Any ferret owners?? Help?

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PingPongPony

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Hello :)
I'm currently thinking of getting two ferrets. I know that they love to have company and love to play with other ferrets, and i have enough space for two so i'm pretty set on this number :) My dad used to have ferrets, but personally i haven't, i have spoken to people who do, handled the ferrets etc and done my research so know that they can be a bit of a handful and the pros and cons but non of it has put me off :) I have two questions though, i would like to adopt a pair of ferrets from an animal shelter, i have found a few that i like and are local to me, there's a pair that is 5months old and a pair that is 2years old, my question is, which ones do you think i should go for?
Also, do any of you take your ferrets for a walk, i have a mini poodle and i could take the furries for a walk with the poodle.
And, this is where the horsey connection is, have any of you introduced your furries to the ponies? Not on the floor of course as they are too small and could get squished but say taking them up the yard to roam round the hay barn while you fill your haynets or something like that?
Thank you :)
 
hello! I used to have ferrets and really miss them, id love some again one day. Definitely get from a rescue as there are so many and young kits dont make good first time pets. Id go and handle both pairs and see who you click with most - 5 months is still young but if they have been properly handled and dont nip they could be fine! I wouldnt let them roam about tbh, they find holes lol
 
thank you for your reply :) i was thinking that, but i just want them to stay around for longer so if i get the older ones they won't stay with me as long as the other pair :( also, i have heard so many stories about the smell, is it really that bad on the day to day basis? And if you have carpets etc, does it soak through?? when i went to handle them etc the smell didn't really bother me tbh and they didn't smell that bad, its just other members of family that live in the house that are worried, especially mum :)
 
they may well stink when you first get them home - however you can do lots to really minimise it, but it is quite a bit of work. Firstly spey/neuter both, a plastic wipe clean cage is best, provide a litter tray and clean it out a couple of times a day and use odour control cat litter. All the bedding - fleecy blankets and hammocks etc, wash every day or 2 and bath the ferrets on occasion too! Those that smell most are in wooden hutches with shavings/straw in my experience.
 
If you clean them out every day and disinfect once a week then the smell is ok. I wouldn't let them roam unattended but you can get harnesses for them so the can go for walks. Boys smell less once they've been done and tend to be friendlier than girls.
 
I had ferrets for years but sadly have none now.
I would proberly get the younger ones I preferred Jills to Hobbs and always had them spayed .
They are fab animals but your poddle is likely to be terrified of them my labs where teased to death by my ferrets ,you can teach them to come to the call they love to climb into the back of chests of drawers and sleep in your clothes mine could open the fridge and always stole green peppers and broccoli first !!!! not sure what that was about .
The more time you spend with them and handle them the more you get back from them.
I never got any of mine to enjoy walking on a lead but I did get them all tame enough to let go in the fields ( wearing a radio collar in case I lost them down a hole ) the twice I lost one it come home it's self.
They are funniest little creatures much unestimated and misunderstood mine had a huge ferret place that my other half built with balconys underground runs a pipe under ground to their garden and hannocks they love hannocks they would sleep on their backs in the hannocks swaying in the breeze.
They would fall asleep on out chests if We lay in the garden lovely lovely little things.
They where great for scaring townies when we had dinner parties .
 
Goldenstar said:
I had ferrets for years but sadly have none now.
I would proberly get the younger ones I preferred Jills to Hobbs and always had them spayed .
They are fab animals but your poddle is likely to be terrified of them my labs where teased to death by my ferrets ,you can teach them to come to the call they love to climb into the back of chests of drawers and sleep in your clothes mine could open the fridge and always stole green peppers and broccoli first !!!! not sure what that was about .
The more time you spend with them and handle them the more you get back from them.
I never got any of mine to enjoy walking on a lead but I did get them all tame enough to let go in the fields ( wearing a radio collar in case I lost them down a hole ) the twice I lost one it come home it's self.
They are funniest little creatures much unestimated and misunderstood mine had a huge ferret place that my other half built with balconys underground runs a pipe under ground to their garden and hannocks they love hannocks they would sleep on their backs in the hannocks swaying in the breeze.
They would fall asleep on out chests if We lay in the garden lovely lovely little things.
They where great for scaring townies when we had dinner parties .
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thank you :) the younger ones are two jills, both will either be already neutered or i'll get a voucher for them to be done when they're old enough, they will also be vaccinated and microchipped. the other two is a mixed pair, both neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. I will have think still but, i think i will go for the younger ones. I have a huge 4 level cage that has enough space for hammocks, toys, and anything else they want, but they would also be let out in the mornings while im getting ready, then again when i get home so they would have at least 4 hours out of the cage, if not more. they would get a mixture of fresh foods mixed with ones designed for ferrets :)
 
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These are my two rescue ferrets, Coco and Lydia (from separate places). They have a four tier cage in the downstairs room, and have the run of the room when we're home (and we all pile in for a play dogs and all :p).

