Hey Everyone,
 
I have been asked recently about what kinds of basic things I do.  So I
thought I might give a very basic outline of the routine in the Merchant
household.
 
As I stated before, I use Yesterday's News litter.  I also think wood stove
pellets and alfalfa pellets work good too.  Depends on personal preference.
I do not use nor would I again, any type of clay litter.  This is partly due
to allergies and asthma, partly due to the realization of how much dust clay
litter puts into your living areas.  Even on the textured walls.  I clean
boxes daily and change once a week.  I also clean the ferret room carpets
regularly, at least once a month all over and spot cleaning in between.
 
I feed either Totally Ferret or Iams Kitten food.  Depends on how deligent I
am about ordering the Totally Ferret.  I have had better luck with the
Totally Ferret.  Less poop, better coats and skin.  Yes, even over the Iams.
 
I also feed the ferrets anything else they will eat.  Pookie and Conan the
Toebiter eat anything I do.  Anything.  Cereal, pizza, chicken, pasta,
chocolate and ice cream.  The others are more selective, some I can't get to
eat anything but kibble, no matter how hard I try.  Most of mine love
raisins and line up at the raisin can spot in the kitchen.  Nicky Boy eats
absolutely nothing but kibble on his own.  Even ferretone and hairball are
forced.
 
I give hairball when I think about it, they think of it as a treat.  I keep
an old, cleaned baby wipe box with EpiOtic, ear swabs, nail clippers and
Ferretone in it.  When it is time to trim nails, I simply let the ferrets
run, sit the box next to my chair and wait for volunteers.  hehe.  I let
them smell the oil, drop some on their tummies, and clip the nails.  When
the nails are done, I scruff them and squirt EpiOtic in their ears, and swab
them.  Then I give them kisses and let them go.  This happens every 3-4
weeks.
 
I wash their bedding once a week, putting borax in the wash water.  It kills
fleas and smells.  I keep plenty of extra bedding, to throw in when they
make a mess.  And yes, this crew is a bunch of piggies.
 
I buy carpet runner at Home Depot and cut it to fit the cages.  If you by
polypropolene, you can toss it in the washer.  It is cheap and lasts around
a year, with weekly washing.  It is easy to cut to size with a utility
knife.  I put other bedding on top of this.
 
Although I have cages for all of mine, they are normally not caged.  I have
two groups of ferrets at the moment.  One smaller group is out most of the
day in the house and the larger group has its own room.  Every day I let the
larger group out, caging the smaller group temporarily.  I leave out cages
to put hammocks in and water bottles.
 
I have both bowls and water bottles out.  Some of mine like to snorkle and
some prefer drinking out of a bottle.
 
I feed my duck soup once a week, with lots of added vitamins and minerals.
It keeps them used to eating it in case of illness, and it is really fun to
watch them watch me make it.  They know.  Trust me, they know.
 
I get rabies and distemper shots for the guys.  Rabies because Columbia Mo
is a ferret free zone and I am cautious about it.
 
I play rough with my guys and they play rough with me.  I have some fear
biters who have gotten really sweet and a couple who bite just for the hell
of it.  Conan bites me to irritate me.  Yes, that is all it is.  I can
peacefully be watching the tube and he will do a hit and run on my leg.
Runs off laughing he does.  He also likes to cuddle and gives me lots of
kisses.  And for some reason, Ready Freddy thinks Candy's legs are really
tasty.  He manages to bite her everytime she comes her.
 
Maggie and Her Zoo Crew
[Posted in FML issue 2208]