Ferret care and features
Ferret care is not easy. Of course, the animal is not as demanding as the dog, but it requires time and effort from the owner. Before adopting this predatory animal, it is worth considering how much attention you are willing to pay to it. It is required to learn as much as possible about domestic ferrets, their lifestyle, habits, nutrition. This article will help you understand many issues, understand all the pros and cons of the content.
Ferret
Description
Ferrets were domesticated a long time ago, according to some reports, earlier than cats. They were initially used as rodent hunters. Then they began to breed like ordinary pets. All domestic ferrets descend from the wild forest. Some breeds are obtained by crossing with minks.
The ferret is a small animal with a long body and short legs. He has a bushy tail, which is equal in length to the body. Coat colors can be anything from white to black. The animals are predators, in the wild they are predominantly nocturnal, so the owners should not be surprised that the pet sleeps all day and becomes active by the evening. The advantages of this behavior are especially obvious for busy people who are not at home all day.
Many would-be owners worry about smells as content cons. In fact, they are not that strong. The coat emits a faint musk aroma with honey notes. A strong odor only appears if the ferret is scared. It secretes a fetid liquid from the anal glands to scare away the "enemy". This rarely happens with ferrets at home, but it is better to surgically remove the glands.
The discharge of males during the mating season smells unpleasant. If breeding is not planned, it is better to castrate the boy.
Content
Ferret maintenance at home can be caged or free. Many breeders recommend placing the animal in a cage first so that it gets used to the new environment. Only after complete taming can the animal be released for a long time. Each method of keeping a ferret in the house has its own characteristics, pros and cons.
Content in the cage
The ferret cage should be large and tall. The optimal area is 2 sq. m, and the height - 1.1 m. The walls should be made of metal (construction) mesh so that the animal cannot stick its paw into them. He will begin to gnaw ordinary rods and break his teeth. The internal space is divided by partitions into 2-3 floors, the floors are connected with thick wooden sticks.
To prevent the ferret from getting bored in the cage, cardboard boxes, climbing pipes, and a large running ring are placed there. A tray is equipped in one of the corners. It is better to attach a water bottle to the cage wall or make a vacuum drinker. The feeder can be placed on the lower floor next to the drinker or bottle. It is best to use sawdust or special granular filler as bedding. Even with cage keeping, the animal must be allowed to walk around the room for 2-3 hours every day.
Free content
Free keeping of a pet ferret is also an acceptable option. He can live in an apartment like a cat or a dog. But the requirements for the territory are more stringent. Ferrets are burrowing animals, they like to burrow in secluded places. In addition, they are always ready to try on a tooth any object that they can reach. They are capable of climbing anywhere, because in nature, animals climb trees.
In the apartment where the ferret lives, there should be no small objects in sight. Hard-to-reach corners should be repaired or fenced off, otherwise the animal cannot be pulled out of them. It is worth closing the entrance to the kitchen so that the ferret does not accidentally jump on the stove, does not drag food from the table. Several trays are placed in different places of the apartment. You can equip a "bedroom" in a secluded place or put an open cage with a couch.
Aviary content
How can you still keep the dawn? An intermediate option is keeping a small ferret at home in an aviary. It is made from construction mesh. Fence off a piece of a room with an area of 3 sq. m. Boxes, feeders, drinkers are placed in the aviary. You can put a rug on the floor. A small deck or stick is also useful for the ferret to climb. From above, the aviary is covered with a roof made of mesh, plastic or plywood.
Walking ferret
With any method of keeping, the ferret can be taken outside. Walking is not necessary for him, but desirable. Before walking, the animal must be vaccinated. They walk the animals on a harness, the ferret still needs to be taught to it. To protect against fleas, wear a special collar. Ferrets that walk regularly are given anthelmintic drugs once a month.
Ferret care
In general, caring for a ferret at home is about keeping the cage or sleeping area clean. The cage should be cleaned at least once a week. If an unpleasant smell accumulates in the apartment, they do this 2-3 times a week, the tray is cleaned daily. If the ferret lives in freedom, it is enough to clean his sleeping place every 7-10 days, but the house needs to be cleaned regularly, the animals do not always go regularly to the tray.
Ferrets can be bathed, but not very often. After water procedures, their sebaceous glands begin to work more actively, an unpleasant odor appears. The optimal frequency of bathing is once a month or one and a half months. Baby or cat shampoos are used, although it is better to find a special product for ferrets. It is best to bathe the animal in a bowl or bath, and not in a shower. Immediately after water procedures, it is wiped off with a terry towel and placed in a cardboard box.
In nature, ferrets dig holes with their front paws, while grinding their claws. At home, the animals do not have such an opportunity, so the claws will have to be trimmed. They do it like this:
- take a cat clipper or nail scissors;
- gently hold the ferret by the paw;
- determine the vascular bundle on the claw (it is darker than the stratum corneum, located in the center, closer to the pad);
- cut off the tip of the claw at a right angle.
If the animal resists, it is not necessary to keep it by force. It is better to let your pet go and cut his nails when he falls asleep. Over time, the ferret will get used to the procedure and will begin to give paws on its own. The claws should be trimmed once a month; more frequent grooming of the ferret's claws is not necessary.
