I must say, after buying my last ferret, I am done with buying from
Marshall farms (with the exception of any I rescue. I could care less
where a ferret in need of a home came from) I will not buy from Petco
or the pet store again. I am not a rescue by the way, but if there are
unwanted ferrets in town I will take them in and keep them or find
them homes =]

I bought a ferret from Petco back in December 2010. My last two
Marshalls were active and slender (not terribly skinny). This one,
although active as a kit, he has grown into being a very lazy adult.
He is FAT.. Really fat, which isn't normal for such a young ferret.
All jello too, no muscle. He does play with my other ferret but much
prefers lying in your lap being petted. Also, he tires fast. After an
hour of play he is ready for bed. I think the early, sudden switch to
dry food as a kit may account for his overweight or it could be
Marshall's poor genetics.

I love him to bits, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade him for
anything. I don't think this is normal for a ferret though. Especially
since he's only 6 months old! My friend paid the $400 and drove the 4
hour drive for a breeder ferret. He is so much larger, muscular, and
active than any Marshall ferret I've ever owned. I think if I'm ever
short on ferret friends I might make the same sacrifice for one from
a breeder.

I don't think there are old and new styles from Marshall, I think they
just have a variety of ferrets and poor care at a young age. Some
studies have shown the early weaning of some species can cause a
distrust of food, hence overeating. Perhaps this could account for
their fat ferrets =]

---amanda

[Posted in FML 7028]