I'm not home or when I'm going to sleep, getting more play and exercise, alongside lots of praise and cuddles seems to be helping a lot !
He hasn't latched on or broken skin since the hand feeding incident !

[Charlie]

Sounds like he is making good progress! My ferret only goes into his cage when I'm not home or if he is eating.If I don't close the cage while he is eating he will take his food and hide it in the house somewhere, so I have to keep the door closed during feeding. lol

[infernalancestry]

Update: he bit my face again 😭
I don't mind when he gets a bit too excited playing and goes for my hands because it's easy to distract him,, but when he latches onto my chin and doesn't let go it's hard to deal with..
I ended up having to pry his mouth open to get him off me, and later when my step dad was in my room he latched onto his arm and I had to pry him off again.
Anyone know why he seems to randomly lunge for a latch bite ?
This happened while he was out and I was sat on my bed, it's the fact that he REALLY doesn't want to let go that stresses me out

[Charlie]

Since he is still young maybe it's not a good idea to put him close to your face until you have this no biting down pat. Man, that must hurt! As much as you might want to kiss him, keep him far from your face. Wait til they are much older. They are still kits and still trying to figure out how hard to bite. Charlie was better after 6 months. Now if I put my face near his he knows not to bite and I get lots of kisses. lol