All of us can only go by our experiences and by what other people tell us sometimes. But I think that it may be important to note that pet store employees who have been at the pet stores long enough here to see all the MF ferrets come in for over 2 years tell me that they do not want MF ferrets. They are sold too young too often. They HAVE switched companies. And if another came along-they would try that one. The problem-as it has been explained to me- is that they need a consistent number of ferts coming in. The only other fert producing businesses either could not keep up with the orders. Or the one from Canada that the pet stores tried using were coming up with ferts that bit hard. How can MF keep doing this? I GUESS that It is easy if there is no other competition. How often do the stores get in babies that are too young to make it, or who get sick, or who must be syringe fed?? ---Often enough so that the people I have spoken with over the last 5 years that work at pet stores in this area have told me that they don't want MF ferrets shipped to their stores if this problem cannot be corrected..---- P.S.S. The red fox living in the plot of woods just past the field is playing with her babies outside. She spent several days sitting next to 3 grown geese-5 feet away at most-with the babies playing right in front of the unconcerned geese. She ate one of the geese a few days ago. A coyote is eating the kibble on my porch. Looks like a shaggy dog to me. My neice thinks it looks like a bear. :-) We sleep by the porch door so as not to miss anything. Lisette [Posted in FML issue 3023]