From:
"Becky at Shady Pines"
Date: 2008-01-18 18:28:17 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] so many ferrets
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
The ferrets as they exist now, the animals we keep as pets, never existed in
the wild. We have bred into them behaviors and colors and genetic issues
that they didn't necessarily have in the wild. These are not wild animals.
They are also not intact.
Also, I am reporting on what I've seen in a group that has varied from 2 to
23 animals. I have never found a single one who didn't fall into the pecking
order (without being beaten up!) within the first day or two after coming
out of quarantine. It may not make sense with the way wild ferrets and
polecats live, but it's what I observe in animal after animal after animal.
They are not territorial beyond quick tiffs, and I'd really be reluctant to
call that territorial, as it shifts to whatever place they think is
desireable at the time.
On Jan 18, 2008 12:25 PM, Ann Barzda <hillcrestferrets@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Just a note - from my understanding, ferrets are not pack animals. They
> stake out territories and live singly, driving off competition for
> resources. Whole males are VERY difficult to keep together, if not
> impossible, at least during the mating season. My females can be even more
> ferocious about protecting their space from intruders. That includes
> competition for food as well as for mates.
>
> Humans are quite lucky that we are able to convince them to live in
> groups, and that neutering them seems to alter their behavior to the point
> that they willingly live together.
>
> What I've found is that family groups will co-exist with the most harmony
> - that is several females and a male, or all females, IF they are raised
> together and kept together. Even then, if I remove one for a length of time
> (such as breeding or birthing), I sometimes can't get them to live in their
> old group again - it's as if they became a stranger. Makes it a challenge
> when I try to re-integrate. IMO, what happens with integrations of unrelated
> ferrets is that we humans convince them that the new ferret in their hammock
> is part of their family group, and eventually (hopefully) there is
> acceptance.
>
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