Advice Please Guys

[britdog 15]

I have 2 x 18 month old gills in a double 4ft hutch earlier 6 weeks ago I bought 9 week old kit. My wfe and daughter who play with the kit every day are worried about me putting a 15 week old kit in with the older ferrets as its something we have never done before. So any advice would be appreciated also they are asking would it be better to buy another kit at around 9 weeks and would the 15 week old accept it.it loves all the attention its getting but I would prefer it to also have ferret company

many thanks

[Katsdad 31]

Put them together and keep an eye on them that's what I've been told they will usually get on,when out ferreting we have put ferrets down that don't know each other and they were fine just got on with the job

[britdog 15]

Thanks katsdad

we are just concerned about recognising the difference beetween them just sorting out the pecking order and real agression we was thinking of letting the older 2 having a run around in the house for an hour so with the kit for a couple of days if all goes well put them in the hutch in the morning so they can be watched during the day do you think this would work ?

Edited July 14, 2014 by britdog

[GreyRake 108]

Introducing away from any established territories (Out of the cage, somewhere none of the ferrets know) can help because they are partly interested in exploring rather than having all attention focused on the new ferret. All you need to watch out for really is blood, wounds/sores, throats rather than scruffs or crapping out of fear. The rest is nothing to worry about. There may be some scruffing and squealing but nothing to worry about unless its relentless and you feel the newcomer may need a break in which case you would do regular short introductions. Doesn't usually take them long though atb

Edited July 14, 2014 by GreyRake

[The one 8,456]

The two jills should mother it as there hormones are all over the place just now but keep a close eye on them in case they over do it

[Hands of Stone 154]

Dont get too worried if they scruff it and drag it back to bed..... just watch them till your confident they are ok.... i've found it pretty unusual for ferrets (apart from in season hobs) to not be fine together

[britdog 15]

Thanks for the help guys will start them off outside cage this week and take it from there

[bobcullen79 1,495]

As above really. If you think its all a bit much, you could try pairing the young one up with one older one at a time and rotate them, changing them round every day/s. It worked for me, as I have two litter sisters that will join forces and beat up on the new comers and it would be systematic, one then the other.. The vasectomised hob added true harmony though

[britdog 15]

Thanks guys

today my wife put youngster in a indoor cage then brought the inn older ones In.there was lots of hissing from all 3 lol after 15 mins she put the older ones away. A few hours later she tried again this time no hissing and the older ones was skipping around the cage and climbing on it but no hissing looked like they wanted to play.so this evening I let all 3 out togethor 1 of the older ones grabbed it around the neck and was shaking it lots of squeling from the little one and shit itself we left them for a few minutes as the youngster was looking quite stressed so i split them and will try again tomorow

[The one 8,456]

Keep at it but dont drag it out unless there drawing blood or going at each other hell for leather they will settle down after a bit of time together

[britdog 15]

Tried again today but worse than yesterday today 1 of the older ones pulled fur out of its neck and leg.the youngster was trembling in fear we are now thinking if she is showing so much dominance outside in a large open area she could be worse in the hutch.do you think it may be a better idea to buy another young kit to put in with the youngster ? She is 15 weeks old very freindly and spends all evening running around in the house but still feel she would be better with another ferret for company

[GreyRake 108]

I'd keep trying for now. Is the kit not fighting back?

[britdog 15]

Thanks grayrake

no the older on just pins it to the floor shaking it when it did let go the kitt tried to run away but within a couple of ft it had grabbed it again.

[skycat 6,173]

If the older ferret is traumatizing the kit to that extent then you can't put them together. It may just work if you put them all into a completely new hutch/court, but we've had jills that wouldn't tolerate a new ferret amongst them no matter what their sex or age. It's not worth damaging the kit either physically or mentally. Some ferrets are just plain nasty when it comes to something new invading their territory. If you hutch is large enough it may be worth dividing it temporarily with a fine mesh between the two halves, so the older ferret gradually grows used to the new one, but it doesn't always work.

[bobcullen79 1,495]

Get another kit to keep it company for now.. Situate the cage close to the other one so they can see/smell each other. Then when they are bigger, try popping 1 adult in the young ones cage and swap them around regular. There will be some fighting, but it will ease off. Ive done it this year myself.

You need all your ferrets to get on, especially if your doing big warrens. Theres no point keeping say four ferrets, if two of them fight, because you will only ever be able to use two at a time. And sometimes that is not enough. You could also try leaving the introductions till the autumn, that way, the older jills hormones should be calming down.