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Post by Heather on Oct 19, 2012 22:01:30 GMT -5
Have you started to check his lighting and how many hours he's spending in light? I've just blocked out the boy's room because Tico was going into season. I was hoping that because the window was actually under the deck that there wouldn't be a lot of light coming in but it seems that there is indeed too much light when you also think about the time that they're also up with us in the evening ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2012 22:10:37 GMT -5
Have you started to check his lighting and how many hours he's spending in light? I've just blocked out the boy's room because Tico was going into season. I was hoping that because the window was actually under the deck that there wouldn't be a lot of light coming in but it seems that there is indeed too much light when you also think about the time that they're also up with us in the evening ciao Yeah he has definitely been getting too much lighting. I am going to try and get the black-out curtains put up tonight, haven't gotten it done yet. I was figuring out which ones to buy, which would fit etc.
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Post by Heather on Oct 19, 2012 22:20:29 GMT -5
I put mine up today. I don't have any component to check how antsy he's getting with other ferrets because he's a solo. He's still very snuggly with his people and not the least bit nippy (which he was last time he was in full season) ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2012 22:38:12 GMT -5
I put mine up today. I don't have any component to check how antsy he's getting with other ferrets because he's a solo. He's still very snuggly with his people and not the least bit nippy (which he was last time he was in full season) ciao Finn never got nippy in season. In fact today he was actually being MORE cuddly than usual. Poor sweetheart. He had this sort of confused look on his face like he didn't understand why he suddenly felt these urges again lol... Like, OMG I have to go after the girlies, I don't know why! I am wondering if maybe I should be getting him implanted. He would probably be happier and more at peace. I just didn't expect to have to think about this so soon. IF controlling his light exposure and keeping his room cooler were going to work to get him out of rut, how long would that process take? Any idea at all? I wonder if there's any down-side to getting him the implant now? October's almost over so that puts him at about 19 months of age. I've read in some places that hobs sometimes mature a little more at 18 months of age. So I don't know if there is any point NOT implanting him. Not sure though. Once again there is the question of whether DES is good for them long-term.
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Post by Heather on Oct 20, 2012 0:22:36 GMT -5
Unfortunately, there are no long term studies as to how safe the DES implant is. There have been issues when using this on dogs but these were breeding animals. There are no long term studies that can tell you if there is an increased chance in developing heart issues, strokes or cancers like the human type birth controls. You're not planning on using Finn at any point and if you've got no contract that states you either have to keep him intact or cannot use the DES implant then this is a possibility. If you've bought your black out drapes or are using something else that provides effective blackout then give it a try and see how long it takes to bring Finn back out. I realize you've got other little ones to think of and Finn doesn't like to be alone, so that 's a consideration too. My Tico was raised alone so he's quite happy being a solo. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2012 7:45:39 GMT -5
Just an update, I hung the blackout curtains in the ferret room! They turned out nice I also secured the side edges of the curtains to the wall with upholstery tacks. I've found that with blackout curtains, if they don't lie flat against the wall, they can let in a TON of light at the side, and that could shine right on the ferret cage! So I made sure to prevent that It is still possible to open the curtains so that if I want to I can open the window or whatever. But right now the plan is to keep them in the dark all day and regulate their light exposure at night. Another thing I considered was switching the light bulbs in their room to "bug lights", those yellow lights that supposedly bugs can't see. They say the bugs can't see them because they don't emit shorter wavelengths, like UV and blues. Well, from what I've read, it's the blues and UV (but mostly blue light) that regulates the ferret's rhythms, so I'm guessing that the yellow lights would help send the message that it's winter time by giving the ferrets less blue light exposure. Has anyone tried the yellow lights? I thought I read one time that somebody uses amber lights for this reason, I'm guessing it's the same concept? I think they were saying these were tried to prevent adrenal or something. I actually bought a couple 14 watt yellow CFL bug lights to put in the ferret room, but unfortunately I had forgotten that the ferret room uses candelabra base bulbs, and these were standard bulbs so they didn't fit. I put one on the porch light because there are always tons of bugs flying around there, and boy, it's pretty dim. I am not sure it will work for the ferret room, I might not be able to see well enough to clean and see what I'm doing in there if the light is that dim. I'll have to see what I can come up with. It all makes sense though... Finn went out of run early this summer, not long after we moved to this house, and I didn't know why. Well, for a while after we moved here, the ferret room did not even have a light in it at all! Then I set up a light, but it was just a little desk lamp shining on the wall, so the light in that room was VERY dim. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago when I moved the ferrets into their NEW room. This new room has a ceiling fan with two 60 watt equivalent light bulbs in it, and it is usually on whenever I'm home. Plus these are sort of "cool white" CFL bulbs, so they probably have even more blue in them. Great! I set up the perfect lighting situation to put Finn into rut I don't think the little bit of filtered light that was coming in through the blinds was the culprit, I think it was those nice bright CFL's shining down from above! I dunno. During the winter, I think i will either switch those bulbs for yellow ones, or at the very least, get the warmest / least blue bulbs they sell! (they sell several varying color tones of bulbs). I have even considered that maybe I should use good old-fashioned incandescent lights. They emit less in the blue end of the spectrum so they probably wouldn't mess with the ferret's body clock as much. Heck, look what I found on wikipedia when reading about types of bulbs: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bulbInteresting no? I am thinking at the very least, I could replace the ferret room's lights with incandescent bulbs, and also the light fixture in the hallway that can shine into their room if their door is open.
