The integration issue is a fascinating one to me as I love to study the
different behaviors, personalities, interactions and reactions of my
ferret family who all (except one) came here one by one for different
reasons and in various conditions.  This group of 7, 3 boys and 4 girls,
have now been together for 2 years and are at best semi-integrated.
Ideally, total integration would be my goal, but I've accepted that a
few of them are just never going to get along.
 
Pup, a deaf DEW and the alpha dude, and his sidekick Pogo, who has the
large bulldog body and is the sweetest, most loving bully boy I've ever
seen -- HATE girls, especially Sparky.  Sparky is a tiny little dark
beauty who believes that she IS alpha, but unfortunately is no match for
the "bad boys" (an affectionate term) when they gang up on her.  I have
tried every trick and method I've read on the FML with these 3 and even
went through a period of letting them work it out and not interfering so
they could establish their pecking order until I realized that for me,
for these 3 particular personalities, I was just not comfortable with
this method.
 
I highly respect the knowledge and experience of some of the long time
ferret people who believe that letting them work it out is the only way,
and it may well be, but I believe each individual has to decide what
they're comfortable with.  I am just not comfortable watching the bad
boys beat up on Sparky; I missed seeing Sparky prancing through the house
as though she owned it; it hurt to see her slink from hidey hole to hidey
hole as though she was a hunted animal.  Bottom line for me is Sparky is
an alpha, she is not happy being anything else and the bad boys are never
going to let her win, so we compromise and will probably always be
semi-integrated.  Sparky gets some free roam time of her own or with just
the girls, who happily accept that Sparky is boss, before the boys come
out, and I scoop her up and "save" her when the boys are making her
scream, even when she starts it.
 
My point is, the integration issue isn't as black and white as whether or
not ferrets should be immunized or fed a high quality food, I think there
is room for some personal comfort levels in deciding how to handle the
integration issue.
 
Who knows, maybe my furry ones will end up like my human sons -- they did
not get along and drove us crazy with their fighting.  Now that they're
in their 20's, they are sharing an apartment and the best of friends.
Come to think of it, our method of dealing with them is much like what
I'm doing with the ferrets -- trying to give each one the space to be who
they are.  Now, if only ferrets could live to be in their 20's!!
 
Post anonymously to protect the innocent in CA
[Posted in FML issue 3785]