From:
"autumn_whispers2me"
Date: 2007-06-13 23:01:24 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: New ferrets and behavior (avoiding injuries)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
An update to my post below: If ANYONE has any suggestions for me, I
would be ever so grateful to hear them!
The situation has become more severe where Milo is concerned. He's
mainly focusing on Boo Boo now and will hurt him when he's sleeping.
I can't allow Milo around Boo Boo alone, and I don't know what to do
or what to think about this behavior since Milo is only a year old and
has had a cage-mate for that year.
He's picked on Pixie, who is Boo Boo's age but a teeny tiny little
girl, and she has gotten where she avoids Milo in any way she can.
She won't even sleep in their usual spot, where they've been sleeping
for a few years now. Boo Boo.. he's acting depressed, so I'm trying
to give him lots of extra attention. He's Milo's main focus, however,
when it comes to the aggression.
Things I've noticed about Milo that may help give you guys an idea of
his behavior:
1. Plays much, much longer than the others, including his cage-mate
who is the same age.
2. Will rarely ever sleep or eat when out of the cage as he is
generally moving constantly, running, playing, and...attacking others.
He's not losing weight, so he is eating regularly and plenty. His
coat, eyes, etc. are very healthy.
3. The longer he stays awake, the more hyper his playing and behavior
becomes. The aggression can happen at any time, but he seems to get
extremely hyper the longer he's up, which is the opposite of what the
others do.
4. He isn't aggressive towards humans that we have seen. He's not
aggressive to us. However.. he does hiss QUITE A BIT.
The hissing: maybe he just likes to hiss, but he hisses so much we
can't tell what the hissing is for. He will get overly hyper/excited
and hiss at the other ferrets, or us, or the dog (very laid-back,
gentle basset hound who is used to ferrets).
The problem isn't improving, and I'm not sure what to do. Our
apartment has only one bedroom (no door), very old building, and
nowhere to separate them all from Milo. Maui, Milo's cage mate/sister
for a year...she's integrated seamlessly with the others, no problems
whatsoever. Even if we had a separate room I wonder how Maui would
react. She seems to want to be with the others all the time.
They do have separate cages, and I've tried to trade off their
bedding. It hasn't helped so far.
Tocho is the alpha male--and lets Milo know this when he gets out of
hand (according to Tocho). Tocho is our third ferret and slipped
directly into the alpha role when he grew to full size and was no
longer a kit. The others had no problem with this. Milo is always at
a disadvantage when it comes to Tocho, but Tocho won't bother him
unless Milo irritates him, gets too rough with him, etc. Then he
nudges Milo with his head, lays on him, and if Milo persists or starts
biting... Tocho will scruff him immediately and hold him down.
There isn't any problem with the others accepting Milo---it's the
other way around. I've searched on the internet with regards to this
subject==biting, integration, aggression.. but everything I read
refers to the newcomer being the one beat up.
I really need advice on this. Please, anything... ??
Thanks so much.
Ella
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "autumn_whispers2me"
<autumn.whisperstome@...> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I recently took in two ferrets from a couple who no longer wanted
> them. One is female (Maui) and one is male (Milo). There seems to
> be issues with establishing pecking order between the males. My Boo
> Boo, who is almost four now, is just a laid-back sort of fellow, and
> he seems to get picked on quite a bit. I noticed this evening that
> his ear is very, very red as if it's been bitten, and he has a spot on
> his side about the size of a pea that's like a blood-blister.
>
> They sleep in separate cages, the three I've had since they were kits
> in one, the two new babies in another. Their exposure to one another
> is supervised, but they do end up romping off on occasion.. and I
> didn't hear anything that would have alerted me to Milo biting Boo
> Boo. Most of the conflict has been between Milo & my other male
> ferret, Tocho, but... I really need to know how to keep Boo Boo from
> getting picked on.. and if this behavior with Milo will ever change?
>
> Maui doesn't have a problem with anyone, and Milo mostly has problems
> with the males, although he has pushed his weight around a bit with
Pixie.
>
> I was told by the couple who had them that Milo had "scruffed and
> dragged" Maui around quite a bit in the beginning.
>
> Anyway, I don't want Boo Boo to end up with more injuries.
>
> Is there anything I can do to curb this behavior that Milo is
> displaying? He is sweet as sugar where humans are concerned, btw.
>
> Thanks so much.
>
> Ella
>
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