Posted by s_simpson on April 04, 2003 at 13:19:02:
In Reply to: Territorial Female Trouble posted by b00b on April 02, 2003 at 15:51:04:
This isn't that rare, especially if the female is "used" to having the place to herself. Remember, ferrets are not naturally social creatures -- the idea of having four, five, or more together is a totally human invention.
Anyways, on to the nitty gritty...
As painful as it might be to watch, you might have to let her "manhandle" the newcomer for a while. That's sometimes just part of the process. As long as the smaller ferret isn't bleeding, urinating, or crying (a mewling sound that they can make), there's nothing to worry about it.
Monitor them carefully and the female may accept the newcomer. That said, some ferrets just never get along and that's the way it is. When I added our most recent ferret (Tazzy -- a kit), she was routinely beaten up by the other females. The males left her alone (Goliath actually defended her/played with her and Vladej is/was too dumb to know what to do).
The first week was really unpleasant, but now Tazzy is bigger than all the females and everybody gets along ok.
