General Ferret Information

[fuzzymom]

Since I have been getting some surprised reactions and some people telling me the diet I feed my ferrets is wrong on a reptile forum I frequent, I am wanting to create the "Ultimate" ferret care sheet to post in the small animal section of the forum. The ferret guide will include the following

General Ferret Information
Housing
Diet
Grooming
Play/Enrichment
Behavior
Keeping Multiple Ferrets

Any other categories would be great! For now I need General Ferret Information. Nothing about the other categories. I need the following information...

Scientific Name
General Name
Life Expectancy
Origin
Wild Relatives
Weight Range
Size Range

I also want to answer these questions in the General Ferret Information category.

What makes a ferret a good pet?

I would like photos to be included in the care sheet, so if you have any photos you would not mind letting me use, that would be great. Once I'm done writing up the General Ferret Information section, I'll post it up and have you all look it over to make sure I am not putting any information in there that could be wrong, and you can make sure I spelled everything right.

[Jen]

I think this is a great idea! I wanted to make a pamphlet with the information you're describing.

I found some good resources with the info you need:

www.ferret.org/read/faq.html (1 page)
www.metroferret.com/PDF/Level%202/Your_Pet_ferret.pdf (12 pages)
www.thechipster.com/fert-man.html (29 pages)

Think about giving credit to resources though too. You could assign a number to each resource and superscript the number in your text to identify their info or you could just add a resource list with links.

I'll help out more when I get the chance.

[fuzzymom]

Thanks for the links. I found some good information and I'm almost done with the General Information section. I started the diet section and once its done I'll post it here and have everyone look it over.

I'm also looking for pictures, so if you have any pictures you wouldn't mind letting me use.

[Heather]

What type of photos are you looking for?
ciao

[fuzzymom]

I want a photos of at least 3 different colors of ferrets. I also need photos of ferrets with adrenal disease and teeth/gum disease (to show the effects of a bad diet). I would also like pictures of ferrets eating raw meat/meaty bones/whole prey. All of these pictures will be put into the 'Guide' I'm making. I'll post up the General Information section for everyone to look over and make sure I didn't forget anything or include any false information.

[Heather]

Where do you want the photos sent?
ciao

[Jen]

Here's some if you want to use em:

Weasel chowing down in feed dens:




Weasel digging outside:



Weasel sleeping:



Weasel lazing about:



All my fuzzy pics are here s110.photobucket.com/albums/n92/mestupidcat/ferret/

Hope this helps or we can try for something different if u want

[fuzzymom]

Thanks for the pictures! I'll definitely be using that one of the ferret chowing down on the meat. Oh, and the one with the digging. That will be good in the play/enrichment section.

Here is the General Ferret Information section not including pictures.

General Ferret Information
Scientific Name: Mustela putorius furo
Common Name: Domestic Ferret
Life Expectancy: 8-10 years
Color:
Ferrets come in a variety of colors and patterns, with colors ranging from, sable, albino, chocolate, champagne, cinnamon, silver, dark sable, and panda. Patterns include mitts, blazed, Siamese, and badger.
(include pictures of 2-3 colors of ferrets)
Length:
Males - 18"-24" (45 - 60 cm)
Females - 14"-22" (35 - 55 cm)
Weight: 1-5lbs at maturity

[fuzzymom]

Any other information I should include in the General Ferret Information section?

[Jen]

Individual personalities vary. Human interaction, enrichment and playtime result in a friendlier, happier, healthier ferret.

Ferrets are not cage animals- they must have at least 4 hours of 'free roam' time each day. Ferrets left in cages for many days with little interaction will become depressed and destructive.

Ferrets cannot walk on wire cage floors (cover with blankets, towels, or linoleum).

Ferrets are carnivores and must eat a diet of primarily meat- not corn or wheat fillers.

Not sure if you wanted this kind of info yet... oh- for pics you could always look through the old threads and PM a member asking permission to use their pic if you find one you really like.

[sherrylynne]

If you're calling for pics with eating, heres Lucrezia trying her best to finish off a turkey thigh bone!

[Jen]

LOL Sherry!! She's the cutest!

[Heather]

If you can pull them from here then perhaps some of these?

or

maybe


ciao

[fuzzymom]

Great pictures! I like the one with the little swimming pool! I'll have to give that a try with my kids!