They are rather strange with their diets - these two only ever seem to have been fed on ferret nuggets and will not eat meat fresh - they love Chudleys ferret nuggets, and have a good squirt of Ferretone oil supplement every night too (off ebay).

They have a hammock and a triangular hanging bed thingy, with old jumpers for bedding, and they always use their litter tray, very clean ladies.

They can "skunk" but it's when they're scared or someone they don't know wants to hold them - a fear reaction.

We adore our girls, they are such happy little things, any more info, PM me - I could go on all night ;)
 
Ah, I love ferrets - I used to have two Hobbs (Martin and Johnathon) :)

Personally I think you are mental to plan to have them out loose in the house. The smell if they wee on your carpets WILL NOT go away, I promise you that. Also if you take them up the farm you will almost definitely be going home without one or both! They may well come back eventually but they will be overcome by smells and find the nearest hole they can!

My boys loved fresh meat but as my partner used to shoot they had pigeon, pheasant and rabbits from quite a young age.
They really are great pets and I wish I could have some more but my Husband wouldnt hear of it (Bloomin' Townie!). They are very active and sociable and it really, really hurst when they bite but in 3 years (ex took them) I was only bitten twice.

Good Luck! Can't wait for pictures!

ShysMum - yours are beautiful!

x
 
Billie1007 said:
Ah, I love ferrets - I used to have two Hobbs (Martin and Johnathon) :)

Personally I think you are mental to plan to have them out loose in the house. The smell if they wee on your carpets WILL NOT go away, I promise you that. Also if you take them up the farm you will almost definitely be going home without one or both! They may well come back eventually but they will be overcome by smells and find the nearest hole they can!

My boys loved fresh meat but as my partner used to shoot they had pigeon, pheasant and rabbits from quite a young age.
They really are great pets and I wish I could have some more but my Husband wouldnt hear of it (Bloomin' Townie!). They are very active and sociable and it really, really hurst when they bite but in 3 years (ex took them) I was only bitten twice.

Good Luck! Can't wait for pictures!

ShysMum - yours are beautiful!

x
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Mine used trays in the house.
 
I have nine!!
(Pictures if you search thru my posts.)
I personally would get the older 2 as a first time owner, kits can be hard work especially girls.
Plus the older 2 are already spayed n chipped, tht will save you alot of money. Also dont think that the younger 2 you will have for longer, i have lost a few youngsters under 2.
Also mine walk on a lead fine but if left unattended they will run!
Pm me if you wish. This is the one subject i know pretty much everything on! :) good luck
 
I have had so many ferrets over the years, I had 15 at one time, all from my time as an Inspector, and have learnt this - only EVER let them out in one VERY secure room. Ferrets will get into ( and re-arrange) anything.

Lydia did a bit of exploring after escaping into the laundry room (next door to their play room). She scaled the washing machine :confused:, then she got right up to where the boiler connections are in the ceiling panel :confused: and...........disappeared completely.

For seven long, horrible, distraught days, she was in the cavity walls of a four storey house. I cannot tell you how horrific it was hearing her trying to get out, scratching. Finally I insisted hubs took some breeze blocks out of the wall in the garage, and we put a blanket through he hole for her to get a grip onto, and I spent two days sitting in the garage calling her name at this hole.

But she came through the hole, spirit no worse for wear !!! She was emaciated, dehydrated, and two days later she passed an elastic band, which she'd eaten thinking it was a worm. How did that get thru her intestines ?

No idea how she did it, thank god she came back. They can get into ANYTHING :cool:

The culprit is Miss Innocence on the left - oo did I mention she DOES eat slugs ??

