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Post by slinkytiger on Jan 23, 2012 22:30:07 GMT -5
Writing up the cage thread I realised that our young ones are out of the cage about 6- 8 hours a day (at least). When they wake up they start rattling the cage & calling to be let out. Their playtimes usually last a full 2 hours: wrestling each other, running around, playing with the tubing / balls / toys / us - climbing. They are full on & really fit! After a play session they climb into their cage & sleep for about 3 hours & we shut the door - then after 3 hours - up & at it again!  They have even played up at 4am in the morning demanding release - but were ignored. Is this normal or are we over stimulating them? |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 23, 2012 23:07:58 GMT -5
Sounds about par for the course ;D
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Post by Heather on Jan 24, 2012 0:05:46 GMT -5
Babies should be provided with as much playtime and stimulation as they can handle. My ferrets are only caged during the night so that I can get some sleep (for my convenience and my safety  ) Wee ones will curl up and sleep when they need it and play when they don't. Unlike our human babies that we keep trying to put on schedules...baby ferrets are well able to set their own schedules with no ill effects ciao |
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Post by slinkytiger on Jan 24, 2012 0:53:15 GMT -5
Thanks Heather & Sherry for the eye opening facts!  Feel much better cos don't want to do the wrong thing by them - gosh they could grow up into hooligans! Lol - reality is very different from the books that say ferrets sleep for 20 hours a day!!!  We'll keep going by what they need & work to their shedule (except not the 4am play - thats just not fair)  they can play quietly (NOT) in their cage. That pirate ship can really get a swing going & makes a racket when its ricosheting off the walls.  |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 24, 2012 1:33:37 GMT -5
gosh they could grow up into hooligans! Sorry to have to be the one to break this to you.....  |
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Post by katt on Jan 24, 2012 2:21:25 GMT -5
)Feel much better cos don't want to do the wrong thing by them - gosh they could grow up into hooligans! ROFL!!!! They WILL grow up hooligans! That's pretty much a given where ferrets are concerned.  Lol - reality is very different from the books that say ferrets sleep for 20 hours a day!!! Adult ferrets (over 2 years of age) sleep up to 18 hours a day. Babies...eh not so much! ;D Raw fed ferrets sleep even less. (I haven't decided if that's a good or a bad thing....  lmao).
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Post by slinkytiger on Jan 24, 2012 14:17:23 GMT -5
The family are revolting! Lack of sleep! Ferrets cage party can be heard throughout the house & everyones invited. Party started at 2am. Started up again at 6am....  They were released at 6am by tired teenager who went back to bed. Pika finally managed to leap up onto the lower bunk & bounced on top of the occupant until awake. Hilarious!!! ;D She also leapt (WOW) across to the teenager's drawers & ferreted all through the clothing on top! Hilarious x2! ;D Hooligans already! Are ferrets nocturnal / diurnal / or don't they care what time they sleep? In that stupid book it said that ferrets awake to play at dawn & dusk. Bull! They wake up when they want / do what they want / when they want / for whatever reason they want! |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 24, 2012 15:48:39 GMT -5
WELCOME TO FERRENTHOOD!!!!! |
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Post by Heather on Jan 24, 2012 15:55:05 GMT -5
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Post by slinkytiger on Jan 25, 2012 2:30:49 GMT -5
Thx Sherry & Heather!  OMG - Whats the survival rate for new fert parents? Any ideas on how to get through this 'phase'? Do we wear them out during playtime? Do we make the difference between day & night really obvious? Like blinds right up during the day? No lights on during night? (Lol - we all go to bed early? - we all go to bed late? ) |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2012 3:43:12 GMT -5
I LOVE IT! Ferret night attack!
My fert just climbed up on the coffee table and stole my pen. He knows I'm typing about him, too. I love these crazy critters.
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Post by Thérèse on Jan 27, 2012 11:58:15 GMT -5
Your guys are all so cute but whenever I see apost by you I just think how brave you are to have 3 youngsters all at once. I have had 3 I have raised from kits but not at the same time! My youngest Rocket, who is just about to turn 11mo, was 6wo when I got him but the other 2 were about 1 and 1/2yo and 3 and 1/2yo and so kind of took shifts playing with him and also taught him that some time is required for sleeping!
They are so cute when they are kits and boisterous and fun but 3 at once with no adults to tell them to knock it off OMG!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2012 13:57:27 GMT -5
How long should 9 week olds be playing for FOREVER! ;D ;D  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2012 14:08:03 GMT -5
Do we make the difference between day & night really obvious? Like blinds right up during the day? No lights on during night? I just read a thread somewhere about light..... ....here it is! in the enrichment section: holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=playtime&action=display&thread=2142I thought it had some really good suggestions, I had just been thinking about this myself. After reading that thread I now limit the artificial lighting I have on at any point around the furries. During the day I keep the blinds open, but provide dark places for them to sleep. At night I use low-watt bulbs (if any) -- I plan on buying some amber bulbs when I get my next disability check or return to work Since that hasn't happened yet I have a muted light that I put a light piece of fabric (it doesn't get too hot -- I'm careful to check frequently) over the lampshade to create a dimmer atmosphere. I've noticed they start sleeping more at night! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2012 14:08:48 GMT -5
...of course, I don't have kits either  sooo this may not help too much |
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lmao).
