deaf ferret

[ferreter216 0]

i got a new jill yesterday and i think she is deaf when i feed the rest of my ferrets i do a rabbit squeal then they know its food and come out of their box but i was shouting to see if the jill would come out and nothing i have to touch her to make her come out will this affect her working what do think i should do.

Edited January 31, 2008 by ferreter216

[Kay 3,709]

i got a new jill yesterday and i think she is deaf when i feed the rest of my ferrets i do a rabbit squeal then they know its food and come out of their box but i was shouting to see if the jill would come out and nothing i have to touch her to make her come out will this affect her working what do think i should do.

 

is she ok in every other way , eating etc or is she generally quiet & not fussed about anything really ?

[ferreter216 0]

yeah she eats ok but would it affect her working

[Kay 3,709]

yeah she eats ok but would it affect her working

 

I have no idea about a deaf ferret being any good as a worker but i was thinking as you only got her yesterday she will no doubt be a little bewildered & has to get used to the new set up & the new ferrets etc, she may have been just a little bit scared & took to the security of her bed

[Crow 1]

How old is she? And more importantly what colour is she?

 

And don't worry about her working abilities as ferrets (especially albinos) have pretty bad hearing anyway, mostly using other senses to hunt.

[Guest Bigbob]

Her hearing shouldn't affect her working ability in the darkness of a burrow i reckon its mostly done by sense of smell ?? . Ive a couple of older jills that would sleep through anything but thats one thing i never thought about a deaf ferret

[Crow 1]

Deafness is an inherited trait in some colourings. In America where they have dozens of colour types and descriptions (unlike over here where we have 5!) it is estimated that over 50% of 'Panda' marked ferrets are deaf whilst an estimated 95% of Blaze marked ferrets are deaf. It is also believed that (in this country) more people own a deaf ferret than know it!

 

Crow

Edited January 31, 2008 by Crow

[Scuzy 1]

And don't worry about her working abilities as ferrets (especially albinos) have pretty bad hearing anyway, mostly using other senses to hunt.

 

I thought ferrets had exellent hearing and sense of smell but poor eyesight

[poacherjim 0]

i got a new jill yesterday and i think she is deaf when i feed the rest of my ferrets i do a rabbit squeal then they know its food and come out of their box but i was shouting to see if the jill would come out and nothing i have to touch her to make her come out will this affect her working what do think i should do.

speak up i cant hear you!!

[MikeTheDog 153]

Some ferrets are sound sleepers, I have an old un that has always been last up in the morning I can pick her up and handle her while she is still lifeless and asleep...Don't worry about it

[Crow 1]

I thought ferrets had exellent hearing and sense of smell but poor eyesight

 

Hearing is not as good as it could be I'm afraid. Now, their sense of smell

[Guest bigredbusa]

mine must be the laziest ferts going , i can make all sorts of noises but now got to the stage of giving em a shake to wake em up .