(no subject)
It's been an interesting day around here. Only good things, luckily.
Piper & Gracie's ADV test results came back - both are negative! This came after many failed attempts at getting their blood, and then crossing my fingers that it'd still be good by the time United received it. My aunt helped with the gathering of it late Thursday - and it's only good for five days. Mailed it out Monday, United received and ran it yesterday and we had the results first thing this morning. Whew! After I get done with the rest of the cages, and do a quick run through of the ferret room (in which I remove all fabric toys/objects so Piper doesn't get any free meals - argh) and get that cage cleaned and re-sectioned off - I'll bring them in to meet their new friends. They'll be caged with Noah, Riley and Romeo which should prove quite interesting. Two small girls, with 3 large (Noah's the lightest, at 4lb!) boys to keep them warm all winter. Many pictures will be taken, I assure you. The size difference will be absolutely priceless.
When I let the old kids out to play, I decided to let Maddie and Tino out as well. Usually, M&T come out late at night after everyone else is in bed since neither of them are overly thrilled with other ferrets. They've been getting along relatively well as long as they aren't restrained and can get away from each other if they want. Maddie even went as far as to sleep with me the other night.. she slept on my chest, where there was also a Phoenix-boy napping. They were touching, and she didn't have a coronary. Baby steps. So anyhow, Tino was wandering around as per his usual, and he was hanging out with Abbey and Cupid. After a few hours, Abbey went back in to their cage to take a nap, and Tino followed her. He was still asleep in there when I put everyone else back in - so I just left him. He's woken up a couple times to explore a bit, he's seen/sniffed everyone, and they're all aware that he's in there and there's not been any problems yet. I didn't think he'd ever be healthy enough to be in a regular cage, much less part of a group... so I'm very happy about this. I'll give it a day or so and if all goes well, I'll break down his cage and put it in storage.
With as well as Tino's integration (unplanned as it may have been) went, I decided to be stupid and really push my luck... and I tossed Maddie in there with everyone. She's been asleep in there for about 20 minutes, a few have walked by/near her but I'm not sure she's realized it yet, due to the lack of screams. You have no idea how happy I'd be if she stayed in there without too much of a fuss - I always expect her to squawk more than the others, so I think as long as no fights break out and she doesn't seem stressed... I'm just going to leave her in there and see how it goes. I know I won't find her sleeping with anyone, and she'll always keep to herself... but that's ok by me. If THAT goes well for several days, I'll remove the seperation between her cage (which is the top story of a 4 level cage) and reopen the whole thing to that group. That'd sort of be one less cage, as well!
And because I'm sure that was as boring as can be to everyone BUT me,
Cody resting on the playmat
Phoenix sleeping, while standing on his head.
Abbey, my first ferret, looking rather annoyed that I wanted to take her picture. Snob. ;)
Rosie, all excited that I'm taking her picture. Brat, but not a snob. ;)
Rosie in the rice
And her very interesting attempt at a dive, into the rice. Fortunately, for the sake of her skull, the rice box is a good 6-7" deep so she didn't clunk into the bottom. Note the flying rice.
Luna in the midst of a major freak out. Or pretending she's a kangaroo... your choice.
Darwin, looking rather sleepy. That's Cody's head next to him.
"I was sleeping, lady. No pictures!"
--
These are from a couple nights ago - when I realized there just might be hope for Maddie after all. She's sleeping on/next to Phoenix in these.
Piper & Gracie's ADV test results came back - both are negative! This came after many failed attempts at getting their blood, and then crossing my fingers that it'd still be good by the time United received it. My aunt helped with the gathering of it late Thursday - and it's only good for five days. Mailed it out Monday, United received and ran it yesterday and we had the results first thing this morning. Whew! After I get done with the rest of the cages, and do a quick run through of the ferret room (in which I remove all fabric toys/objects so Piper doesn't get any free meals - argh) and get that cage cleaned and re-sectioned off - I'll bring them in to meet their new friends. They'll be caged with Noah, Riley and Romeo which should prove quite interesting. Two small girls, with 3 large (Noah's the lightest, at 4lb!) boys to keep them warm all winter. Many pictures will be taken, I assure you. The size difference will be absolutely priceless.
When I let the old kids out to play, I decided to let Maddie and Tino out as well. Usually, M&T come out late at night after everyone else is in bed since neither of them are overly thrilled with other ferrets. They've been getting along relatively well as long as they aren't restrained and can get away from each other if they want. Maddie even went as far as to sleep with me the other night.. she slept on my chest, where there was also a Phoenix-boy napping. They were touching, and she didn't have a coronary. Baby steps. So anyhow, Tino was wandering around as per his usual, and he was hanging out with Abbey and Cupid. After a few hours, Abbey went back in to their cage to take a nap, and Tino followed her. He was still asleep in there when I put everyone else back in - so I just left him. He's woken up a couple times to explore a bit, he's seen/sniffed everyone, and they're all aware that he's in there and there's not been any problems yet. I didn't think he'd ever be healthy enough to be in a regular cage, much less part of a group... so I'm very happy about this. I'll give it a day or so and if all goes well, I'll break down his cage and put it in storage.
With as well as Tino's integration (unplanned as it may have been) went, I decided to be stupid and really push my luck... and I tossed Maddie in there with everyone. She's been asleep in there for about 20 minutes, a few have walked by/near her but I'm not sure she's realized it yet, due to the lack of screams. You have no idea how happy I'd be if she stayed in there without too much of a fuss - I always expect her to squawk more than the others, so I think as long as no fights break out and she doesn't seem stressed... I'm just going to leave her in there and see how it goes. I know I won't find her sleeping with anyone, and she'll always keep to herself... but that's ok by me. If THAT goes well for several days, I'll remove the seperation between her cage (which is the top story of a 4 level cage) and reopen the whole thing to that group. That'd sort of be one less cage, as well!
And because I'm sure that was as boring as can be to everyone BUT me,
Cody resting on the playmat
Phoenix sleeping, while standing on his head.
Abbey, my first ferret, looking rather annoyed that I wanted to take her picture. Snob. ;)
Rosie, all excited that I'm taking her picture. Brat, but not a snob. ;)
Rosie in the rice
And her very interesting attempt at a dive, into the rice. Fortunately, for the sake of her skull, the rice box is a good 6-7" deep so she didn't clunk into the bottom. Note the flying rice.
Luna in the midst of a major freak out. Or pretending she's a kangaroo... your choice.
Darwin, looking rather sleepy. That's Cody's head next to him.
"I was sleeping, lady. No pictures!"
--
These are from a couple nights ago - when I realized there just might be hope for Maddie after all. She's sleeping on/next to Phoenix in these.