Now that I've had a little time to regroup

Well, now that I've had some time to regroup--let me give you more details on my new kids.

Their names are Pippy (the only girl-and she's a pipsqueak), Turbo(because he's a maniac), Goliath (because he's a huge snugly mama's boy), Twitch (because he twitches when he dances), Meelo(because he's a mellow little dude), Uno (because he only had one ball--and then there were none....) Dudelee (Diane called him that because apparently I call everyone Dudelee and she thought it was appropriate), Blazor (who is a deafie with a white lightening bolt on his head) and Levi (who reached out of his cage with his big monkey paw to grab your pants or "levi's")

Pippy, Goliath, Levi, Meelo & Blazor were altered, (Pippy was spayed and everyone else was neutered.) Rabies vaccinated and ADV tested the day before yesterday. It was important to get Pippy spayed ASAP as a female ferret is in Estrus until she breeds--which can cause life threatening anemia/death. Getting ferrets spayed/neutered is something new for us--as MA state law dictates that any ferrets sold in MA are altered (and all the big farm kits--the ones sold in the majority of pet stores, are altered and descent ed prior to being shipped out)

Turbo, Twitch, Uno and Dudelee were neutered, rabies vaccinated and ADV tested yesterday.

Personalities: These assessments will prob change as they get more comfortable and I get to know them better--so, these personality observances are Certainly subject (and most likely will) to change. These guys are so excited to just be out of the cage--they've been jumping and dooking--and I've even gotten bunches of kisses. You talk to them and they just stare at you in wonder that you are giving them attention. At this point, none of them can be scruffed--they go INSANE (because that was prob the only way they had previously been handled-with a rough scruff) We are most likely going to have to work on that as eventually all ferrets need to be scruffed (if only for medical assessments or ear cleaning)

Pippy: I don't think that we've had the opportunity to see pippy's personality as she was in heat and not feeling well and is now recovering from her spay--however, she seems to be very sweet--albeit a little feisty.

Turbo: is a maniac--he is one of the funniest and most talkative weasels that I've ever met. I can't even describe the way he sounds, you have to hear it--it's like a combination between a chirp and a cluck. He is (and has been from the beginning) the most adjusted out of the group. However, when he gets really excited, he does tend to get a little nibbley--but that is to be expected--once he begins to recognize the boundaries of what's ok and what's not, he will be fine.

Goliath: is a big snuggle boy--he bonded to me instantly--he is also pretty well adjusted and is a bit of a goof.

Levi: is a biter, but with careful handling is OK-- but he wants to be a good boy, you can tell by the way he stares up at you--and he does give kisses--you just can't reach into his cage, move too quickly or let him get too excited/overstimulated.

Uno: is another goof ball, he is a good boy but another one who tends to bite when he gets over excited/over stimulated.

Meelo: seems to be the most timid of the group, but he is a total sweetheart and gives lots of kisses. I'm still trying to figure out if he's deaf--he's a sable, so it's not typical--but who knows what kind of issues/injuries he might have sustained while at the farm.

Dudelee: should be called poing because, I swear he's got springs attached to the bottom of his feetie paws. Kaboing Kaboing Kaboing

Twitch: is another goof ball--and does this little weird twitchy thing when he war dances

Blazor: is a sweetheart and after he is out of his cage for a couple minutes, then starts to dance. he is deaf, but I haven't started working on any signs with him at I want to wait until he has settled in a little bit more and can focus.

As of now, I can reach into any of the cages and take them out with no problem (with the exception of Levi-who I have to initially bribe with ferretone, but once my hands are on him, he's fine) Because they all need to be taken out of their cages separately, I haven't been able to give them near as much out of cage time as I'd like (in an ideal world, they would be out no less than four hours a day) --as they need to be constantly monitored, so even letting them out for 1/2 hour each--adds up to about 5 hours a day. However, by the same token--it's still more than what they were accustomed to-and it's prob a good idea to gradually increase out of cage time as they tend to get overstimulated when out for a while anyway...

I don't want them to equate hands to bad things, so when they are out of the cage--I pick them up every 5 minutes or so, give them ferretone and kisses--that way, they don't assume that being picked up means it's time to go back in the cage (which makes it VERY hard to catch them--LOL)

I haven't even really addressed litter box training yet--I am just putting boxes where they go to the bathroom--a higher priority is helping them to feel safe and comfortable with people. To be totally honest anyway--you can't really litter train ferrets anyway--the best way of litter training, is figure out where they like to go and put boxes there.

I will continue to keep you all posted, thanx for reading!!