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Post by Forum Administrator on May 12, 2008 16:27:32 GMT -5
Oh, on a side note (lol) now that I have 2 extra furkids I took them out for their first walk yesterday. It was INSANE trying to wrangle four ferts on leashes. Tim and I decided that instead of taking all four ferts (and the cat) outside once a day for a one hour walk that we will take the boys out in the morning (with the kitty) for one hour, and take the oldies out in the evening (with the kitty) for one hour. We'll be outside more, but actually I think they (the animals) and us could really use that  |
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Post by meli on May 12, 2008 17:18:48 GMT -5
awe thats cute hehe how are they doing?
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 12, 2008 20:42:15 GMT -5
They are doing well (I accidentally deleted my thread about them....oops, Im not used to being an ADMIN) I will start a new thread about them in "General Ferret Chat" so that we don't get off topic here  |
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Post by jojodancer on May 13, 2008 10:20:42 GMT -5
At what temp do you NOT take your ferrets out for a walk? I know in St Louis it gets pretty hot and humid.
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Post by fuzzie77 on May 13, 2008 13:06:56 GMT -5
Hmm... they are most comfy around 60 (sorry, edited to typo) degrees F, 70 is TOO HOT and 80 is life-threatening. These lil guys are so fragile.
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Post by Forum Administrator on May 13, 2008 15:08:05 GMT -5
At what temp do you NOT take your ferrets out for a walk? I know in St Louis it gets pretty hot and humid. Well right now its okay outside. Them seem fine in the 70-72 degree range, they really do. I would think anything over 75 would be uncomfortable for them. When it gets hot we'll be taking them outside in the early morning (as the sun comes up) or at night (after the sun goes down). Mosquitoes arent really here yet, but when they come we'll have to figure out what to do for them. I use apple cider vinegar in their water for fleas/ticks, as well as neem oil before they go out, but I dont know what we'll do for mosquitos. They are a SERIOUS problem here, so if I can find a natural preventative, I will have to go with heartguard. Im not fond of giving pesticides to pets, but then again, I'm not fond of heartworm either. |
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Post by jojodancer on May 14, 2008 9:28:35 GMT -5
Right now it's perfect here in Chicago - in the 60's and no humidity. The ferts love it outside. But spring is the only time I feel comfortable taking them out, because during the other seasons, it's hot and humid, even in the evenings. (well, except for winter *grin*)
We might be able to take them out in November, though, once the first frost hits.
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Post by meli on May 15, 2008 11:08:13 GMT -5
It gets scorching hot here in the summer and this is when I'll be getting mine..so I'll be safe taking it out before the sun comes up and after the sun goes down. Mosquitos are bad here to..we get a truck that goes through the neighborhood spraying insecticide..on those days we stay in
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Post by buzzonesbirdie on May 15, 2008 11:29:29 GMT -5
we are having a house built right now and leading out from what is going to be the ferret room to the outside i going to be a run for them. we will have foundation on which dirt and grass will grow for them and it will be enclosed on all sides and the top with mesh wire so that they cant escape and nothing can come and get them but they will be able to get wet when it rains and play in the snow in the winter. you should have seen the look on the face of our builder when we told him what we wanted and why.  |
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Post by vixeyweasel on Jun 2, 2008 13:10:06 GMT -5
Todd is pretty good on a leash. It seems to have come natural for him. Vixey has trouble. It was very hard to find a harness that fit her. She is so tiny. I had to modify it myself. She doesn't seem to walk with me like Todd does. Any advice on leash training.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 2, 2008 13:36:00 GMT -5
Who for you? Or them? I find that my ferrets kind of walk me! Tim's (my b/f's) ferret, Mizu just likes to chill out and explore. Fugue (my ferret) likes to run all over the place Sams (my ferret) will go on walks De (just kind of hops around in the grass, running in circles, never gettting anywhere.) I feel like some ferret will walk with you, some will walk YOU, and some wont walk at all. I wish I could help more As long as they are outside and having fun is all that really matters anyway, though IMO. Anyone got advice for Amy? |
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Post by pear2apple on Jun 11, 2008 8:51:10 GMT -5
I take Apple outside, but he's impossible to take on "walks" in a direction not of his choosing. I kind of guide him in a direction and he adopts to it, but really he chooses where we go and the only way to stop it is to pick him up and replace him somewhere else. Otherwise, my action plan with him, I take him outside, I go in the the very middle of my apartment complex's "backyard" and then put him down. (He's on his leash this entire time) Then he sniffs and looks around for about 30sec, then makes up his mind which direction he wants to go. Then he starts running toward whichever building he has chosen! I let him sniff around the sides of the building, then bring him back to the middle and repeat this 5-6 times. By that time I'm warm from all the running, and I take him inside and plop him in the bathtub for cooling down. A small spurt of water from the faucet for him to drink, then 15mins of laying in the cool tub and he's out to run around the apartment.
I never take him outside if its above 75, but if its cooler and breezy in the evening I take him out for a bit. Even then its only about 15-20mins outside. I can't wait for the snow and to see him in that! Maybe I'll get him a little sweater too. Awww.
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Post by weloveourweasels on Jun 28, 2008 18:34:16 GMT -5
Be very careful when going on walks and stay out of grass that is not your own. Even concrete and the air can be harmful. My Rolo bear caught Colostridium early this month and we had to shovel out $149 bux to diagnose and treat her. The doc said it can be caught from the air, concrete , grass, anything. You can even bring it in on your clothes. Loki didn't get it because she is 2 and just like a real baby Rolo's immune system couldn't handle it well and she got sick and Loki didn't. I was lucky in that case. But now I haven't taken them outside since. I am very afraid of her getting it again. She has been a little depressed because of it. She was such a good walker on the leash she would go on a full 10 minute walk around the block. Loki wasn't interested at first but we took her with anyways and she sat in my boyfriends hoodie pouch and she would move back and forth poking her head out of both holes and then she decided one evening hey that looks like fun and started walking with Rolo. Not as good kind of ADD but she still did it and was learning how to get better. Then Rolo got ill and we had to stop.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 28, 2008 18:38:41 GMT -5
I just walk the babies around my apartment complex. They are kind of famous, everyone knows them and they love them. The ferrets are pals with a Shitzu named "Hedi" she loves to play with the ferts (shes soooo gentle) and the ferts love her too.
There are certainly risks with taking your babies outside, but there are risks with keeping them indoors too (like you said some things can be brought inside on your clothing). Everyone has to decide what is best for THEIR furbabies. For me, its best that the get out, and the risk of them catching something is one I am willing to take.
But its good that you brought this up, weloveourweasels. Thank you!
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Post by Heather on Jun 28, 2008 23:06:17 GMT -5
My guys have access to the great outdoors all the time (well, I don't allow them to play outside after dark, there are too many wild animals out there) I created a play area that they can access by using their tunnel slide. In their play area they have access to a slide, water pool and a 8 ft x8 ft dig box. We built the enclosure with a fenced top to prevent predators from getting at my furbabies. Their tunnel has also been designed to allow for maximum safety from the outside inhabitants. I live next to a wildlife preserve and it's not uncommon to have wild animals from raccoons, minks and weasels to wolves and deer in my backyard so I'm particularly cautious about where my furbabies go outside. I do take them out for walks and they always go to various art shows that I'm showing at as well.
Ciao
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