Ferrets

[NoRoomInBed]

So DD has been wanting a ferret since summer last year when we seen some at a rescue fair. OH has kept ferrets before and hes keen too. So I'n looking at hutches for outside and one for winter inside. The ones I like for outside have a open bottom and as I understand it they like to dig so they arnt suitable. Is there a way to make it safe? Also any tips? Planning on two same sex as I've read they like company.

Obviously not happening for a while yet just want to get all my research sorted.

Get 2 females.
Make brilliant pets for children but need lots of handling daily.
They can be kept outdoors in a well sheltered hutch all year.
Don't keep indoors cos they can have a strong smell.
Buy a good book on ferrets as a guide - very important.

1 hour handling a day is fine.
You can buy kits, young ferrets, online but make sure they come from child friendly homes, not working ferrets.

We have a ferret rescue near us so looking at them they currently have a pregnant ferret in just now. Where we are it can get really cold in the winter like weeks of -5° so thought it might be better inside?

Make sure you get well handled kits. They are much like kittens and do nip when young but grow out of it with handling. Remember they are very intelligent and more like a tiny dog or cat than a cage animal (they are often advertised in rodent sections of classifieds - no idea why!). They are very playful and like balls and tunnels and boxes. They poo a lot, usually in corners.

We had two jills about 10 yrs ago and they gave birth the same day. We hadn’t been aware both we pregnant, they raised both litters together in the same nest, feeding all the babies together. They took it in turns to get food and have a rest so one could stay in the nest. Was amazing.

The main reason I wouldn’t have them now is that they are quite expensive to feed and need a lot of interaction and a big cage.