Message Number: YG9586 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukieferret
Date: 2001-12-28 14:35:00 UTC
Subject: Re: biting ferret

It's been pointed out to me privately that there may be a tleast two
forms of biting going on here, while I thought specifically about
the gnawing-teething-pain kind and answered for that. Since
play biting is also mentioned, there likely is also be the
rough-and-tumble kit play biting. Mea culpa for not noticing that.

It may, therefore, do the poster the most good to try to figure out
which biting is which and use the solutions that fit the specific
need from any of the biting posts. Multiple people posted very
useful information.

Yes, you are right, teething biting may be less common than play
biting but I read or misread the post as asking specifically about
the non-play biting, and that could be from learning the hierarchy
or from teething, and around here it usually has been from
teething in kits of that age.

Around two months of age ( about 7 to about 9 weeks) expect
eruptions of most of the difficult adult teeth to come in. Three
more are later -- if my headachy head is doing decent enough
multiplication today and my memory is working. Sometimes,
esp. if the face is short we've noticed that all that can be done is
to try to keep the kit as comfortable as possible till the teething is
done, then tackle easier things afterward.

A number of people put up great information to use!

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., sarrieab@a... wrote:
> I am a new ferret owner. Avery is 2 months old and full of
energy. My problem
> is that he bites, a lot! Sometimes it's just playful nipping, but
more often
> he's breaking the skin. I'm afraid that he may bite someone
other that my
> husband and myself. I would like to take him out with me but I
want him to be
> well behaved. I would hate for people to be scared of ferrets
because of my
> Avery. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? We
have read about
> making loud yipping noises when he bites and he couldn't
care less about
> that. We also heard that putting him in his cage every time he
bites, but the
> poor thing would always be in his cage. I'm at a loss. I don't
want to resort
> to physical measures (flicking his nose, or hitting him). Any
suggestions
> would be very greatly appreciated.
> Sara, Grady and Avery.