|
Post by superfictious on Sept 1, 2010 3:10:52 GMT -5
Hey guys.
I got my first ferret Larka a few months ago. I haven't stayed active on this forum, but have been using it for information, ideas, etc.
Anyway, I'm going to school in about a week, and took in a ferret from kijiji, just like a had with Larka (clean bill of health, pet store papers, etc). She's in a temporary pen beside Larka's pen.
My problem is, this new ferret is very assertive and aggresive. I've had her since Friday night, and she is just bullying Larka. I am letting them have 'supervised play' with each other, but really, it's, 'new ferret wrestles Larka until I get too sad about Larka squeeking and put new ferret in pen'. I'm also letting one out while one is in Larka's pen, and Larka is in her own pen while I sleep and new ferret is in the temporary pen. I keep switching up their blankets so they get used to each other's scent.
I know it hasn't been that long, and new ferret isn't drawing blood, but Larka is depressed. Hardcore depressed. She isn't her lively, playful self, and when the new ferret is in a rare calm mode, and goes to so much as sniff her, she'll flinch. This ferret hasn't ever flinched at anything that I've seen. I'm upset about this all, and am considering rehoming new ferret. =\
|
|
|
Post by goingpostal on Sept 1, 2010 9:24:41 GMT -5
Adding a new ferret isn't usually a smooth operation, you can't just toss them together and expect instant friends in under a week. When I add a new one they don't even interact with mine at all for the first couple weeks, let them adjust to new house, new routine without added stress and they can see/sniff each other through cages during separate playtime, then supervised playtime keeping everyone tired out and distracted, intervene with bullying as needed. Once they can ignore each other and aren't constantly on the attack I try them loose together and see how it goes. My little female is a vicious attacker of newbies and I've added 5 since her and made it work. Just takes time and patience.
|
|
|
Post by superfictious on Sept 1, 2010 14:13:10 GMT -5
Thanks for the info and encouragement. 8] They are ignoring each other some time, and I've been trying to distract them from fighting by giving them a little soak and letting them dry off together in the morning. But, I'm starting to see I've let them play together too quickly, luckily I have not been letting them interact a lot at all. I'll stop letting them 'play' and start doing more scent switching tricks for now. I guess I thought they'd take to each other well, because they both came from homes with small dogs and cats that they like playing with. Was silly hoping for an 'Omg you play like I do LOVE' moment with them.
I'm willing to pe patient, if I know that in the end I'll have two happy ferrets. I think it's just hard for me right now, because Larka is my baby, and I brought home this new ferret for her because I'll be in class a lot, and she's pretty much like: "Happy? Yeah I was then you got that THING."
And, because she's so sad, it's making it hard for me to bond with the new ferret. She's adorable, a tail twitcher, and is cute and fun with me, but she's making my baby sad, y'know?
So for now, shift play? I'll keep one in the better pen with the toys and one out with me, their own places for sleeping. Any ideas how to lessen Larka's depression other than extra attention and treats? And also, I jumped right into raw food with Larka, but should I wait for her and new ferret to settle for starting switching the new one?
|
|
|
Post by Kerit on Sept 1, 2010 18:13:46 GMT -5
Keep at it! It might not seem like a big deal to us, but both fuzzies just got their worlds totally shaken, and it can take awhile to settle back down. Routine is great... it helps them know that they're in a stable environment, so it's easier to relax. Especially for the new girl, who has no idea that she's in a good safe place yet.
Are they similar ages? (If you do have "papers" for the new girl it's less likely anyone's lied about her age, at least.) The same age usually means about the same activity level, which to my ferrets made a difference. There are lots of users on here that have a ton of experience successfully introducing different groups, though.
I would go right into the raw switch. Might as well get to work on that too!
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Sept 1, 2010 21:22:50 GMT -5
You may want to put some rescue remedy in the water, for both of them. You may also want to do some research into Bach Flower remedies, not only for your little one but the bully too. It can be rubbed into the outer ear as well. Its workings are always subtle but they've worked. Give your little one a lot of attention, don't try and make them be friends at this time. You must deal with her depression first. Separate play times are not unheard of. I have a couple of little girls who will not tolerate each other (Lady B doesn't tolerate any other female, she runs with a group of boys). Even though play and camaraderie is what you wish, sometimes this doesn't happen. For now, you want to avoid at all cost the type of stress that will cause depression and possible physical illness (ulcers). Love your little one, snuggle, spend time, hand feed, message what ever you need to do to bond. These little ones are very sensitive and this type of aggression by one ferret to another can be overwhelming to the more sensitive ones. You may be able to reintroduce again at a later time. Good luck. ciao
|
|
|
Post by katt on Sept 5, 2010 14:48:42 GMT -5
Any updates? How are they doing?
|
|
|
Post by superfictious on Sept 29, 2010 21:38:29 GMT -5
SORRY FOR NEVER UPDATING.
