What is a Ferret?
The Intact Males are called Hobbs,
The Intact Females are called Jills.
The Neutered Males are called Gibbs,
The Spayed Females are called Sprites.
Sexual maturity occurs between 8 and 10 months of age
Size: Males are about 15 inches in length,
Females about 14
Weight: Males 3 to 5 pounds,
Females 1 to 2 pounds
Are Ferrets For You?
Ferrets are not the perfect pet for everyone!
Pro: They are friendly, have a very wonderful personality, quiet, playful, intelligent, litter trainable (90% hit rate), live 6 to 8 years, but have seen some live to be 12 years. They enjoy hanging out with you and playing with you. They can be trained to sit on your shoulder while going for walks and they seem to enjoy it. They can also be trained to go along in a carrying sack. They prefer to have another ferret to live with, but can survive without and some just prefer to live alone. They don't like sharing their human.
Con: They are Illegal in some states
(currently theses states are California,
Hawaii, and some parts of New York)
They do require a lot of attention and must have a clean cage and litter box each and every day. They must have at least 2 to 3 hours of free time out of their cage twice a day. Or at least 4 to six hours daily.
Kennel
(must be at least 2' x 2' x2')
BUT Bigger Is Better
High Back Litter pan
Water bottle and a heavy water dish
We use crock dishes that attach to the
cage along with a water bottle
Heavy Food dish or one that attaches to cage or
heavy enough so they can't dump it if sitting on floor.
A Hammock,
and as an extra a hanging sleep sack
they love them.
A dust Free litter
(Yesterday's News & Good Mews are great examples)
I have so many that I use Wood stove pellets
Bedding
(old blankets & Bath Towels)
but I like to make quilts for the bottom of the floor
and put baby blankets down to sleep under and a baby
blanket for the hammock as well.
Ferret Food
(A mixture of several different kinds of high
quality ferret foods and a couple of kitten foods)
This is what we feed ours
1 Bag of Totally Ferret
1 Bag of 8 in one Ultimate (Not Ultra Blend)
1 Bag of Zupreme Ferret Diet
1 Bag of The Ferret Store Superior Choice
1 Bag of Mazuri
1 Bag of Eukanuba Kitten Chicken Flavor
1 Bag of Pro Plan Kitten Chicken Flavor
We Feed a mix of all of these foods listed.
You are going to want to pick at least 3 of these
to use as feed. We recommend mixing for variety and
in case you can't get one of the foods for some
reason you still have 2 foods they are use to.
Ferrets imprint on food very strongly and changing
can be difficult. Ferrets do not change diets well
once they get older so feeding a mix from as early
on as you can is very helpful.
A supply of Duck or Chicken Soup should be kept on
hand and feed at least once a week so they get use
to it in case you have to force feed a sick ferret.
Recipe For Chicken Gravy
One whole chicken with organs and bones ground up,
extra livers, 1/2 stick of lard, and about
3cups of ground kibble.
You can feed it every other day
(any more than that
and they stop eating kibble)
When they look thin, give them more.
Other helpful essentials to have are...
Ferret Vitamins
Ferretone
A Well Fitted Harness and Lead
Various Small Toys
(usually ones designed for cats work)
Bitter Apple or Lime in spray and lotion
Our Ferrets favorite toy has been a container
filled with plain uncooked rice
Some Helpful LINKS...
Biting
Litter Box Training
(animation created by Wysper Wyns)
To Send Donations to the
Helping Hands Ferret Rescue
click here
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