Urgent help needed. introducing a new ferret?

[Claire Welsh]

Hi everyone i need some help. Yesterday i brought home the new ferret from the shelter. The lady at the shelter warned me that she can be quite nippy. So far she has been ok with me and hasn't bitten me yet.

I introduced her to my 3 boys one at a time this morning and she impatiently went for them. I know that new ferrets can have a bit of a scrap to begin with but this was much more aggressive than anything I have ever seem. She starts shaking, bites onto the neck and begins shaking the other ferret from site to side whilst making a squealing noise. I have had to separate her twice from doing this as i feel she gets far to rough! My three boys have been really friendly with her and made no attempt to bite her, they just lick her neck.

When i collected her from the shelter she was in a cage with 4 or 5 other ferrets and seemed to get along with them fine.

She's about 2 years old, spayed and used to be a working ferret.At the moment i am keeping her in a separate cage and i keep trying to introduce them really gradually.

Does anyone have any advice how i could stop her from been so aggressive or why she might be doing this? i just hope they will get along eventually..

Thanks

 

[Ring0Rosie]

Just putting some ferrets down next to eachother is the worst way to introduce them!

The best way is to use two cages. Every day, switch out their bedding so they get used to the other one's smell. Make sure they can see the other ferrets, but they still need their space. Give the new ferret plenty of time to get to know the lay of the land before introducing her to the other ferrets.

After a few days, try to introduce ONE ferret to ONE other ferret. One good way to do it is to put ferretone on each of their faces, that way they give the other ferret kisses instead of biting! That'll teach her to lick instead of bite.

Gradually increase the play time and the number of ferrets. If she seems to get along with one of your boys, maybe try letting them live in the same cage (under your supervision of course!) Some female can be very territorial so you'll have to be very careful. Plan on it taking about 2 months to fully integrate the group. Some ferrets may never get along, so there's a small chance she could be wrong for you. If she does bite the other one, grab her by the back of the neck, scruffing her, do a little drag on the floor and say 'no' harshly. She needs to know that being a meanie is not acceptable and that you are the alpha ferret, not her.