Larka and Oatmeal (What I've been calling new ferret) are... getting along but not? Oatmeal had never drawn blood from Larka, but she's always trying to pin her down and chew on her neck. Larka makes a lot of high pitched, unhappy squeels while this is happening, that sound really terrible. I know it's not as bad as it sounds, as I've seen her pouncing back at Oatmeal while making these noises, but still. They did get to the point where they would play pretty calmly, and sleep together, so I've got them in the same cage. But Oatmeal keeps getting over-agressive with Larka, and just doesn't stop when Larka wants her to. Often Larka plays back, but just now I took her out of the cage (and away from Oatmeal, while she was chewing on her neck and Larka was making lots of noise about it), and Larka was shaking really badly. I was really worried, but then she squirmed her way to the ground and started running around, trying to play with me. So overall, I don't know if she's okay with things or not.
Oatmeal her self is proving to be more of a handful than Larka. I've got some rescue remedy 'vine' for her, (thanks for suggesting it, it was really cool to read about), but I don't think it's doing a whole lot. She's more of a chewer and trouble maker with an overall higher activity level. On the plus side, she's a glutton, and eats ANYTHING. So she's already switched over to, well, whatever you give her. She also made her first mouse kill the other day, quickly, quietly, and pretty cleanly. Then she ate it head first.
Larka had no idea what to do with it alive.
Anyway. I like Oatmeal in her own right, but I really think Larka would do better with a ferret with a personality more like her's, and honestly, I'd like another ferret like that too. I'm really leaning towards rehoming Oatmeal, and finding a better match for myself and Larka.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions though.
|
|
|
Post by goingpostal on Sept 29, 2010 23:32:04 GMT -5
Do you know how old Oatmeal is? The chewing on the neck nonstop almost sounds like adrenal behavior, I have a couple adrenals who have caused sores on other ferrets neck due to the hormones making them want to "mate". Might not be the issue but something that would concern me. Increased aggression is another common symptom of adrenal too.
|
|
|
Post by katt on Sept 30, 2010 0:50:33 GMT -5
Oatmeal sounds like Koda!!!! Man they would be a pair from hell! I have had to deal with a LOT of chewing and destruction and HIGH energy. haha If you need help/suggestions, or just to vent let me know!
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Sept 30, 2010 9:42:34 GMT -5
I was going to suggest the possibility of adrenal as well. I'd talk to the vet about it, at least.
|
|
|
Post by superfictious on Sept 30, 2010 18:19:14 GMT -5
Honestly, I don't think she has an issue or increased agression, I think she just has a high energy, exstremely playful and dominating personality. She's a tank ferret. Anyway, I didn't end up getting any sort of papers from the owner (what a surprise....), but I'm pretty confident with her being 10 months to a year like he said. He "always wanted a ferret" and got a girlfriend who talked him into getting Oatmeal. Then they broke up after a while, and four months of some weird co-custody ferreting he sold her and I picked her up. I guess I'll do some digging around on here to see if somebody can take her, and then take my time looking for a good match for Larka. At least I know what I'm looking for now.
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Oct 1, 2010 19:20:44 GMT -5
To be honest, it's taken me 6 months to integrate some of mine. Most of them are "high energy", and dominant. And it took Miss Emily almost a year to finally have enough of Athena picking on her, and start to put the run on Athena when she's trying to bully her. Suki still has a problem with both Zeus and Athena(lots of screaming, running, hiding, then coming out later), but yesterday, I found those five curled up in a blanket together They might still get along. You just have to work with them.
|
|
|
Post by goingpostal on Oct 1, 2010 23:53:32 GMT -5
Yep, it's been over a year since we took in Pip and he is finally playing like a normal ferret and sleeping with the rest of the crew. It was a straight out vicious fight if any of them came too close to him for over 6 months, they kept their distance and he kept his, took 9-1 months for him to start dooking and playing with me even. He just had no idea how to behave like a ferret.
Consider giving it more time, it's only been a month, also I'd recommend in the future, get pets for youself, not for your other pets, there is no guarentee they will get along and it is not fair to be passing them around like candy, these are live critters and they can take a long time to re-adjust, every move and rehome is hugely stressful on them. I really thought about rehoming Pip because of the fighting, I have NEVER given up a pet but thought he just wasn't going to work with my crew but I stuck it out, I figured worst case I would have rotated the ferrets out in groups.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Oct 3, 2010 0:16:02 GMT -5
Have you checked out this thread holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=care&action=display&thread=5735&page=1She was having horrible problems with her little girl attacking and hurting her little babies....through this natural medication and some behaviour modification they're living comfortably and quite nicely together. I'm seriously thinking of trying to get my hands on some of this to see if I can get a couple of my playgroups to run with each other. It's really worth a try. ciao
|
|