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They are goregous shysmum! I'm torn between the two pairs tbh. I can't go and just see them as they are in two different rescues in opposite directions from my house :( they would NOT have a free run of the house. I've had my dog since she was 2 weeks old (she was an orphan and her 'owner' was an alcoholic so i basically rescued her) and she's now 8 years old, the last thing i'd want to do is to upset her with another animal (or two :D ) running around stealing her toys, food, getting into her bed etc. so they would only have the run of my bedroom when i'm in it! both pairs will be microchipped, vaccinated and nutered BEFORE i have them as well so this will save me money.
my dad is sort of not happy about getting them because he used to have a un-neutered hob, on shavings, so he thinks that ALL ferrets smell like that, but i just dont believe that! but the stories he told me about it just make me want them more :) he said that his ferret had an obsession with cutlery, especially forks, and if he got out of the room, he'd run into the kitchen, climp into the cutlery draw, pull out the forks and bend the tines. or he would steal any slippers left lying around and hide them under the cupboards or behind the fridge :D
they are very energetic, fun and intelligent, this is what i like about themso i know that they are the pets for me, its just the smell thing that worries my parents really.
is it easy to litter train them?
 
They do smell nothings gonna change that, after having them for a few days you will get used to it and not notice it but trust me everyone else will, parents seem to have the super nose scent too as mine always know if i have sneaked them into the living room!

They are so fun to watch, best pets i have ever had and be careful, theres such thing called ferret maths, once you get one your hooked and keep adding to the group,, i ended up with 15 at one point as I couldnt turn anyone away!

Good luck :)
 
Goodness me... Those people suggesting daily cleanouts, are ferrets sufficiently different to other rodents that this wont make them a million times more stinky? I know with rats etc, talking away their scent pretty much as soon as it's down just unsettles them and they'll mark more to compensate - is it different with ferrets? My rats get cleaned every 10-14 days and are quite bearable. It's a common question asked on rat forums, usually followed by "I'm cleaning the cage daily but it's not helping!" o_O
 
Cobi said:
They do smell nothings gonna change that, after having them for a few days you will get used to it and not notice it but trust me everyone else will, parents seem to have the super nose scent too as mine always know if i have sneaked them into the living room!

They are so fun to watch, best pets i have ever had and be careful, theres such thing called ferret maths, once you get one your hooked and keep adding to the group,, i ended up with 15 at one point as I couldnt turn anyone away!

Good luck :)
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my room is an attic conversion so i'm the only one upstairs, have my own staircase with the door at the bottom too, so you think, that if they only have the run of my room and stay in there, that the smell will spread through the house???
ps. have pm'd you shysmum and cobi :)
 
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PingPongPony said:
my room is an attic conversion so i'm the only one upstairs, have my own staircase with the door at the bottom too, so you think, that if they only have the run of my room and stay in there, that the smell will spread through the house???
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Not neccessarily, but it will spread on your clothes, especially if they find your jumper drawer and snuggle down for the night! I have ferret clothes which I actually keep in a locker type in the garden as again my parents know if I have a jumper hanging in my room. It is a vry heavy scent but like i said you will get used to it but others wont.
 
Floxie said:
Goodness me... Those people suggesting daily cleanouts, are ferrets sufficiently different to other rodents that this wont make them a million times more stinky? I know with rats etc, talking away their scent pretty much as soon as it's down just unsettles them and they'll mark more to compensate - is it different with ferrets? My rats get cleaned every 10-14 days and are quite bearable. It's a common question asked on rat forums, usually followed by "I'm cleaning the cage daily but it's not helping!" o_O
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They have a very quick digestive system, eat roughly every 2/3 hours and go toilet pretty much straightaway, repeat that thruout 24 hours and you get alot of pooh!!!

It does take up my time, especially with nine!
They really are worth it tho :D

edited to add, they dont generally scent mark with poop but with glands, there related to the skunk and give of a vry strong vile smell when worried, scared.
 
ferrets are such clean animals, honestly. My girls will only use their tray, altho it did take a bit of training. Their best game ever is to play chase with my terrier and now our lab pup - they nips the dogs paws (obviosly know the knows well and supervise !!) so we all bundle in together.

As first ferrets, I found my albino girls were fab - the yellow ones - they were just soooooooooo laid back, but knew how to play !! But tbh a ferret will CHOOSE YOU - you will know. :D
 
Mr Bigglesworth aka Funky was the loveliest and most loving ferret ever. He (long story) ended up living loose in the house and I used puppy training pads in strategic corners I knew he liked. He didn't really smell too bad, I think their poo is smellier if they have a diet of fresh meat. He would occaisionally 'poof' and then you would need to temporarily leave the room! (They are in the same family as skunks) but only if he was very scared or alarmed. He was brought up on JWB dry ferret food and really didn't like fresh meat at all. Butter, cream, cakes, biscuits and salad were a different matter, he certainly never read the feeding sections in the ferret books.

