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Post by slinky on Feb 12, 2011 20:09:28 GMT -5
Okay, Yoyo & Slinky are SWEET as pie, when they want to be.  BUT... they do have their moments, like when they tried to eat my brothers fingers, attacking my moms feet, what I scruff Yoyo to check his teeth, he still manages to nip me, I was laying on my stomach on the floor while they were playing & Slinky tried to eat my ankle bone o-o, Slinky tries to spin around & bite me when I scruff him, etc. Also, the lady they came from had them free in a ferret proofed room, well I got my nice big cage for them today & Slinky is going nuts. Chewing the bars. Scratching. Taking a nap. Chewing the bars. Scratching. Over & over again. o-o Should I just make him deal with it ? It's a huge cage. They aren't cage trained, I guess you could say. The lady also wasn't sure if they were neutered, I can get that done, it's not a big deal. Do I just look for... well... balls ? LOL  I love them, but I just don't like their friendly on-off switches. I'm not even going to try to put them with my older guy Smokey, don't wanna risk it ! He is a lover, not a fighter ! Thanks everyone ! |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2011 20:14:35 GMT -5
Look at their ears - do you see any dots or markings that resemble a tattoo? If you see 2 dots, it indicates they are Marshalls and they are fixed and descented.
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Post by slinky on Feb 12, 2011 20:17:13 GMT -5
Look at their ears - do you see any dots or markings that resemble a tattoo? If you see 2 dots, it indicates they are Marshalls and they are fixed and descented. There are no dots.  How much does it normally cost to get them neutered? Is them not being neutered what's causing the aggression. |
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Post by bluemoose on Feb 12, 2011 20:40:14 GMT -5
If they're both male it should be easy to tell if they're neutered. Yes, look for testicles.
There aren't a lot of intact ferrets floating around anyway. Farm ferrets are sold to the pet store already fixed and descented and breeder ferrets have a spay/neuter contract.
I suspect they're just not very well bite trained. Ferrets have tough skin and bite a lot when they're playing with each other. They need to be taught that we humans have soft skin and don't like to be bit even in play.
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Post by slinky on Feb 12, 2011 20:41:36 GMT -5
If they're both male it should be easy to tell if they're neutered. Yes, look for testicles. There aren't a lot of intact ferrets floating around anyway. Farm ferrets are sold to the pet store already fixed and descented and breeder ferrets have a spay/neuter contract. I suspect they're just not very well bite trained. Ferrets have tough skin and bite a lot when they're playing with each other. They need to be taught that we humans have soft skin and don't like to be bit even in play. They have testicles, they are not neutered, definitely not. So is my next step getting them neutered ? I'm going to be giving them timeouts & I'm going to get some bitter apple to help with the chewing. Any other suggestions ?  |
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Post by bluemoose on Feb 12, 2011 20:49:55 GMT -5
Yes, I would get them neutered but I wouldn't expect it to reduce biting. It may help but what they're doing just sounds like playing. There are a million and one training methods for biting. Here's a thread with some ideas: www.ferretharmony.com/viewtopic.php?t=13 |
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Post by joan on Feb 12, 2011 20:51:08 GMT -5
Get them neutered immediately! They'll be in rut shortly, if they aren't already and then will start fighting with each other. And that's not even the worst...an unneutered hob in rut will stink up the whole house.
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Post by slinky on Feb 12, 2011 20:52:04 GMT -5
Yes, they are both hobs.
Alright, well I'll work with them, they are still young & not properly trained. They are sleeping now, being good. So I'll throw a cover over if they start to be naughty.
Thanks everyone.
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Post by slinky on Feb 12, 2011 21:02:18 GMT -5
Get them neutered immediately! They'll be in rut shortly, if they aren't already and then will start fighting with each other. And that's not even the worst...an unneutered hob in rut will stink up the whole house. How often do they go into rut ?  Just out of curiosity. |
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Post by Sherry on Feb 12, 2011 21:12:19 GMT -5
Generally in the mid to late winter from what I understand. The problem can be them coming out of it. That can take a while sometimes. It would also explain Slink's yellow colour. Definitely make an appt. to get them in ASAP.
For the bite training, I used a cat carrier. No more than 3 minutes with no blanket, toy, food, nothing. Then let them back out.
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Post by Heather on Feb 12, 2011 21:13:21 GMT -5
Most hobs are now in season or starting to come into season. So you should see testicles. Ferrets are rather well endowed if they're intact. There is no mistaking it. You mentioned that you're in ON, we don't have a lot of breeders ferrets around here but we do have them. MY 'bino boy was one. We do have PV ferrets, they're a farm ferret, they carry no tats. Altering....the charge to have Odin altered was no more expensive than altering a cat. Unfortunately, what you're describing is basically a ferret at play. They nip, they bite and scruffing doesn't necessarily work. They play with their teeth. Scruffing is a method used to discipline. I don't use it. Others do, you must choose what you use to discipline your little ones. There is a discussion on the board about discipline and what and why. You will have to decide what is acceptable and what isn't. Ferrets do bite, you have to decide if you're going to allow lite biting or no biting at all. Unaltered ferrets are not aggressive to their people only each other. If your little ones were suddenly being very aggressive to each other then I would be more concerned about them being intact. Your little ones have gone from free roaming to being caged...think about this from their point of view. I'm not saying that it's wrong I'm just saying that that is what it is. Cage biting is often a ferrets method of showing discontent. You might try using some RR (rescue remedy) to help them through this difficult part of their transition. You've introduced a number of huge changes and expecting this change to go smoothly is really a great expectation. These little ones are very intelligent but they cannot understand why their freedom has been curtailed. Where their human friends have gone? Ferrets form very solid ties not only to each other but to their humans, this transition is going to be very difficult for them. Be gentle, be firm and be fair.  ciao |
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Post by slinky on Feb 12, 2011 21:17:23 GMT -5
Alright thank you ! I'm going to call some different places tomorrow ! I'm also going to call the petstore & see if they sell Rescue Remedy. I appreciate ALL the advice !  |
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Post by Sherry on Feb 12, 2011 21:20:42 GMT -5
Even if the pet store doesn't sell it, I get mine from a health food store. Some grocery stores also carry it. Good luck, and let us know how it's going |
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Post by bluemoose on Feb 12, 2011 21:22:26 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Feb 12, 2011 21:30:28 GMT -5
You can get RR just about anywhere these days. I can get it at the grocery store, health food store even the pet store. So it shouldn't be too difficult to find. If your boys are indeed intact...they're going to get stinky  Just a word to the wise if you do need to get an alter done...any vet that I've asked about alters will not do a descent and it's not necessary. Neither Odin or Thor are descented. My little Poofs don't hit the on switch unless they get really badly startled and descenting is really an unnecessary operation. I don't even want to know what it would cost you to get that done. ciao |
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