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14-02-2009, 12:54 AM
As some of you know, my OH told me for Valentine's Day/Our Anniversary he is going to buy me a ferret kit (will be our third addition). Three is the perfect number for a ferret "business" because they get incredibly bonded to each other and if there are only two and one should pass to the bridge, the surviving one goes into depression that often leads to death. There is a theory that if there are three, the remaining two would be able to lean on each other for companionship thus increasing chances of survival in case such an incident should happen. And many ferret owners agree, there isn't much difference between owning two and three (just a bit more of poop to clean up). So I've been planning this for awhile.
Originally, I was planning to go to the pet store and pick one out..BUT there is a private breeder around here that I've met in person before, seen her kits in person (big, beautiful babies), and also have reccomendations for...I just never got around to getting one from her after I adopted Monkey from the shelter.
I called her up out of curiosity and she has two available six month old females, one champagne/cinnamon cross and one sable point. They are going to be spayed this week and have their vaccination boosters and are already ADV tested.
To explain why this is exciting, most ferrets that come from mills are alterered at eight weeks old. This often leads to adrenal disease which is very common in U.S. ferrets and tends to happen after 3 years old. Most "ferrents" know this and still decide to give these little ones a home and plan to take care of this condition when arises as it is very uncommon for a mill ferret not to develop these problems later in life. It's just something to accept and save money for because it's a commonality. So, for me to get a ferret that is private bred and altered right before her first heat, increases chances of longer life and quality of life. It is quite uncommon in this area to find a breeder that will do this for you.
I haven't met the kits in person though I plan to do so VERY soon. I am however thinking I'll lean toward the champagne/cinnamon color mix.
I'll either meet the little girl late tonight or this weekend (my OH hasn't called me back yet to confirm which time will work for him so I'm just waiting to find out).
If all goes well upon the meeting, I will put a deposit down on her and pick her up when she is ready next week after she has healed from her spay!
I think a six month old would be a good age as Baby Bear is exactly one and a half and Monkey will be three next month. It's good to spread ages apart by at least one year so the common ferret health problems in theory don't happen around the same time.
I kind of think it'll be neat and interesting that I'll have one pet store ferret (Baby Bear), one shelter ferret (Monkey), and one from a private breeder (to be determined...).
I am so darn excited I could fly out of the ceiling right now!!!! I keep calling OH's work to see when I get to meet her (today, tomorrow, or Sunday)!!!!!
OMG...!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-D :-D :-D
Originally, I was planning to go to the pet store and pick one out..BUT there is a private breeder around here that I've met in person before, seen her kits in person (big, beautiful babies), and also have reccomendations for...I just never got around to getting one from her after I adopted Monkey from the shelter.
I called her up out of curiosity and she has two available six month old females, one champagne/cinnamon cross and one sable point. They are going to be spayed this week and have their vaccination boosters and are already ADV tested.
To explain why this is exciting, most ferrets that come from mills are alterered at eight weeks old. This often leads to adrenal disease which is very common in U.S. ferrets and tends to happen after 3 years old. Most "ferrents" know this and still decide to give these little ones a home and plan to take care of this condition when arises as it is very uncommon for a mill ferret not to develop these problems later in life. It's just something to accept and save money for because it's a commonality. So, for me to get a ferret that is private bred and altered right before her first heat, increases chances of longer life and quality of life. It is quite uncommon in this area to find a breeder that will do this for you.
I haven't met the kits in person though I plan to do so VERY soon. I am however thinking I'll lean toward the champagne/cinnamon color mix.
I'll either meet the little girl late tonight or this weekend (my OH hasn't called me back yet to confirm which time will work for him so I'm just waiting to find out).
If all goes well upon the meeting, I will put a deposit down on her and pick her up when she is ready next week after she has healed from her spay!
I think a six month old would be a good age as Baby Bear is exactly one and a half and Monkey will be three next month. It's good to spread ages apart by at least one year so the common ferret health problems in theory don't happen around the same time.
I kind of think it'll be neat and interesting that I'll have one pet store ferret (Baby Bear), one shelter ferret (Monkey), and one from a private breeder (to be determined...).
I am so darn excited I could fly out of the ceiling right now!!!! I keep calling OH's work to see when I get to meet her (today, tomorrow, or Sunday)!!!!!
OMG...!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-D :-D :-D