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Getting a ferret tomorrow...Any tips?

Okie dokie well I had a ferret when I was like 16, so I dont remember too much about them. (My mom gave it away at a yard sale while i was at school because she "claimed" I wasnt paying it enough attention) But now i am 21, and my fiancee and I have our own apartment. I contacted a ferret rescue, and I was approved. I am scheduled to pick one up tomorrow around 3:30. Im kind of nervous. Im going to get a cage, not a tall one, (because I live in an apartment), but the one I like is on wheels, and it has 2 levels and very wide and spacious. A c ouple questions I have are this- Can ferrets learn their name? I heard they are capable of playing games like roughhousing, etc. Also, is descenting them inhumane? Will it cause any health problems? I also read you can feed them WHOLE baby chicks every now and then (beak feathers and all) Like where do I buy them? And of course they must be frozen i assume. What are some fun things I can teach my ferret and or do with him? PS- if its a boy, I was thinkin of naming him Jakari. is that cute for a ferret? lol just want some opinions. Thanks for your help!!

Public Comments

1. http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Unusual-Pets-Ferrets.89789 this is a pretty good ferret link.. descenting is not cruel and reduces some health problems they may have.. neuter too! get a tall cage - it wont take up any more floor space and they REALLY need roomy cages. you would buy dead chicks from a hatchery - all male chicks are killed at age day 1
2. Ok i have 2 ferrets and the best tips r 1) they need alot of playtime 2) THEY GET VERY LONELY AND LAZY IF U DONT PLAY WITH THEM/IF U DONT HAVE 2. 3) they have alot of medical conditoins u might want to look at. 4) if they start to jump around and act wild,its just how they play so dont worry. 5) Use speacial shampoos to bathe them bcause some shampoos can wash away some of there speacial body minerals or sumtin like that. So just have fun with it and play with them alot and dont forget to feed them and give them water and change its water. Also cleaning cages can b a hard job.
3. 1) Can ferrets learn their name? Absolutelty yes! My ferret Raymond, kows his, you have to really work on it though, use treats. 2) I heard they are capable of playing games like roughhousing, etc. yes, ferrets LOVE playing games. Raymond likes playing fetch, mins the bring it back. He also LOVES ruff housing (wrestling my hand). If I leave the room, when I come back, he will run out from under the bed and 'attack' me. (its adorable) 3) Also, is descenting them inhumane? Now adays, most ferrets you get will already be descented. I don't believe it is considered inhumane because it has nothing to do with their survival skills (the smell is just used to attract a mate). 4) Will it cause any health problems? I have never hear of the descenting process causeing health problems, it makes lfe easier for the owner though, which would in turn effect the stress level of the ferret. 5) I also read you can feed them WHOLE baby chicks every now and then (beak feathers and all) Like where do I buy them? Barf feeding: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=479&S=1&SourceID=43 http://www.ferretlove.co.uk/barf.htm http://forum.ferret.com/tm.asp?m=24810 http://www.critterhobbyist.com/NaturalFerret.html You can buy frozen chicks at most petstores, just ask them if they sell feeder chicks, or mice. You can also buy them meat from a butchers, make sure the bones, organs, EVERYHING is included. 6) And of course they must be frozen i assume. Freezing the helps eliminate any bacteria that may be in the feeder animal. It also keeps the meat fresh. 7) What are some fun things I can teach my ferret and or do with him? You can teach you ferret to sit, beg, down, come, stay, die, just about anything. If it is cool enough outside (at least under 83 degrees, ferrets commonly suffer heat strokes) you can take him out to dig, play,or even for a walk. You can take him to petsart, petco, any place that allows animals. I think Jakari is a cute name c= Hope this information helps!
4. well, since your 21, you should be able to handle and take care of them pretty easily, what you'll need is a big cage, or pen, so they have room to play and such, also, toys, lots of em! Ferrets need 2-3 hours a day of attentions outside there cage, so feel free to let them frolic around the place. Your ferret will need litterbox train to be able to wonder around the place unattended for a few minutes though. Jakari is a very nice name for a ferret!
5. I've never heard of a ferret eating a chick. My ferrets only eat kitten food, ferret food, and occasionally baby food. Ferrets can learn their names and also to respond to a ringing bell, which is handy if you can't find them! Descenting them is considered humane since it is done at the same time as a spay/neutar. Ferrets are very clean so be sure to put their food on a different level of the cage hen their litter box.
6. The biggest cage you can get is the best. Remember to have a nice dark box in there so they can sleep naturaly. Yes they can learn their names, also some come to a squeaky toy. They love games and roughhousing, normally they need min 4 hrs out of cage play time, but when you have only one you need to put in the extra effort. I am biased, i live in australia where no responsible vet will perform descenting, so i am against it. Ferret spray scent when frightened, not to attract a mate- i have 2 and have never had either spray. Descenting is a practice that is popular in the US, and breeders have commented that it is a consumer run operation - meaning if customers didnt want it they wouldnt do it. Desexing will reduce smell dramatically enough. Most whole prey diets will be fuzzy mice (younger and smaller), day old chicks (you can remove the beak and feet if worried), insects, mealworms, lizards. They must be thawed out before feeding, most pet shops sell them, try a farmer or hatchery (they cull male day old chicks regulary). Mine have a HIGH quality dry food all the time - 1st 4 ingredients must be meat, little or no fillers like rice or corn. Then they get a different bit of meat each night, chicken neck, chicken wing, lamb bits, heart. Do not feed pork, ham, bacon, etc. Look up on you tube for ferret videos - lots of tricks on there. Look in the links and you will find heaps of info! Have fun!