>Hi everyone.  I just brought home my new ferret.  He's 7 months old,
>really big, and a biter.  He bites me pretty much every time I try to
>touch him. <snip>
 
Ok, I would like to answer this post, please keep in mind this is based
on personal experience and some reading, I am no expert at ferret
psychology
 
1/ Biting ferrets.
 
If you have only just brought a ferret home... then many many times they
can be biters, understand that they are in a strange environment with a
strange person who may not"act" like the previous owners, or their ferret
mothers.  so the will be easily spooked, somewhat defensive, and wary,
especially if they are only youngish, and have come from a breeder where
they may not have been handled that much.
 
When first bringing a ferret home, place them in a small room, or small
space ( so there is not so many "new things" to freak them out) and let
them explore the new place thoroughly before trying to handle them...
they need to feel comfortable and safe in the new surroundings..if you
are tempted to just let them loose for a run of the house, then expect a
LOT more trouble as they will take longer to familiarize themselves s
with everything.  wait until they are happy with the surroundings, and
then offer them food, blankets and a bed..  they will need it, as they
will be very tired..  and they will appreciate it.  i.e.: do anything you
can for the ferret so that they learn that you are there to help them..
 
for the next few days, spend time with the ferret, but don't handle them
much, let them get used to you... just imagine if you were suddenly
transplanted to a new place, and then manhandled by someone 100 times
bigger then you, that you didn't know ?  especially if you have never
been handled by a human before ?
 
usually after a few days they start getting to know you ( some faster,
some slower) and you can start to introduce them to more areas of your
house, and more handling.
 
NOTE: some ferrets may arrive already well handled with a good sense of
"new things", and may adapt almost Immediately
 
However, Occasionally you may end up adopting a "biter", this is a
ferret who usually has been badly handled , perhaps abused, or is totally
unfamiliar with humans..  ( could also be deaf, or brain damaged etc),
So, if your new ferrets does not seem to be getting calmer and more
friendly in the next few days, you may wish to think about what their
problem may be.
 
Do they seem to hear OK ?  are they easily spooked by strange sounds,
do they seem fearful of you ?  This doesn't happen often, but is worth
thinking about in case you make things worse by not considering the
ferret may have problems of it's own that it cant help.
 
BUT don't despair this early, some ferrets take time, some don't ,
but usually all of them will become your best friend, and will stop
nipping... just give him a little time to adjust ...real "biters" are
rare
 
Also, if they are unused to humans and a bit scared of the new
surroundings, now is not really the time to start nip training..  .let
them get used to you, and where they are, and the change in their life...
let them start to trust you , and "then" they will easily learn not to
nip... but if you try to soon, while they are still freaked out about the
new changes to their lives, it can just make them more scared..and the
process will take longer
 
lastly..  you say he is a big boy ?  is he neutered ?  or recently
neutered ?.  "Big" usually means a late neutering, so he may still have
some male aggressiveness due to normal hormones.... if it was a late
neutering, it may take a upto 6 weeks or so after the operation for the
hormonal drives to ease off.  If he is neutered, and you are not sure if
it was only recently, you can often tell because they ( boys) still have
a lot of yellowing, i.e.: their fur seems more yellow in tint then other
ferrets due to the oils produced by un-neutered male ferrets, the
"yellowing" tends to wear off about 6 weeks after neutering.  so if he
is neutered, but still somewhat yellowish, then chances are the male
hormones are still around and will eventually ease off..
 
but the real clue to all of this is, if he is "new", then give him time
to adjust..  he will..  :)
 
Darrin
[Posted in FML issue 4676]