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Post by Sherry on Oct 20, 2012 10:12:20 GMT -5
We actually use a 60 watt bug light in the living room now, since that's where the ferret cages are. It took a bit of getting used to since it IS dimmer. But you can still definitely see to do what you need to.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2012 2:06:48 GMT -5
Well, it took a lot of work, but the ferret room is now lit with "bug lights"! I hope this helps!! It was a lot of work because my ceiling fan was designed to take candelabra-base bulbs, and nobody around here sells bug lights for that socket. So, I bought some standard bulb sockets and modified the ceiling fan to take standard bulbs This will be much more convenient anyway! Here is it, it's so yellow! I love it! Untitled by walkerstop, on Flickr This sounds crazy, but there is something really warm and inviting about that yellow light to me... Since it has no blue in it, I imagine that kind of light might actually help ME settle down for bed at night I am considering putting these lights in my bedroom for when I'm hanging out and reading and stuff. I wonder if they would help me fall asleep? I will keep you all posted as to Finn and whether I can get him to go out of rut! One thing I am actually REALLY happy about, that I hadn't thought of before: When Finn is in rut he mostly bothers the girls and is OK with the boys. Well, last year either he had to be all alone, or Fiona had to be alone, because I needed to keep him away from Fiona and I didn't have another girl. Well... My nephew's girl Stella is here So Stella and Fiona are perfectly happy now together in the smaller cage! They have each other for company and to snuggle with
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2012 23:47:18 GMT -5
I gotta be honest, I don't even read any of this stuff anymore. I'm just here for the pictures!!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2012 0:40:09 GMT -5
LOL... I can post pics!! hehe... Here's one, recent feeding time, they are getting liver + pumpkin + bone meal powder soup! They love it! Feeding time is fun with more ferrets ;D This was a couple weeks ago though before Finn started really getting into rut, he wasn't bugging Fiona yet. Untitled by walkerstop, on Flickr Can you see how FAT Rosco has gotten??? (he's the darkest boy, Fiona is the dark girl next to him) Fenton is the silly mitt boy with his legs splayed out, and Stella is the pretty little DEW ! And of course the big one is Finn, who I still consider the baby even though he's the biggest one ;D I can get more pics for you...
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Post by Sherry on Oct 25, 2012 0:44:43 GMT -5
Fiona is just so tiny and dainty looking, especially compared to the boys
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2012 1:02:09 GMT -5
A few pics from about 5 minutes ago: The boys chillin': P1020236 by walkerstop, on Flickr "What was that? Is it feeding time?" P1020237 by walkerstop, on Flickr Big yawn! P1020238 by walkerstop, on Flickr Handsome boys P1020239 by walkerstop, on Flickr P1020240 by walkerstop, on Flickr Working his core muscles by standing: P1020241 by walkerstop, on Flickr Chubby flubby baby P1020242 by walkerstop, on Flickr Rolling over for treats P1020243 by walkerstop, on Flickr P1020244 by walkerstop, on Flickr "Yum I love treats!" P1020245 by walkerstop, on Flickr P1020246 by walkerstop, on Flickr Doofus P1020247 by walkerstop, on Flickr P1020248 by walkerstop, on Flickr P1020249 by walkerstop, on Flickr Ahh this is the life! P1020252 by walkerstop, on Flickr P1020253 by walkerstop, on Flickr
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2012 1:15:11 GMT -5
Side note, I remember recently someone was talking about how the sclera of a ferret's eyes is light blue, you can see Finn's sclera in a few of these pics where he is intently focusing on something right in front of his face ;D
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Post by Heather on Oct 25, 2012 1:37:15 GMT -5
They're gorgeous Mikey. Finn's quite the character ;D ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2012 2:17:20 GMT -5
SO FREAKIN CUTE I AM SO STEALING A BABY OR TWO!!! Sidenote - my Mischief does that leg spred thing too when he eats. So wierd!
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