Message Number: SG1163 | New FHL Archives Search
From: ferretsonly@hotmail.com
Date: 2002-08-31 16:46:12 UTC
Subject: RE: Bob C: Ferret Caretaker Quiz
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <23934788.1030812372510.JavaMail.root@scandium>

Bob,

Good quiz.

>2. Ferrets are allowed free-roam exercise a) at least 4 hours a
>day, b) twice a day for at least an hour each time, c) once a
>day for a couple of hours, d) for as long as it takes to catch
>them after they escape from the cage.

I'm curious about your rationale here.

In my experience, ferrets will stay awake for about 1.5 hours tops before sneaking off for a nap. They are most active morning and evening (I call it a "mom-ternal" schedule) based on my going to work during the day. I've always practiced a schedule of getting them out for 1 hour (in the morning) - 2 hours (in the evening). I keep a fairly strict schedule and I don't let any human activities impact their schedule (no evening movies or dining out). The result is that my ferrets know exactly when it's "their time" to get out.

Is it your thought that this is an artificial schedule? If so, isn't that what domestication is - being dependent upon man (or woman)?

Thanks for your innermost thoughts.

-Carla