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Post by mustelidmusk on Jun 22, 2008 11:38:06 GMT -5
We'v had a lot of discussion around the pro's and cons of distemper shots, heartworm meds, etc. If you have a sensitive and/or older ferret, and/or if you're just plain paranoid (who? Me???  ) about bad luck with medicines and/or outside "cooties", you may want to consider bringing the "great outdoors" inside. Hey, you can even just be buried under a pile of snow with sub-zero temperatures!!! Those "el cheapo" plastic child's swimming pools work great for this.... ** try creating a beach in the pool uing sand with a shallow pan of water embedded in the sand....wet down some of the san near the "shoreline". bury some shells, andor toys in the sand and put some in the water as well ** make a woodland setting with soil, banches, dried leaves - maybe even some crickets or a mouse?  ** even fall leaves alone make wonderful noisey playground. How about some of that freshly fallen now if it's too cold to stay outside? Be sure to thoroughly check any iyems you bring inide for NAsty bugs. Choose items that aren't chemicalized, etc. Be creative and have loads of fun Your ferret certainly will! -jennifer |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 22, 2008 11:39:20 GMT -5
Another excellent post...*sticky*
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 22, 2008 11:41:02 GMT -5
I should add that even just bringing in a branch (with leaves still on it) from outdoors and throwing it down in the middle of the ferret playroom will bring much enjoyment. If you dont have the time to make a fun, fancy "indoor playground" just find 1 new natural item and toss it in your ferret's playroom. Ferrets love exploring new things, even if they arent presented in a fancy way.
Thanks for this post, Jennifer!
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Post by buzzonesbirdie on Jun 22, 2008 17:49:45 GMT -5
we bought a small pool and bring that in in the summer and fill it with water small stones and ice for them to play in.
in the winter we let it collect snow and then bring the snow pool in for them to play in.
I have not tried the leaves but will in the fall. thanks for that idea
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jun 23, 2008 9:00:25 GMT -5
Leaves are great if you get those crunchy ones that are noisey. I want to try some with crickets ...I can just picture the ferrets hunting down crickets in the leaves! I love bringing the snow inside too. I don't have to worry about the ferrets getting to cold because it gives the ferrets the option of getting away from the cold....the weather is definitely nicer inside! -jennifer |
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Post by pentacle565 on Jun 27, 2008 18:58:12 GMT -5
you do have to be careful with fall leaves, though. because getting all on the fleas/ticks/mites/etc is impossible.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jun 27, 2008 20:59:19 GMT -5
You're ABSOLUTELY CORRECT about that. The great outdoors has its drawbacks.
If I lived in a tick/flea-infetd area, I'd bring in about 10big cruchy leaves, inpect eachone on both sides heavily, and put them in zip-lock bags and freeze them for a week!!!!
I am not joking about this either...My husband is infected with a couple of chronic tick-borne illnesses (one of them is Lyme disease) and can no longer work because of it. He picked up the tick while vacationing in Minneota about 15 years ago, and we deal withillnees on a daily basis because of it.
-jennifer
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Post by jennifer5799 on Jul 12, 2008 10:27:36 GMT -5
I think you can bake the leaves / branches to "clean" them as well. Seems like I remember people doing that when making more natural snake enclosures back when I was on a snake forum.
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Post by cristina on Jul 18, 2008 17:18:46 GMT -5
I have kind of a weird question...I want to get some soil or "dirt" if you will, and bring it indoors for my little ones to play in (these past 2 weeks have been over 90 degrees and so humid that I dont even like the walk to my car in the driveway!), so obviously since they cant go outside they have been so bored and they are getting bored with me and sleeping longer and longer each day.
I feel so bad for them so I want to bring the outdoors in, BUT heres my issue....my neighbors just fertilized the plants near my yard (I dont have much dirt area, only grass) and I refuse to bring in any dirt from outside now because I just dont trust it!!!
My question is...is there anywhere (like major chain stores or such) that I can buy something like potting soil WITHOUT fertilizer/pesticides/or ANY chemicals in it?? or does anyone know of brands that carry organic soil???
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Post by weloveourweasels on Jul 20, 2008 22:43:41 GMT -5
you can buy coconut fiber. The sell it in bricks that you have to rehydrate with water. It is inexpansive too. This is what I used for my girls in an unused 10 gallon tank we have. It has been in my closet for a couple months since it got old to them. So tonight since you mentioned this I got the tank back out and rehydrated it again (turns dusty if you don't) Mr. Bean and Rolo are loving it. Loki is still asleep. It would be more bun though if I had it in a bigger tank. I could but it in a rubbermain container. So could you. www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752603 |
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Post by spiritualtramp on Jul 26, 2008 18:34:46 GMT -5
I've done leaf-boxes in the fall and also grass clippings in the summer. Both of them were big hits  |
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Post by wienercat on Aug 9, 2008 13:01:19 GMT -5
Leaves are great if you get those crunchy ones that are noisey. I want to try some with crickets ...I can just picture the ferrets hunting down crickets in the leaves! I love bringing the snow inside too. I don't have to worry about the ferrets getting to cold because it gives the ferrets the option of getting away from the cold....the weather is definitely nicer inside! -jennifer every year a cricket gets in my house. this year one got in... i think he either died in the wall, or sarsippius ate him because he's been gone 3 days now... and they stay till i catch em usually. |
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Post by charmantpapillon on Aug 11, 2008 13:00:23 GMT -5
you can get plain potting soil at walmart for about a dollar a bag i got beast a big tub for about 4 bucks then payed for 3 bags of soil.
It was a blast watching him tunnel. but its gotten old for him. i need to start burrying treats in there randomly then he'll have something to jump in for. =)
Everyone have a good day with the fuzzies off to the dreaded job hunt (my hours got cut AGAIN)
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 15, 2009 19:43:55 GMT -5
Just curious if peat moss would be safe for the ferrets to dig and play in.
I have a big sealed bag I haven't found a use for yet.
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Post by harrisi on Jan 23, 2009 12:08:01 GMT -5
Just curious if peat moss would be safe for the ferrets to dig and play in. I have a big sealed bag I haven't found a use for yet. Fine, just put it in a sieve and pour boiling water over it first and allow it to dry before use. |
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