Help Introducing Ferrets

[RIP.JD 21]

I'm afraid I'm stuck on this one, I've three ferrets in three hutches. If I put them on the lawn they fight and go their seperate ways. If I put two together in the hutches all hell breaks loose. When I've watched DVDS etc ferrets seem to live in harmony. How the hell do you do that.. I've looked on the Internet and it suggests introducing them in neutral ground, unless I buy another hutch that's impossible.. I'm sure there's a simple solution, I hope so anyway..

[Longers7 720]

I bought 2 Jill kits this season, I put them straight in with my 2 year old Jill, she did drag them around for a bit but they soon settled down, what sex ferrets are you trying to introduce to eachother mate?

[RIP.JD 21]

I've one jill I've had two years, another jill that's four months old. Plus an old vasactomised hob that someone gave me. A real motley crew....

[tsteve9999 456]

Every time I've introduced new ferrets to my hutch all hell has broken out for days on end, but they always settle down eventually.

I find it helps to have 2 nest boxes so the one that's getting the rough end of the stick is able to keep out of the others way.

[bobcullen79 1,495]

It can be hard bud. I done it at the beginning of the year pretty successful, but this time round is a different story. The horny vas`d hob broke up any fighting in spring, now he leaves them to it.

Have you tried swapping their cages round so they can get a good smell of each other without meeting, or a shed/garage you can lock them in for short socialising sessions with plenty of hiding places for when it gets too much. Also try the socialising sessions after they have had a had days graft.

Just keep at it bud. Maybe spring will be the time again?

[johnrthrfrd 223]

They always have a good scrap till they sort who's the gaffer I have 6 in the big court now it took them about a week of fighting till they sorted there selves out now perfect harmony.

[bobcullen79 1,495]

Nope, hasnt worked for me 100%, I keep the same amount, in a big court too. If I put them in a hutch they will fight like... So some get boxed up and some go in the hutches when I clean them out. Its the same when I put them all back, around half hour scraps. Then they blow hot and cold. Some days, nothing. Others it seems like they`re at it all day. Im hoping when they all come back into season the hob will level the field again.

[The one 8,592]

I've 8 in one hutch and 6 in the other give one hutch a good clean out and them it may smell less of the resident ferret and put them in there unless they go hell for leather at each other and draw blood and cut each other leave them to it by separating them each time there's a squabble your prolonging it and they should settle down and feed together

[GreyRake 108]

Like the guys have said it can start rough. Some just can't get on, end of. But most will eventually, even if one won't like the pecking order. The neutral ground is a great place to start, perhaps try a more confined no mans land for a longer period of time? Basically if nobody's bleeding each other or shitting in fear you could let it play through.... monitored, If it gets too much separate and try again later/tomorrow and so on....

Other than that share bedding, shit and bowls... or whatever shares the scent. Let the hutches be right beside each other. Through scent, trick them in to thinking they know each other already and keep trying. Getting them to share food/treats is good. Shared misery is also good like drying off after a soaking, not this time of year because cold but a bath can help... - with added benifit of less scent to identify each other with.... so they say anyway...

[The one 8,592]

I took on a poley Jill and her four month old son from one of the guys who was packing up and as I dont fancy loads of ferret hutches about the garden I just popped them in with my Jill,s and older hob the young hob arched his back and screamed every time a ferret moved within two days he was sleeping in the pile and was no problem but to listen to him you would think the older Jill's where out to murder him

[mushroom 14,201]

Fezzers lol funny fuuckers they are they will fight like f**k for days on end then become best mates for lifem

[The one 8,592]

I really want him to settle in as I've a idea to get him snipped next year and later if needed use my bew hobs to breed replacements in future years