Buying a 2yr old ferret

[marzncody]

There is a lady selling a 2yr old ferret girl, she is desexed, doesnt get along with other ferrets (which will help stop ferret math, lol) she said she is selling because she can no longer give her the time she needs. So i may not be fuzzyless any more!
But i want to make sure that her and i suit, are there things i should ask, look for when i meet her (its a 4hr drive)

[weloveourweasels]

She is adorable. How does she know she doesn't get along with other ferrets I didn't see any others in the cage with her. A lot of people assume that. Chris (pear2apple) was worried her apple didn't get along with other ferrets and correct me if I'm wrong but I think the person she got him from said that. Not sure. But either way they are social creatures and I think if anyone has one they should at least plan on getting another soon. Ferrets have a pecking order to establish dominance and what may seem like fighting really isn't. Maybe she had never seen ferrets play before this one met another ferret and she thought the playing and dooking and chattering and hissing was fighting. One thing you need to find out is her vaccination history that way you know what time of year to take her for her boosters. IMO that cage is way to small so I hope that isn't included in the price. How much is she asking for her?

[josiesmom]

I'd take her in on looks alone! Kinda what I did for all of my adoptees! When you go to visit her,give her the chance to come to you and see her reaction. Usually ferrets are insatiably curious and she'll soon be climbing all over you. If she tried to engage you in a game of tag or wrestling pack her up and take her home!

But depending on your patience level even if she seems aggressive or aloof- it usually isn't long before they are in your pocket with the right interaction.

She's got sweety written all over her!

Cheers!
Kim

[marzncody]

She is asking $150 with cage and accesories (i have a cage at home already though), she hasn't been vaccinated, but she has been wormed.
She looks sooo cute - if it was up to me i'd go get her now
She didn't say how she knows that she doesn't get along with others ferrets.
I am encountering some resistence from hubby - his excuse is its too far away!

[suds]

look at that presous face how can you resist her ?...

[buzzonesbirdie]

She is too cute, I have driven for 4 hours to get a ferret before (our Riely was about 4 hours away). Take the chance is what i would say

[whipple]

She is cute! I don't think the cage is too small. Unless of course they are spending a large amount of time in it. As a bedroom for one ferret, it's not bad.
I have a ferret right now who is un social(Lars). He tries to kill Rascal, and today I let him out with just the boys and he went after Teddy. Teddy was just sleeping on the baby bouncer (his favorite sleeping spot) when Lars decided he didn't like that and attacked him! I saw the whole thing, Lars is not getting anymore chances.
Anyhow, she does look like a sweety. If you do want a second fert, just make sure she chooses. Not you. Good luck with hubby!

[pear2apple]

What a cute looking ferret! Whoa, I would drive 4 hours to get her!

Now, the people I got Apple from said he was unsocial and didn't like other ferrets. Now, lets break down the home he just came from. For one thing, he'd only been there 1 month when they decided he didn't fit. Secondly, he was super fat because his previous owners fed him ice cream non-stop, so its not like he was jumping around or playing much. Thirdly, they already had a bonded pair and they were keeping Apple BY HIMSELF in the smallest cage you could imagine! Its one of those purple My First Home cages that is better for a sick cage then a healthy ferret! I got the cage with him, and now I use it as a sick cage or for new visiting ferrets to sleep in. So naturally, he wasn't too keen to play with these strangers.

I was so worried that Apple wouldn't get along with other ferrets because of what they told me. It wasn't until after Apple met other ferrets that I realized all those above things! So don't count on this being your only ferret because other people assume she doesn't get along with others! I brought Apple with me to meet Kiwi. When they were playing together I decided it was a good thing and brought Kiwi home.

Apple loves Kiwi! They play constantly, sleep together, they just love each other. So no, there's really no way to stop Ferret Math!

As for making sure you too will be great friends, think about your day to day schedule, make sure you have enough time for one on one playtime with her since she won't have a friend. I'd estimate at least 3-4 hours a day, really should be more, of just you 2 playing together. Or other people in your family playing with her. The rest of the time could be sleeping, eating, pooping, and exploring/playing alone. But single ferrets care less about playing on their own, they enjoy wrestling and attacking you more!

[marzncody]

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for your advice, but unfortunately she went, the lady selling her did tell me that another person had contacted her before me so I knew my chance was 50/50