kingbunky 3 #1 January 13, 2003 we had two ferrets, both came home as youngsters and we had no problems other than the usual 'breaking them in' stuff, and they are now funny, happy guys, about a year old. my wife went to the pet store to get some ferret food for them and saw an older ferret (6 months or so) and he had been drastically marked down. his story was that he came for another store and he had been biting everybody. i suspect he had been mistreated. anywho, they weren't going to keep him much longer and he would have been put down. a combination of a soft heart and a soft head, we figured we had enough experience to break him of this biting habit so now he's at my house. so far, he has bit my hand 5 or 6 times, drawing blood everytime. he also latched onto my face and you can clearly see all four fang punctures, two below my lip and two more on my chin(ouch!). anyone else have experience with this? he seems scared to death of everything. we haven't let him loose with the other two and won't until he seems better."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZipTie 0 #2 January 13, 2003 put some tabasco sauce on our hand and let bite, but if he goes into your skin its going to burn(it works for pet squirrels).you may have to do it a couple of times. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #3 January 13, 2003 The males are a little more aggressive (or can be). And they are much bigger. I, at one time, had about 4 of them. (Frank, Felecia, Farrah, and Freak Ferret.) This may take a while, but he is looking for trust. Most likely at the pet store he was poked at and everything else by mean customers. You might try a cage for a while with many toys and talk to him in there - put that on the couch with you while you watch tv. Hopefully the cage is a bird cage type so he can see out and realize nothing is going to happen to him. This is likely the most important thing at first. He has been caged and felt safe in the small place. Let him go back to that small safe place feeling until he can get used to a room. And so on. Similar thing with Greyhounds who formerly raced. They have never heard a dishwasher, doorbell, and etc. The only place they feel comfortable at first is in a small place. When he tries to bite, thump him a little on the nose and say No. You dont have to yell No. The thump is good because a hit (is just wrong) and besides he can see it coming. Just say No with a thump, then pet him in a minute. With my Great Dane, he will accept my head shaking (no) as a command just as well as a quietly spoken No. Animals have great hearing, but at times we think we need to yell NO. (When a bunch of people are around that flies out the window, he is too excited) He likely has spent his whole life either in a breeding mill or in pet stores. He wont know that your home is safe at first. And he wont trust you. Ferretts are wild animals, it can be that he reverted back to instinct and that is a tough one to break. Try toys in his mouth to bite, but not hands. You can try a treat as well from your hand. And train him alone without your other two little buddies around around. If you are mixing males and females. Watch out for the male when he starts biting the back of the females neck. Eventually there will be a sore there. Its a foreplay thing. A major tip that ferret owners usually do not know- There is a drinking water additive called Doggy Odor Gone. This will eliminate the musk smell. Simple and it works. I appreciate you (your wife) taking in the little guy before he was put him down. Some training, patience, and time should cure this little 2nd chancer from his fears. Get him litter box trained or you will find one day all kinds of cool places with little ferret poop. My mother swears they made the poop piles in a J shape just for my last name initial. Good luck and Patience to you my friend. ~AirAnn~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
QuickDraw 0 #4 January 13, 2003 Quote Watch out for the male when he starts biting the back of the females neck. Eventually there will be a sore there. Its a foreplay thing. Thanks Ann, you wouldn't believe how much trouble that has caused me in the past. -- Hope you don't die. -- I'm fucking winning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #5 January 13, 2003 I'm not sure about ferrets, but whenever a domesticated animal tastes blood, instints and development are ususally out of whack for good. I don't have any good advice...So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJohnson 0 #6 January 13, 2003 Mine had a problem with biting. So I took a spray bottle of water and everytime he got cute, I'd give a little blast of water in the face. Broke him of it pretty fast. JJJJ "Call me Darth Balls" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moodyskydiver 0 #7 January 13, 2003 I have 2 ferrets right now and love 'em.We had a problem with the older one (Brady,hes about 2 yrs old) biting the younger (Harley, whos about 6 months old).I bought a training aid people use for dogs called Bitter Apple that helps stop biting and chewing through taste aversion.Just sprak a small amount onto the area that gets bitten and when he bites it he'll get a really sour,nasty taste in his mouth.After a few tries Brady left his new playmate alone.After Harley got a bit older we'd let him out to play and he'd bite my hands and feet (especially if I had on socks).So we started spraying a little Bitter Apple on my socks and he learned pretty quick what happens when he bit them.You might try wearing some old gloves with this stuff sprayed on it while you handle him so that if/when he bites he wont actually have to bite you to get the effect of the spray.If you get to the point where you can introduce him into the cage with the other ferrets,spraying their coats lightly with this stuff wouldnt hurt either to keep him from hurting them as well.The good thing is that its fairly cheap and wont hurt them..it'll just give 'em a really icky taste in their mouth.You can get this stuff at any pet store or maybe even some places like Wal Mart might carry it too.Hope this might help ya. "...just an earthbound misfit, I." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #8 January 13, 2003 the best way to handle them is to let em crawl inside a pillowcase. then pick it up and swing it as fast as you can in a circular motion above your head. all the while singing "pass the douchie" then when you finish that song let the furry fellas out and watch the walk. be fore the get SOBER lay on them with just enough pressure to scare them. you will need a song. We are the champions or eye of the tiger will work! once you are done with that song you should have a perfectly tame set of ferrets. Its best if you dont do this naked!