Harley has a new ferret playmate!

[HisNameIsHarley]

My boyfriend and I just picked out and brought home my second ferret! He is soo cute! There were three in the new litter that just came in today at four and he's the smallest one. I'll post pictures later (after I charge my camera).. Harley is soooo psyched! He got to sniff him through his x-pen and man was his butt wigglin! I introduced him to my other ferret and they hit of off instantly! Rolling around, biting each others scruffs and dragging each other around! lol They're so crazy! He's mostly white and has dark red eyes.. That's the part I wasn't crazy about.. the red eyes.. they usually freak me out but this little boys don't bother me at all. They're not like the normal bright red eyes that you get with albinos.. they're really dark and don't really stand out that much. I picked him bc he was the sweetest and most cuddly.. Which is the total opposite of my other ferret! He's asleep in my t-shirt right now and has been passed out for a good two hours! He's had a long day.. I haven't thought up a name yet but it's a work in progress.. Poor Harley is circling me whining bc he knows I've got him! lol I'll give him a couple days on his own to get adjusted before I let he and Harley get to know each other one on one..

Does anyone else have ferrets? And if so.. Do you let your ferrets and doggies play together??

[HisNameIsHarley]

Awe, poo.. Nobody else has ferrets?

[taje]

I have 2 ferrets, I just got a new one a couple of weeks ago, his name is Fred Ferret, we had 2 and one died of old age so I got a new one, Pita loves to play with them, she is gentle with them when she can be so rough with other things, (like baby kitties, she bites the ears off of) .Fred is all white he looks like a polar bear! I also have a sable we call Badger, he's a big lazy guy but Fred is keepin him busy!

[taje]

Here's Badger as a baby and Fred now. They have their own screen enclosure they live in. They love it.

[Kari]

I used to have a ferret i love it sooo much it went every where with me in my coat pocket, or with his harness as he got bigger...we lost him in a house fire(RIP Zane)Neway we too had a dog at that time and they did great together! Zane had a big tunnel that he would hide from the pup in it was too cute!

[txshopper73]

HOW COOL! Ferrets are neat critters!

[cribal]

That's not fair. I want a ferret or a sugar glider so bad but my husband can't stand any of them. We have an outside/inside Great Dane and then Lucy (Yorkie) and I want some more animals..... My mom was a single mom raising me so we always lived in apts. and could not have any animals... I love any and all animals and I guess that';s why my husband puts a stop to them.... He could let me have a couple more but if it was my choice I would have about three of every animal...

Crystal

[rrosenberry]

That is so funny, I would love to see Harley and the newcomer playing together,, I don't know how Bailey would do... He goes crazy when he sees a squirrel,, I'm afraid what he might do..

[smmrpm]

We have two - Trouble and Taylor and the dogs love them!!! They go up to their cage as if to say "ok come on already - lets PLAY!!"

[Carinhosamulher]

No, I don't have ferrets. I have rats. And Matthias just loves them. It's hilarious cause they'll give each other licky kisses. One of my rats is near as big as Matthias!! hehehehe

[My2Furbabies]

I have never owned one but my fiance's sister did! It was a mean one too! Very playful! Can't wait to see the pics!

[FirstYorkie]

Never had a ferret. Do you not have to worry about your dogs killing it?

[lilfoot]

I would love to have a ferret..hubby says no way...but I'm afraid that Zoe would kill it...I seen what she did to a chipmunk one day....it wasn't pretty!!!

[taje]

Pita is very capable of hurting the ferrets as you've seen in other threads about her kitten maiming incident(http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29349)
but the ferrets have lots of places to hide, plus they put her in her place. So she plays with them just fine.

I don't know about anyone else but ferrets do smell, they have their own musky odor which isn't bad but if you don't clean their cage very regularly, their poop (and they poop ALOT) is very stinky.

I love them tho, mine stay outside in a screened area, they are so funny and fun to play with. Just for the record they are not rodents, they are in the weasel/mongoose family, they are not nocturnal. Ferrets also like alot of out of cage exercise and attention. They are definitely not for everyone and each one has their own distinct personality. If they are mishandled when they are small they can become mean and nippy so I don't recommend them for little kids.

Mine love the tunnels I have around for them i make them out of the plumbing pipe you buy for the sewage line at Home Depot and I also buy them dryer venting to run around in. They also love a feed sack or big box full of newspaper or hay or anything to nose around in.

They are soooo fun!

[HisNameIsHarley]

YAY! More ferret lovers!!!

That's right.. ferrets are not rodents even though a lot of people think they are bc they just look like stretched out rats lol They are not nocturnal but they do need to have a regular day/night cycle so if they are kept indoors their cages need to be in clear day light and be covered or have the light off during the night. It's been suggested that messing up their day and night cycles aids in their suffering from adreanal disease. So it's super important to keep them in the light and cover them at night. They can sleep up to 18 hours a day and need atleast 2 to 3 hours of playtime everyday to stay fit and healthy. They're also very temp. (60 -65 F is best)sensitive and can't handle really cold temps and will die from heat stroke if left in the intense heat. As far as adreanal disease it is also known that certain litters such as cedar (especially) and pine help along the disease which is why so many breeders and vets are now recommending using only paper litter and bedding. Also people have been feeding their ferrets cat food for years and years and it is now known that the high sodium and protein levels in the cat food will eventually lead to a ferrets malnutrition and death. When I got my first ferret I didn't know anything about their food and what they needed and fed him a very low quality food without realizing it wasn't good enough for him. He lost weight very quickly but has since regained his weight and peppy attitude after being fed a MUCH better food brand and with vitamin supp.

I used to take Ferret out onto campus with me on his harness and lead but stopped that after he picked up a really bad case of ear mites! They tore his ears up pretty badly and even though it was inexpensive to treat and the drops weren't that bad to administer I don't think it's fair to him bc he was in so much pain. Pesky little buggers!

I have been told by several breeders that it is ok to take your ferrets outside in the snow to play (with a lead and harness) just as long as you keep an eye on them and stay near them so when they decide they're to cold they will try climbing up your pants leg.. lol AKA IT'S COLD! LET'S GO INSIDE! But I've never taken him out in the snow bc I'm too worried about him getting sick.. But then again I worry too much anyway! lol

They really do have their own little personalities and it's amazing just watching them run around and socialize with one another. I see the ferrets as coming in two groups.. 1 group is cuddly and loving and wants to be on your lap and group 2 are completely insane.. always running, jumping, nipping, squeaking and 100% totally playful! lol I now have 1 of each hehe

Goodness I have tons more to blab about but I have sooo much homework to do.. So I'll post some pics really quickly then be done! The sable (dark mask) is my first ferret and the white faced one is the little boy I got yesterday!



They of course aren't for everyone (which goes with all pets) but they are really great little furballs! I adore mine that's for sure!