We have a boy, Zero, (formerly named Stubbs) who has a missing rear foot.
He came to us as a very anti-social, people-hating, ferret-hating fuzzy.
From the appearance of the scar tissue, the foot was not surgically
removed.
 
In less than a year, with gentle handling (in spite of occasional bites),
he is now a sweet boy who enjoys being cuddled and never bites.  He still
doesn't like other ferrets, he is, in fact afraid of even the gentlest,
most social other ferrets.  He runs when approached by other ferrets,
fighting only when the other ferret sticks a nose into his hiding place.
 
He gets around quite well on level surfaces.  His cage is one level with
a soft floor covering.  His litter box is a normal small cat pan.
 
Ferret size is really not an issue amongst ferrets.  We have some tiny,
tiny adult girls (weighing in at 14 oz.) that are fully capable of
dragging a 3 lb.  male around by the ear.  Since the "new" ferret will be
younger, your existing ferret will most likely get the baby "whipped into
shape" in no time.  Older ferrets generally realize a kit is just a baby
and will be accordingly gentle*.  (*Gentle in ferret terminology is a
little rougher that the human definition.)
 
Once your existing ferret has proven that she's higher on the ladder,
the baby will tend to accept this situation for life, no matter how much
bigger she gets.
 
Just watch for bushy tails.  That's generally the sign that someone is
getting too serious about the dominance squabble.  Carefully reach into a
bushy tail squabble and grasp a bushy tail and GENTLY pulled one ferret
out of the fray.  Tail grabbing is not a ferret fighting technique and
your grasp is less likely to be mistaken as a ferret attack which could
get your hand bitten by mistake.  (The more squabbles broken up in this
manner, the less likely the possibility of accidental bites.)
 
Continue supervised shared playtimes.  Young ferrets will almost always
accept "strangers" within a few weeks.
 
Debi Christy
Ferrets First Foster Home
[Posted in FML issue 3555]