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slowfaller 0 #9 January 13, 2003 Damn that was the funniest thing I've read in a while. I kept thinking of Austin Powers swinging Mini-Me around in "Goldmember". If he was only singing "Pass the Douchie" LMAO that was good Chris --"Someday you will die and somehow somethings going to steal your carbon" -MM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #10 January 14, 2003 thanks for the replies everyone, except jt! that was funny as hell by the way but i'm not sure of the procedure. i'll try some of the others first. the problem is i'd have to bathe myself in the bitter apple stuff (i already have some from when we got the second ferret). i wear gloves when i handle him, but he sniffs around until he finds bare skin and then he bites. we have him segregated from all other animals and people in the house and just deal with him one on one. he only bit me three times last night, and didn't draw much blood. that's better than sunday when we brought him home, so i'll call that progress!"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ernokaikkonen 0 #11 January 14, 2003 wouldn't it be easier to just bite him back? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goose491 0 #12 January 14, 2003 Seriously Dude, don't let him out! Airaan has the right Idea. If he's been mistreated, he don't trust anybody. The thing is that he's probably not LOOKING to trust anyone right now either. He's just into doing his own thing and keeping himself safe. At a half-a-year old, he may be a little more set in his "don't pick me up!" ways but don't worry about that for now. For now, just keep him in the cage and keep the cage in a highly-trafficed area of the house. Depending on conveinience, have people in the same room as the cage as much as possible but avoid moving the cage around too much. Let him get used to "His" spot. Talk to him TONS! Let him get used to your voice. When exercise time comes around (Just once a day for now), let the other two ferrets play around his cage and play with them around him for a while, then put the other two away, spray your feet with bitter apple and let him out by himself. Let him do his own thing at this point but never stop talking to him. (Or watching him). Avoid handling him though. Have a bottle of ferretone or Wheat Germ in your back pocket and anytime HE comes to YOU, give him a few drops... eventually, he will be hugging your leg trying to climb up... When you see this, you can pick him up, give him treats and put him down. At this point, say his name BEFORE and give him treats EACH time you pick him up. It takes time to turn a bitter ferret cuddly but they all want to be playfull and cuddly deep down so keep the treats on hand and let him do his own thing... Be patient and reward kindness. When he bites, a quick flick on the nose, a sturdy "NO!" (don't shout) and put him back in his cage. I think that's everything... sorry about the long message but I hope it helps. Nick My Karma ran over my Dogma!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DYEVOUT 0 #13 January 14, 2003 Tabasco sauce or not, I still say the damn things taste like Guinea Pigs. One guy's opinion. ----------------=8^)---------------------- "I think that was the wrong tennis court." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #14 January 14, 2003 Goose has got it down. That is the way to go. Especially in this little guys current state. Seems he is almost wild. (Feral Ferret?) Patience is the ticket. Let him get used to everything while he is in his 'safe place'. The TV, people coming and going, the other two ferrets. I would also put something small in there that smells like you. ~AirAnn~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #15 January 14, 2003 Quotei wear gloves when i handle him, but he sniffs around until he finds bare skin and then he bites. .... he only bit me three times last night, and didn't draw much blood. that's better than sunday when we brought him home, so i'll call that progress! I wouldn't. If he is sniffing to find a spot to bite you, it's not because he's pissed about being mistreated at this point (if he were, he'd be biting the glove), he's seeking flesh to bite into. Animals are funny when they taste blood, they do, in fact, cross a border as they grow up. If he's a year old or more, then I hate to be a harbinger, but you might consider taking him to a vet and having him put down (after discussing the behavior of course). We had a dog, Fang, while he had never tasted human blood, he was growing more and more aggressive after his first birthday. One day, when I returned from school, he was standing off with me, shackles raised, tail moving slowly (I was 11). I won't pretend that a ferret is as dangerous, you're describing behavior that reminds me of a problem that does not have a pleasant solution. Sorry...So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #16 January 14, 2003 i realize that's a possibility, but this was a rescue of sorts, the pet store would have put him down inside a week if we hadn't bought him. he is very timid, so we'll give him some time."Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #17 January 14, 2003 Gawain.... Oh ye of little faith..... But I do understand your point. Its possible that the little guy gets no better or even worse goes even more POSTAL. However, given the correct treatment that was NOT given to the animal prior, I think Bunky can do it. I believe he would not ask for help if he wasnt truely committed to undoing the damage. I dont think they little guy can be very old. A pet store couldnt have a liability like a biting ferret for long. Maybe a few months, 6 tops. But I am guessing. I am positive the animal was seriously mistreated by the customers. Poked at and etc. He likely leared his first lesson there - humans suck. I dont blame him. Alot of them do bad things to animals even if they 'own' them. (bastards) Bunky has had him -what- 3 days? Again- Patience and Time. This is too soon to snuff him out. IMO BTW- Bunk since you see his teeth alot maybe you can determine his age from that angle. ~AirAnn~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #18 January 14, 2003 they told us he is about 6 months, but he's already bigger than the two we have. he's about 3 pounds and the others are about 2 and 1.5 pounds respectively. apparently he was aggressive with his siblings from the start, and i guess he got passed over because of that. i'll try some of the tips that were so kindly passed on and i'll keep you posted! "Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #19 March 10, 2003 just an update.. garfunkel (the new guy) is getting along with everyone better now. he still goes after bare feet and is easily startled, but for the most part he doesn't attack people or critters at random. i've attached a few pics... the one with all three ferrets is simon in the front, lilly (the white one) next and garfunkel hiding in the crate. that's garfunkel playing with the cat in the other one, and their new house i built is the last one. "Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
