Introducing a new ferret - help needed

[Mikey]

Hello people whonare still about. I was wondering if anyone can help.

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 violent 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!

[FerretDad]

No worries, Mikey.
Let them be together and fight for awhile....they are deciding who is the
dominant 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 violent, 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
dominant ferret. It was his/her home to start with and the new one will
accept that.

Keep little Alvin and be patient! :-D

[steve robinson]

Mikey wrote:

keep swapping the bedding around so they all start to have a similar
smell, give britney extra play time on her own , allow them to mix
slowly under supervision , make sure there is plenty of food about so
your originals do not feel threatened

Eventually they will bond it just takes time

[steve robinson]

FerretDad wrote:

Psss once bonded your going to be the new toy :)

[FerretDad]

FerretDad wrote:
>
> No worries, Mikey.

<snip>

> Keep little Alvin and be patient! :-D

One other thing. Alvin has a new home now but he's being picked on just for
a little while. Put him with them often but also give him some extra alone
time with you until the others accept him. Give him some extra loving and
reassurance from you for now.

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

:-D

[FerretDad]

steve robinson wrote:

>
> FerretDad wrote:
> > Keep little Alvin and be patient! :-D
>
> Psss once bonded your going to be the new toy :)

How are you Steve and fuzzies? Good to hear from you again. Seems like we
two are the only ones still here on a regular basis.

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 excited that her "play
biting" got much more violent as I scruffed her. She didn't draw blood but
she was biting very hard. It was funny.....I was happy to get her that
riled up and excited. ;)

[steve robinson]

FerretDad wrote:

Yes it is fun to get thier gander up, you get to see the
'killer'instinct in them.

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

[Mikey]

Thanks for the assistance. I have had britney all along. Introduced Justin and they just seemed to get on. Just she seems like she doesn't like alvin.

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.

[steve robinson]

Yes its normal ferret behaviour , you only need to intervene if alvin
becomes frightened or distressed

[Mikey]

Well have taken onboard everything said.

Alvin started to attack Justin. At first was play fighting but then he drew blood. Justin was violent 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 blood is drawn.

[FerretDad]

Mikey wrote:

> 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 blood
> is drawn.

Yes....from all you've said, Alvin just wants to play and is doing it too
roughly for now. He'll learn to adjust to the others.

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.

[Mikey]

Thanks for all your help. Wouldn't bare taking him back to the RSPCA. Will keep you updated as to what happens

[Mikey]

Well they seem to be calming down. Britney started chasing him about the place, and was going for him any chance. I took her away if too rough. Alvin didnt look that happy, and was kinda being picked on, but britney started slowing down with the running, and has laid off him recently.

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

[Mikey]

Hey guys.
It's been a week or two and they are still going for each other. I
feel really bad for alvin having to isolate him so many times. Britney
seems happy and couldn't care less when he is in the cage.

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

[Mikey]

[Mikey]

[FerretDad]

Thank you for the updates, Mikey. I feel bad for adopted Alvin. Don't ever
give up on him though...sending him off to a different home would be sad.
Things will settle down eventually and they will all be close friends. TRUE!

If him and Britney are the problem, try taking them out together with your
supervision and doing something fun with them both. Hold one in one hand
and the other in the other hand, and keep putting their faces together for a
sniff. Do this every day.

Make sure the separate cages are pushed right next to each other and switch
bedding before washing too so their scents will become familiar. Time heals
all problems.

Thanks for your updates. I hope to hear more about how it's going.

Gary