>From:    Linda Gaylord <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Climate for ferrets
>The sun will shine in during the days and warm it up to 60-70, but at night
>it may get as cold as 30. ...  is cold a hazard too?
 
The drastic changes might not be too good but the cold shouldn't hurt them.
One reason I think our ferrets are particularly healthy is the cooler
temperatures we keep them at.  If you let them have the cool you will see
really stunning coats!
 
>Does anyone know how many there are, and where a person could find photos?
 
Check out the color web pages at the AFA http://www.ferret.org/ for at least
one version of the standards.  LIFE, FURO, NAFA, and a coalition of
independant clubs all have their own names for the colors.  There is a
breeder that seems a bit insane and claims some 30 or 40 colors but they
really are indistinct variations of Sable and Chocolate.  I helped with
these pages.  Photos are copyrighted but I'm sure you can look at them for
color reference.
 
The only colors are really Sable, Black (also called silver), Chocolate,
Champagne (also called Cinnamon), and Albino.  Black Sable is differently
defined by the standards - AFA has it as near black with grey undercoat, vs.
a Sable with a cream color undercoat.  LIFE has it as apparently any dark
sable with a dark nose mixing it with Sable Solid pattern.  Black (or
silver) is true black and always has white feet - side by side you can see
near black vs.  true black.
 
The are many patterns.  Mitts (white feet), Blaze (white stripe on head,
also called shetland and badger), Panda (white head).  These can be any
color.  These are independant of the density pattern.  Roaning is the mixing
of white into another color that is most seen in the blacks (silvers).  It
causes the Dark, Heavy and Light Silvers.  Also called Pewter, Platinum etc.
The color density patterns are Solid (all dark also called self), Standard
(dark legs and slightly lighter body), Point (light body and dark legs also
called fine point or Siamese).  These can be any color.  There are "special
names" for certain variants.  A roan panda that has only a stripe left along
the back is called a "Stripe".  A Dark Eyed White is a complete roan - no
dark left.
 
>From:    "marie i. schatz" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Canadian Ferrets
 
The three largest ranches I know about are Marshall Farms in New York.  Path
Valley in Pennsylvania.  And Hagen in Mannitoba (Canada).  There are other
ranches but smaller such as Dou McKays in Ohio, Micki Wingate's Checker
Farms in Michighan, Frank Parson's in Maryland, Three Pole Pumpkin in Oregon-
though she seems to be "franchising" to some extent, and many others in
places like Florida, Texas, and Minnesota.
 
>From:    Tillie & Amy Evers <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Thoughts and Stuff...
>Someone (I don't remember who) made the statement a couple issues ago,
>"Pandas are often deaf", [...] that is seen in dogs born predominantlywhite,
>especially those with pure or nearly pure white heads
 
Could be the same gene.  The Waardensburg Gene (as its called) is present in
ferrets, mice, people and foxes according to Fara Shimbo.  Not a stretch to
assue it might be present in dogs as well.
 
>From:    Suzanne Firth <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: IS THREE A CROWD?
>1. Is one ferret a ton more work than two or three ex.(cleaning the litter)
>2. Is introducing one ferret to another a very arduous task.
 
Guessing you meant that the other way around.  Two or three aren't that much
harder than one.  Go beyond that and it will start getting a lot harder.
The rest are based on the second question.  We've had almost NO problems
with ferrets not getting along.  Except a few cases in hormonally charged
breeders that is.  Sometimes hobs don't like other hobs.  I'm told its
different across the continent though.  I can never give good advice on this
area since I've never really had a problem to deal with.
 
>From:    Danee DeVore <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Panting Ferrets
>Elizabeth Draus asked if ferrets pant, like dogs.  I don't think they do,
 
They will pant if seriously overheated.  If they are panting cool them off
immediately.  Okay don't toss them in the freezer or anything though.
They will hiss too.  It is a "I'm meaner than you are" kind of thing.
Macho bravado most of the time.  With altered pets its usually not
important.  With whole hobs though - think guys in bars.
 
>From:    Bruce Williams <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: PeptoBismol and ECE
>If you can get PB into them, more power to you!!!  PB is the most hated
>substance known to ferrets.
 
Last time this came up I ended up in real trouble.  Some of our ferrets
actually like it.  My daughter has no problem giving liquid P-B.  I don't
get it.
 
>From:    Marti Smith <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Litter Box
>So if anyone else is having a problem of training their ferret to
>using the litter box, try PLAIN WOOD SHAVINGS instead!
 
I guess some other folks are gonna jump all over this.  There has been
research that determined that pine and cedar shavings are bad for ferrets.
Aspen does not have the aromatic oils that the evergreens do.  It depends
upon just what you mean by "PLAIN WOOD SHAVINGS".What we use is a litter
made of compressed sawdust pellets.  We do not like any of the clay litters
at all.  We aren't fond of the recycled paper litters either - they are too
messy and end up everywhere.  But its all your own choices.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
http://www.zenferret.com/
mailto:[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1673]