Moon's Graden

I have two ferrets. One about 4, female and called britney, and one who is 1, male called Justin.  They get on great. Sleep and play together.

I had just adopted a new male ferret who is about 2 called alvin. Before we got him we bought home some bedding of his, she took to immediately sleeping in it and what we thought was looking around the house for him.

On bringing him home, it turns out britney doest like him. They sniff, she follows and then there is a lot of loud squeaking and *** play. One of them often sents and I have to separate.

I have tried them sharing treats, that works until the treat is empty then britney goes for him. Have tried giving them a bath together which didn't really work and tried holding them which sometimes works then other times they will go for each other in my hands.

Generally the ferrets walk about the house all day and sleep in a drawer in the kitchen. The new ferret alvin currently has a cage and sleeps in a separate room. Is only our for playtime.

Britney often will go to his room and lay in his bed when he isn't about.

Anyone got any ideas as to how to get them to bond together? I don't want to give alvin back. But if it is upsetting britney too much I might have to.

Thanks guys!

No worries, Mikey.
Let them be together and fight for awhile....they are deciding who is the
*** one.  I've had 2 ferrets die, then bring in a new one for a friend
for the survivor and they always fight for a little while.

If the fighting seems too ***, separate them for a while but do put them
back together later.  They will eventually accept one another and will
eventually become best friends and mates for life.

Keep Alvin forever and be patient with Britney.  It just takes ferrets a
little time to adjust to the newer one.  I've been through it twice
now...the new ferret will get picked on by the other(s) for up to a month or
so.

In the end, they will all get along great and love each other.

  Gary

PS - again...to reassure you here.  Each time I got a new ferret and the
fighting started, I wondered if maybe I shouldn't have gotten a new one.
But each time, given a little time to adjust to each other...and to decide
who will be in charge, they always bond very closely and become best
friends.

PSS- it's always the older one that you've had who ends up being the
*** ferret.  It was his/her home to start with and the new one will
accept that.

Keep little Alvin and be patient!  :-D

Eventually they will bond it just takes time

This will comfort him during the transition time PLUS he will bond with you
even better in the long run.  

  :-D

And yes, I agree with you....Mikey will become the new Alvin toy.  And the
other ferrets he has will become good mates soon enough too.

I was playing seriously with Mia the other day.  I was putting a women's
hair scrunchy on her neck and she immediately got it off...so then I put it
around her body (behind the front legs) and she spent much more time to
remove it, but she did eventually.  she was so e***d that her "play
biting" got much more *** as I scruffed her.  She didn't draw *** but
she was biting very hard.  It was funny.....I was happy to get her that
riled up and e***d. ;)

My fuzzies are fine although i cant handle them now because a bite
could cause me to be hospitalised, my wife gets feret duty now.

The little rogues do miss me though, you can see on thier little
faces why dont you play anymore daddy , why have'nt you been in the
pen , hopefully soon things will get back to normal

Is it common for them to squeek very loudly and keep going for each other? Also I have never had one if them give off scent like that either.

Alvin started to attack Justin. At first was play fighting but then he drew ***. Justin was *** towards us when we got him but now isn't at all voilent.

It seems alvin tries to play. Is very energetic and jumps all over the place. Starts to play with Justin and britney but then I think he takes it too far. Britney fights back but Justin seems to submit then *** is drawn.

For now, if the play gets too rough, stop him and hold him for a few
minutes...give it all a time out. Then put him back with them. One month
from now all your ferrets will get along fine. Until then, just supervise
the contact.

New ferrets always need some time to adjust to a new home with ferrets.

More just sits there watching him, or lays next to him watching. seems to go for the occasional nip, but not as bad as it was before!

Hopefully in the next few days they will get on alot better

They seem to be a little better. She will follow him and not always go
for a bite. But then they do have a go at each other. Their necks are
covered in scratches from when they get each other round the neck.

Don't really know who's picking on who as its all too fast

They seem to be a little better. She will follow him and not always go
for a bite. But then they do have a go at each other. Their necks are
covered in scratches from when they get each other round the neck.

Don't really know who's picking on who as its all too fast