Dec 12 2008
When they’re being too rough
“Too rough” is generally signaled by one or both ferrets doing what we call “flying poop.” That’s when they roll across the floor, screeching and pooping, making poop fly in all directions. Sometimes if you separate the combatants and let them calm down, the next interaction will be better. Sometimes it isn’t any better and you have to give up and assume those ferrets just aren’t going to get along.
The ferrets in the above photo are friends, and are merely playing with each other. Chirping and chittering does not necessarily mean they are fighting.
Also, if one ferret does nothing but frantically hide from the other ferret the entire time they are out together, that doesn’t usually get better. You can usually tell when it isn’t going to work.
One thing to note: When you are introducing ferrets to each other, DO NOT put them in cages next to each other where they can see but not fully interact with the other ferret. Valerie Staton of Dominican University in Ohio is doing research on ferret behavior. She discovered that allowing the ferrets to see each other, but not fully interact (like through a fence or cage bars), was a strong indication that the ferrets would NOT get along, ever. In fact, once the ferrets were placed together, the fights were generally much more violent than if the two ferrets were just dropped into a playpen together.