He lived happily alongside my Dalmatian - they used to sleep side by side on my bed! We lived at the stables when we first had him and YO had ferrets which she used to let out into a stable to have a play. One of hers had grown up with her jack russell and they used to play together.

I think they are fantastic animals - very clever and entertaining and will have you in hysterics at their antics!

They are terrific escape artists and can dig and burrow and squeeze through a gap you really wouldn't think big enough. They can get lost very easily if they ecape outside as they can move very fast and can also change direction very quickly. They will also get into places you didn't want them too - I had to dismantle the kitchen units to get a pair of kits out once and Funky had a near death experience sleeping in the washing machine which I then turned on!!!!

I would go for the older pair as a first time ferret owner, they will be more settled than the younger ones and less nippy. They can easily live til 8 or 9 so hopefully you will have plenty of lovely years with them. Be aware that what is known as ferret maths will strike and although you thought you only wanted two don't be surprised if in several months time you have four or more!!

All mine have been out on leads but it is very time consuming as they go where they want and certainly not in a straight line. My son used to take Funky out a lot as he said he was a babe magnet..............

Ferrets for Dummies is a good reference book although very American, some of the older books still recommend feeding them bread and milk!

They will always poop when they wake up so if you keep an eye on them and as soon as you see them reversing into a corner pick them up and put them on their mat or tray they very quickly get the idea. Be wary of too much litter or shavings in the litter tray as the ferret will just see it as an invitation to dig and scatter across the floor.

Bathing your ferret can also make them smell more as they produce more oils to replace what you have washed out.

Good luck, looking forward to lots of pics of your new fuzzies.
 
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I want more now - Coco is getting very old, bless her, losing her teeth :(

When I was in the RSPCA I had a shed that I converted into a playpen for the whole lot - used to just stand outside and watch. Never ever saw a ferret be disrespectful to another - they just loved being together causing mayhem. I miss those days *sigh*.
 
I've only got three at the moment but have just seen an ad in the village shop for ferret kits and I am sooooooooo tempted......................................
 
hmmmm....I seem to end up taking on the oldies, always wanted to see what a kitt was like, but I don't know, there are just so many unwanted oldies - Coco is fab and she's ancient ;) If they are at last chance saloon, I end up with them.
 
Personally i would go for the older pair, kits for a 1st time owner can be a bit scarey, nip training can be easy or very hard depending on how you go about it, please DO NOT scruff, flick noses or hit them, you will only give them negative feelings towards hands.
They live on average between 8 to 10 years.
You can opt to have them spayed/neutered or a lot of vets nowadays prefer the chemical implant.
They need at least a minimum of 4/5hrs a day out of their cage, they love human interaction and will reward you 10 fold with love.
I wouldn't be walking them with a dog, it takes just a second for 1 snap from the dog to injure or kill them.
They love a dig box, mine have a big sand pit to play in, cat toys/climbing trees they love, hammocks etc.
Don't use hay or straw for bedding as it harbours mites plus it has been known for ferrets to get straw up their penis, make sure the cage you get has solid floors/ladders as some cages sold for ferrets just are not suitable. Fleece blankets are very cheap from many outlets and so long as you wash these weekly you should keep the smell to a minimum.
When disinfecting cages/runs DO NOT use any disinfectant that turns white when water is added as this is toxic to ferrets.
As they are obligate carnivours no fruit or veg, they can not digest it plus things like grapes are poisonous to them, also they love milk, cat milk is best or any lacto free milk, they can not digest lactose.
There is a wealth of info and ferret forums out there which will give you any help you need.
 
i had a dear poley coloured chap from the SSPCA that I called Luath after the dog in The Incredible Journey. He was such a gentle loving boy , he used to curl up asleep infront of the fire and not even wake when you lifted him - best time to cut nails haha
 
I can only trim Lydia's nails one per day - she just cannot bear to have it done when so much is going on (as in - nothing)...

Maybe we need a ferret sub-forum. I would love to be able to help promote ferret rescue ;)
 
Ours is Colin, he's too young yet to be done. He normally comes out to play every evening when he will then help me message people on the laptop.

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He's very sweet when he's asleep though.

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