Need help with 2 issues

[tlcstork]

I adopted Max and Mia in Jan. They were 10 and 12 months old. In the last few months they have been eating more and running around less. I just adopted another one 9 days ago, Lilo, who is  2 years old. When I saw her I forgot how small they usually are!!! I weighed all of them. Max and Lilo both weigh 2.1 lbs (Max looks much bigger) and Mia weighs 3.2 lbs! I feed them an exclusively raw diet and Max gets a freeze dried, raw treat. Mia turns her nose up at treats. 

Here's the strange thing.  In August they received Melatonin implants (for prevention) and I swear they started rapidly gaining weight after that.  Has anyone else ever noticed this or heard of it?

Secondly, it never occurred to me to ask if Lilo was trained to go to the bathroom in desigated places.  She's 2 years old, surely she was...NOPE.  She goes wherever she wants any time she wants and not just in corners but the middle of the floor too.  I really can't deal with this and need to get her trained.  But, she's 2 years old.  What do you recommend as far as training for a 2 year old?  I really hate to isolate her  as all 3 are bonded now and she would be very upset.  Suggestions?

Thanks

[Corvidophile]

Use soiled materials to teach her where to go, they tend to be “repeat offenders” haha. Do they have a cage or are they exclusively free roaming? It’s much easier with a confined environment to train them to relieve themselves in designated spots- take away everything that isn’t a sleeping area and a potty area, and they’ll generally not go in the sleeping area. Then you give them more room, some empty floor space, with a sleeping area and a potty area. You keep expanding what they have access to until they are aware they have to go back to the potty area. It’ll be difficult for a two year old who doesn’t go in corners, not gonna sugarcoat it. The other ferrets should help by showing her where to go, but she’s probably not gonna make the effort in a large environment to go find it if she’s used to just letting loose wherever, which is why you have to confine them at first.

Melatonin does cause weight gain in the form of ramping up appetites for winter fat storage. Melatonin puts them in winter mode. Are your first two adrenal?

[tlcstork]

No, the Melatonin is to prevent it.

Lilo is fine in the cage. She poops where she should. It's just around the house. Sometimes she will go in the correct spot but mostly not. Her previous family didn't train her at all. I do think seeing/smelling my other 2 has helped her know where to go but she forgets. She doesn't like any treats I've tried so far. Need to find something to reward her with.

Thanks

[abbeytheferret6]

I had three girls that were free roamers plus a boy. I had to rotate him from back bedroom into front rooms on different days. Male would fight the girls or vice versa:))). Most of them I got off Craigslist. I had so may litter boxes about 13 that I started using paper towels in them---the multi sectioned ones. To me that was easier. I had sheets or old tablecloths which I got from thrift stores and laid out near baseboards. My boy had a favorite baseboard. I would put a litter pan at the end and beginning of that stretch. I did start using doggie pads and pads that u can get for humans for incontinence instead of litter pans---more area to pooh on. Vinyl and also simulated wood planks became my best floor replacement. Lowe's knows me.

Other things I did was try to keep my bedroom door closed ---whitish carpet. Sometimes my waardie would beat me to closing the door. I could not get too upset because she would be in such a playful mode scooting in and out  under the chester drawer trying to get me to catch her.  Also, I  stretched out a Marshall Farms ferret play pen so ferrets could not go into our den(carpet and fireplace). Me and hubbie are duck legged--- not fun going over that. 

New ferrets may go anywhere for a several weeks until they develop favorite spots. Put something there when they do. My Phoebe was like this and turned out to be the best. If ferrets become sickly, they may not make it to potties, so you need a lot around. They do have a quick digestive system anyway. Like me, you may have to block off areas.