I'm not giving mine baths much any more, but when i do, i fill the tub up
about 4 inches with very warm water, and plunk the ferrets into that.
mostly, they just float there like little ferret rafts, looking forlorn and
upset but not struggling.  It's always shallow enough so that the ferret's
toes touch the bottom, but deep enough so that they're mostly floating.
they let me dunk their heads, swish them around, spill water over them, etc,
while in this situation.
 
of course, i've trained mine such that they dont struggle even when held by
one hand under a running faucet and while being washed with the other hand -
the only time they fight is when i'm drying them off.  :)
 
Now that i live in a place with free laundry, tho, i can wash their bedding
every week religiously and not bathe them.  they're oodles happier, except
Friday, whose tail must be cleaned regularly.
 
Melissa
 
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      Melissa Litwicki                              "Is it ... atomic?"
      [log in to unmask]                             "Yes! VERY atomic!"
[Posted in FML issue 1653]