Many owners ask if ferrets need to clean their ears. The procedure is optional. The brown secretion protects the ear from parasites and disease-causing organisms. When there is too much of a secret, it can be deleted. To do this, moisten a cotton swab in petroleum jelly oil and gently wipe the auricle with it. It is not necessary to climb into the passage, so as not to damage the auricle. Alertness in the owner should cause a change in the color and smell of the secretion. A black discharge with a putrid odor may indicate a bacterial infection. Dark dots on a brown background are a sign of an ear mite.
Ferret feeding
We have analyzed the care and maintenance of the little ferret at home. Now let's talk about feeding. Animals are predators, which means they need meat.In this case, the diet has its own characteristics and differs from the diet of cats and dogs. In natural conditions, ferrets feed on rodents, beetles, and less often on birds. They should not be allowed to eat meat from animals that are much larger in size. This means that beef, lamb and, moreover, pork are contraindicated for ferrets. The easiest way to feed pets is a bird: chicken, turkey. You can occasionally give fish.
The need for plant food in animals is minimal. Cereals and vegetables should occupy only 2-3% of the entire menu. If you give a ferret porridge mixed with meat, it will improve the condition of its coat, but its health will be undermined. Such food is practiced on fur farms. It is best to buy special ferret food for your animals. If this is not possible, you can replace them with food for small kittens, it is best suited to the physiology of ferrets. With natural nutrition, the menu includes:
- chicken;
- turkey;
- fish or minced chicken and fish;
- eggs (chicken or quail) in raw and boiled form;
- occasionally, no more than once a week, curd;
- cheese as a delicacy;
- carrots, zucchini, cereals mixed with meat.
Ferrets eat often, in small portions. They need to be fed 6-7 times a day. Dry food can be poured into a bowl for the whole day, the animal will eat as much as it needs.
Ferret education
Under natural conditions, between animals of this species, relationships are built according to the type of dominant and subordinate individuals. This is especially true for males. Ferrets also tend to establish a similar hierarchy at home. Only in this case they try to fight the owner. So that there are no problems with the animal, you need to educate it correctly and establish yourself as a leader. Education begins at the age of 2-3 months.
Training takes place with the use of rewards and punishments. For good deeds, the ferret can be stroked, treated with a treat. Punishment is used for bad behavior. It should not be cruel, but effective. The following types of punishment for ferrets are acceptable:
- Shake the scruff. Thus, the mother brings up her puppies, the leader ferret punishes the subordinate.
- Locking in a cage. The method does not work for everyone, it is used to punish free-living ferrets.
- Click on the nose. Most often, this is punished for a bite. The click should not be strong, it is best to do it not with your hand, but with another object.
- Water jet. The ferret is sprayed under the shower or with a syringe.
- Team "Fu". Every punishment must be accompanied by this command. Over time, the ferret will begin to react only to her, you will not have to use force.
It is important that the punishment is not too strong, and the animal does not become fearful. It is also impossible to forgive and caress him quickly, the punishment will not work. All ferrets have their own character, therefore, the methods of education should be combined and selected individually.
A ferret in an apartment is always a joy. Animals are very active, inquisitive and funny, but they do not tolerate loneliness and require attention to themselves. It is even advised to have two animals at once, then they will play with each other and much attention from the owner will not be required. If there is no way to keep two ferrets at once, you will have to replace his friend. It is not advised to have ferrets where there are very small children. The animals do not tolerate a rude attitude, they can even bite.
Ferret breeding
Breeding ferrets at home is not easy. Most owners prefer to neuter the animals so they don't have any problems. Males, after sterilization (preferably with a vasectomy of the anal glands), stop marking their territory. An un-sterilized female, who is unable to mate and give birth to young, suffers from malignant anemia, which is very difficult to treat, because the operation in this case is a continuation of the life and preservation of the health of the pet.
Those who decide to breed animals need to know more about its rules and the physiology of pets.Only healthy individuals are allowed to mate, without genetic pathologies and anomalies. They must have an appropriate passport and pedigree. All breeding animals must be vaccinated, regularly checked by a veterinarian.
Females are ready to mate at 9-11 months, males a little earlier, at 6-8 months. By the age of 3-4 years, males become sterile, such a ferret continues to live at home, even mates, but there will be no offspring from it. Reproduction for females should be completed at 4-5 years old, they should not give birth more often than once a year.
Mating should take place on the territory of the male. A female is placed in his cage and a couple is left for several days, so that multiple mating occurs between them. With successful mating, little ferrets will appear in 42 days. The female's belly appears at about 3-4 weeks. At this time, she begins to gain weight, pulls the fur from the belly and tail to build a nest.
A pregnant female must be carefully looked after, properly fed and given vitamins. Before giving birth, it is advisable to arrange a nest for her in a cage. Ferrets give birth at home quite easily, no help is required. From 3 to 10 babies weighing 20-30 g are born. You should never touch the offspring: the female can leave the babies, frightened.
Up to 4 weeks, the cubs are completely in the care of the mother. They feed on milk for up to 20 days, from 20 days they can eat liquid gruel from raw minced meat. It is important at the same time to carefully examine the little ferrets, to reject the sick. If a pair has a cub with pathologies, it is not allowed for further breeding. From 2 months all ferrets are vaccinated. At 3 months, they can already be added to a new house.