Fat jill

[jultaylor1972 2]

3 weeks ago I had one of my jills spayed and she has since turned into a waste disposal unit - constantly on the lookout for food and she is getting fatter day by day I feed them day old chicks/ mice or rabbit every night and they get dry ferret food in the morning (Just enough to be classed as a snack though, come the season they will get meat am and pm) The three of them get at least half an hour out of the hutch every morning (Usually an hour though) and then another hour out every night and they run around the whole time. So, what am I doing wrong? The other one I had spayed is just the same as she was beforehand. Any comments will be greatly appreciated as I dont want to end up with a fat unhealthy ferret, I just want the best for the little hunters

[wyliecoyote 0]

I didnt have my jill spayed but she did get the jab about a month ago and shes went the same way maybe a hormonal thing

[Kay 3,709]

Jule i would try & encourage more play out of the ferret accomodation, she could be bored, most ferrets after neutering tend to be a bit plumper once there hormones have settled down, but if she is just being a gannet & eating cause there is food there it could simply be bordem

[Guest MOLLY]

Try feeding her less. If it was a dog and it was getting enough exercise and still putting on weight, thats what i would do, so i cant see it being different for a ferret?

Trying having a day of no food whatsoever?

MOLL.

[jultaylor1972 2]

I have to go to a reptile shop and get them there and they're bloody expensive! Roll on the season and some permission I'll try a day without food tomorrow and see if that helps a bit. There's loads of stuff in the hutch/ court fot them to play with so I dont think its boredom? But thats the first thing I would have said too. I'll try taking her for a walk daily and see if that helps and when the season starts she will be out hunting as often as possible (As long as she's not too big for the rabbit holes ) I suppose she could just be a big jill maybe? Thanks for all the advice/ replies.

[jultaylor1972 2]

Here is their accomodation. Theres loads of toys in it and when they are out of their hutch they have a tunnel system to play in. I took her for a walk today also in the hope that she might lose weight that way, its a good conversation piece whilst out mind I must say and I suppose it can only be a good thing to increase the opinion that ferrets are indeed lovely animals that DONT bite!

[Guest ARTEMIS]

I like their hutch and play area, how do you get on taking a ferret for a walk?

 

I've just tried my biggest hob on his harness and lead today - took him in the garden - he slithered along on his belly in the grass - I kept trying to re-adjust the harness thinking I'd got in on wrong, but figured that he was just slithering as he'd not gone on grass before....?!

 

Do I need (as my american book suggests) a stick, with a teaspoon taped to the end, with some ferret vitamins on, to entice him to walk in a straight line beside me - or do I just follow HIM rather than expect him to go where I want him to go?

[Hob&Jill 258]

They can only eat what they are given, give them less.

 

Artemis, he is slithering on the grass becuase he dosent like the feel of the harness If you stick a piece of celotape (sp) to a cat if will rubb all over the ground (very funny )

I suppose they figure that it will rubb off if they rubb around on it, bless em

 

Keep trying and it will get used to it I suppose.

 

EDIT> Just read that teaspoon b0llocks lol, I tried taking mine for a walk a couple of times, I dont really see the point to be honest, they go really slow. Just feed them right and they will stay in shape.

Edited July 11, 2007 by Hob&Jill

[Guest ARTEMIS]

Yes, I suspected the teaspoon stick thing was bollocks, but I had to ask incase it was an approved method!

 

Somehow, I doubt if hunters have neat little ferrets that tip toe about in nice straight lines on their leads.... (although I could be wrong!!!)......

 

I know they won't go quick or anything - can't be worse than walking along with toddlers though.....surely! Just thought it would be a nice way for them to see a bit more of the world, and get out a bit more......(at least until I get into the hunting side of things and they have a bit of sport to look forwards too!).

 

Hope they'll get used to the harnesses, or I'll try to get lighter ones (the ones I have are soft leather)....