Just a quick post concerning ferret behavior that has been observed by some
who've been around ferrets for a time.
 
At least two distinctly different classes of dominance behaviors are seen:
1) The behavior of intact ferrets versus fixed ferrets, and 2) The behavior
of intact ferrets between themselves and fixed ferrets between themselves.
These two different classes of ferret behavior are strikingly different
with the first class being marked by it severity of dominance and possibly
even serious damage or even death of the Beta ferret, especially if the
Beta ferret is fixed and the Alpha is intact.
 
As I see it, taking the example of the fixed ferrets in association with
each other, two factors seem to be very important to one or even to both
ferrets.  One is territoriality and the other is Alpha/Beta ranking.  Both
seem to require working out by the ferrets themselves.  To perhaps lessen
the severity of conflicting fighting between the two ferrets, one of the
factors is eliminated by introducing the ferrets to each other in neither's
territory, but rather in a new territory that is new to both ferrets.  This
seems to eliminate the aggressiveness of the one ferret who seems to react
intensely to "invasion of its territory" by the newcomer interloper.  Then
the only factor is the one of ranking the two ferrets settle between
themselves over time.  Some rankings take longer than others, but none that
I've experienced are as drawn out timewise as long as the time it takes
for two cats to establish the Alpha and Beta levels.  It seems that some
cats work out a "toleration" of sorts for each other, puncuated from time
to time by some screetching, howling and caterwallowing that results in a
seeming tie as regards to whom's going to devolve to the Beta rank.
 
However, in Mother Nature's scheme of things, my description is so
simplistic so as to be less than worthy of consideration by any mature,
thinking, and observant adult.  Certainly as you may realize, without my
calling to your attention, several complicating factors must be considered
here as well.  For example, the relative ages of the two animals is a vital
factor, their health, relative sizes, their unique personalities, their
experiences in association with other animal and ferrets, and to a very
great extent their diet and its structure (solid kibble, chunks of meat,
chicken legs, pinkies (whether alive or dead) and their being accustomed
to a partial liquid diet.)
 
Let it be known that from the very first light the kits here at Ferrets
NorthWest FNW are soup eaters coincident to Momma's warm milk that is
drawn out by the sucking reflex.  The sucking reflex being the earliest
learned/instinctive actions of the pre-weened kit are seen as
non-aggressive urges (incited by hunger and the need for colustrum).  Not
so the later developed aggressive behavior of using their needle-sharp
teeth to combat their siblings in order to get to one or more of Momma's
"nerver enough" or limited nipples, especially if the litter is a large
one.
 
It is at this time that much of the personality of the ferret is formed,
not only by the loving and doting attention rendered by the ferret owner,
but perhaps just as importantly by the warm soup in the kits' rotund
bellies.  Their mouthing of Momma's nipples may then be seen as more a
feeling of security rather than one of ravenous, constantly gnawing hunger.
Here what we've accomplished so simply, is the bypassing of the biting
reflex by crossing over from the sucking reflex to the licking reflex
whereat the kits are licking up their warm, warm soup.  The aggressiveness
and the biting/fighting for a milky nipple is eliminated to a very large
degree, I like to think.
 
It sould be clearly obvious therefore, that satiated kits with filled
bellies of Momma's milk and Edward's home-made vegetable beef soup, would
likely form personalities that are much more mellowed in their kithood,
their juvenile life, and all the way into adulthood.  Does it not seem
logical then that such ferrets would be, for the most part, much more
tolerant of other ferrets that they are coupled with in their later lives
than would those ferrets that were not transitioned from the sucking reflex
to the licking reflex by the simple agency of a warm liquid diet applied
early in their lives and all the way through their adult lives and ECE-free
existance?
 
Who of you can disagree that a well-brought-up ferret, a
well-fed-and-brought-up ferret, will be a ferret whose behavior is mellow,
tolerant, and consistently gentle, be it toward other animals or toward we
humans.  I sometimes wonder if indeed the ferret's diet isn't the most
important factor in its behavior.
 
I should like to speak to the issue of behavior among the first class of
ferrets: those ferrets that are intact.  But since this posting is already
God-awful long, let me post that at a later time.  In the meantime, I
should like to read some of your ideas about ferret behavior.  Let's
compare experiences and know-how, OK?
 
Edward Lipinski @ Ferrets NorthWest FNW  (PS Remember to change all your
"y'"s to "k"s on 01/01/2000)
[Posted in FML issue 2624]