New Ferrets

[tiggyeaj]

I just picked-up two ferrets on Sunday, Muddy and D'Artagnan. Both are three y/o males. I have not had ferrets in the past, bu was thinking about getting a pair last year, so have done a fair amount of research.
These guys actually belong to a friend who moved out of state for a year to do research, I'm the long-term furrysitter. For the last two weeks, until I was able to go pick them up, they were in the care of my friend's brother.
Right now, I have two major concerns:

>:(Muddy is a little devil. He doesn't nip, he attacks. Last night he tore up a fair amount of my hand before I could get him off. I held my hand as still as I could, hoping he would let go. I didn't know the best way to get him to release me without hurting him or tearing more of me up. I was told that he had a tendency to nip, but this obviously goes far beyond that! I do know that in the last few weeks since my friend left, these poor guys haven't been out of their cage for a good run (her brother was not fond of them and seems to have done the bare minimum). I'm hoping that after settling in, getting over the stress of the move, and getting more run-around time this behavior will stop, but welcome and ideas.

???Both boys seem to be underweight. I don't have a scale to weigh them, but I can easily feel their ribs and sternum. Their coats seem rough and lack shine. Previously, they were on a cat kibble diet (I don't know what brand). I have been feeding them Science Diet cat kibble and supplementing it with a high calorie vitamin supplement (I KNOW this is not ideal). I am interested in switching them to a raw or partially raw diet, in the hopes that this will improve their condition.

[sherrylynne]

Sounds like Muddy is either very afraid, or very angry. For right now, probably best to let him run as much as you can, so he can get some exercise, and not handle him a lot, and hopefully he'll wear himself out a bit. Holding still was the best thing you could have done.
Once he's had some time to settle in, try him with some treats. Most ferrets like oil, or ferretone. If you can teach him your hands will hold good stuff, it should help decrease the incidences of this type of biting.
If he is willing to accept the treats/oil/ferretone, and enjoys it, use it to reward good behaviour, ie: not biting when touched.
When he learns good behaviour is rewarded, you can start disciplining for bad behaviour. Use a "time out" for him each and every time. You can try scruffing him, telling him "NO BITE" in a firm voice, and plop him in an empty carrier for no more than 3-5 minutes. Any longer than that, and he'll forget why he's there.
The diet would definitely contribute to the poor quality of their coats, and being underweight. A raw diet for them will help tremendously.
Please feel free to check out the forum, particularly nutrition. Also, the mentoring threads. They'll give you some ideas on how to start switching them over. Feel free to ask questions! And can you post some pictures? We love ferret pics

[Heather]

First congratulations on your new little additions Muddy your little fellow, reminds me of my Fun-Go B Squiggly. Fun-Go was sent to my foster with the statement that he nipped. That was a mild understatement. Squiggly attacked hands, feet, ankles any bare skin that he could get his teeth into and he wouldn't back off or away. If he was scruffed, he would go insane and attack until he was caged.
Judging from his hate of the human hand and feet I'm going to be forward and say he was probably disciplined harshly at one of the 4 homes that he resided in (harsh for any ferret much less a young fellow who was under the age of 2). There were a couple of things that I noted after having Squiggly for a couple of days. He hated people, couldn't communicate properly with many of the excisting business (wrong body signals), startled terribly and the final observation .... he was profoundly deaf. All the poor little ones original problems are based in the fact that he cannot hear. He bites too hard in play, hence the original problem. As a kit he wanted so much to be loved, to play but he bit too hard, his people perhaps, not realizing this kit was deaf was disciplined harshly.
For a couple of weeks, Squiggly roamed my house, free from handling, basically free from discipline. We talked to him (more to steady our nerves than to actually gentle him ). Once he seemed more settled and had decided that Sprite and Aremis were his friends (Aremis was dying from lymphomas but Squiggly was always very gentle with him....Aremis was also deaf), we then started handling Squiggly. It started with only grabbing him on the fly, pick him up, quick snuggle, put him down. This went on for a long time, weeks, months.....I'm not sure. Each time we picked him up for longer and longer periods but never forcing our attentions for any longer than he wanted to bear. I would also pick him up while sleeping and snuggle him until he waked. This isn't a rushed process and sherrylynne can tell you this too as she too has gone this way. Fun-Go B. Squiggly has been here for over a year now, he still bites, but usually because he's trying to play. He loves his people, but trusts no outsiders. He has his business (6 other fuzzies, Aremis no longer runs with Squiggly....he left his young friend for the bridge) he plays with them (they tolerate his rough play), he will snuggle with some people when he's tired. He even allows me to scruff him when he's getting his homeopathics. I doubt that he will ever trust anyone entirely but he's comfortable here.
Good luck with Muddy, these troubled furkids are worth every minute that you give them
ciao

[tiggyeaj]

Muddy and I are taking it slowly. Like Fun-Go, these poor guys have had an adventerous life--my friend got them after they were found running around a bar! Poor Muddy seems to have decided that she was "his" person. I've been talking to other friends about the ferrets and so far everyone has agreed that Muddy didn't like to be handled by anyone but my friend Amber. (At least it's not just me!)

Today was much better--Muddy even let me handle him for a few moments. It was only after the end of playtime, when I went to put them to bed, that Muddy went spastic (ah, puncture wounds). Despite the damage, he did release me much more quickly when I scruffed him (although definitely not right away).

I think tonight's attack was mostly my fault. We had just discovered a new game (chase the plastic bag on the dog leash) and I don't think he was quite ready to stop. But all in all, much improvement for such a short period of time.

[Heather]

I'm glad that today was better and yes it does sound like he wasn't ready to end his game Squiggly is very much like that, he seems to have greater stamina than the others. Perhaps, this also sets them up for a more difficult time not only communicating their needs to their humans but also their furfriends too. Like small children who want to play longer and also require a cool down game to transition from hard play to bed our little ones get angry and frustrated with our lack of understanding.
Good luck, I hope that you continue to post your progress. Your challenges and solutions help others to understand some of the more difficult furkids that have either found their way into rescues or into the hands of new ferrants
ciao

[faunafreak]

Good luck! I had a foster who also bit, and it took a literal "battle of wills" one day to start getting him calmed down. He also clearly had an issue with men - he would go out of his way to bite my husband. By the time he went back to the shelter for adoption, he was a sweetie who gave kisses. Sounds like your little one has different issues, but that you are already making progress