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Old 02-25-2017, 04:11 AM   #11
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

Quite a few people round here have ferrets as a it's a farming community. They take them rabbiting for exercise. So if you know someone with a rabbit problem (eg a farmer) it would be good exercise and normal behaviours for a ferret. It seems to be a north of England hobby keeping a ferret and going ferreting

I think it might be a bit overwhelming having a ferret - just had a look at the Blue Cross page. I thought they lived in outdoor pens (maybe depending on climate), but apparently they can live indoors as well, but need a massive 10 foot (3 metre) cage apparently! Not trying to put you off but it sounds like it could be quite time-consuming having a ferret as well as other pets - unless you did it in stages. But if you just had a hamster and a ferret it might work if you could make a big enough cage. And ferrets are awake during the day. They do have a reputation for being bitey but you could tame it I think.

This is the Blue Cross info about them (sorry if you already know all this)

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-adv...er-your-ferret
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Old 02-25-2017, 04:14 AM   #12
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

You could use grids to make a large C and C cage for guinea pigs and even have a herd. I love them and they have such cute little faces and personalities. I have a 3 by 3 setup with a 3 by 1 loft for my pair of boars, which is quite big. They love space, but I did have to slowly upgrade them, because I think they can get quite frightened of new spaces (Oreo particularly) but Pemba loves running around and exploring. Spare grids can make excellent play pens as well. I don't have one currently, but will be purchasing a pop up run for play time and to clean out.

I don't know much about the other animals, but I do think rats and hedgehogs are adorable. I would love to own both at some point, although I would need to do a lot of research.

I can't advise you on cats either, because my family hates cats but we love dogs. My favourite small dog breeds are Cavapochons and Toy Poodles, although Cavapoos are also very cute. I like Shnauzers. I love Labradors though, and they will always be my favourite dog breed. They are just amazing family pets. I also prefer big dogs to small dogs. Yappy, bitey small dogs scare me a bit, which is why I prefer big breeds. Leonbergers and Alsations are very cute and friendly when trained properly, but massive.
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Old 02-25-2017, 04:35 AM   #13
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

Normally I'd have just gone right with a C&C cage for the guinea pigs,but in this case I'm going with DIY.C&C cages are definitely a good choice though which I'd probably do in the future,especially with a larger group of piggies that would need much more space than this DIY will give(as it is going to be 48 inches x 36 inches,or 12 square feet,which exceeds both the US minimum and recommended size for a pair of boars along with being over the minimum for 3 female piggies!)

Ferrets living outdoors here would be a disaster,along with any other pet living outdoors that isn't a horse or other farm type(chickens,cows,guinea fowl if you like,etc though those can technically be considered not quite pets).Not only would the weather not permit it,but they'd also be exposed to loads of bugs and wild animals which is not good

They do need loads of space,however in this case I'm taking more of a cage-as-sleeping-quarters-with-ferret-safe-room approach.It works out cheaper than just outright purchasing several Critter Nations and connecting them,which then allows the money to be spent on food(which as mentioned does get expensive).Plus that size mentioned is for a pair,which isn't exactly something that all ferret owners would have.That being said a ferret room would fulfill the requirements and as strictly sleeping quarters it works.That approach is fairly common and is definitely known to be wonderful for ferrets!

I really like that they acknowledged the dietary needs of ferrets though,especially including that raw is an option!Seems like a lot of good information,though the bits with hay and wood are not good Ferrets will eat just about anything they can access in most cases,hence hay(indigestible)being used would be very bad.Blockages could be caused,for example.With the wood shavings,it would be too easy for a ferret to get injured when using the litter box as they tend to scoot after pooping(may sound gross,but very important to know)and the wood would be able to injure them that way.

Forgot to mention this,but ferrets can be trained not to bite without much difficulty.Generally a firm no and a careful scruffing will do(and is recommended by experienced ferret parents aka ferrents).Of course,one must be very careful as they have incredibly strong jaws capable of crushing bones and if they bite hard enough they could do serious damage.That's why it is important to start early on with appropriate training

They also say no cat or dog food though,which is kind of inaccurate to an extent.That depends on the food itself rather than being cat or dog food alone,as there are some of both which could be fine for ferrets.Of course,there are some which shouldn't be fed(though most of which shouldn't even be fed to cats or dogs!),but to say absolutely under no circumstances no cat or dog food?That is quite silly.

Last edited by AmityvilleHams; 02-25-2017 at 04:54 AM.
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Old 02-25-2017, 09:02 AM   #14
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

You mention rabbit. Just to say that they, like guinea pigs, really do need company. They value it as highly as they value food. My four are never far from each other.

Hope you manage to create some lovely set ups for your pets. Does your hamster have a playpen?
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Old 02-25-2017, 09:13 AM   #15
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

I've been thinking about multiple rabbits for a while,honestly.Personally if I did get multiple rabbits they'd have to start that way and be a very good combination of personalities,as I really don't want to go through the whole bonding process.

I could probably manage getting littermates from a family friend and know for certain that they're not just mixed in with other rabbits,but the whole combination and figuring out which way to go in terms of gender and such is difficult!

Currently she does not have a playpen,but I'll probably make one either when I move or if I manage to organize my room enough to have one!
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Old 02-25-2017, 11:34 AM   #16
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

Littermates are not guaranteed to get along. My advice would be to go to a reputable rescue and get a bonded pair. I impulse bought my two bucks from a local pet shop then had them castrated. They fell out and had to be rebonded after having a few weeks apart (no sight, sound or smell of each other) to forget their fight.

Meanwhile I had adopted a pair of does from a rescue. I bonded the four of them together. It was amazing. In future, if I ever got more I would go straight for a ready bonded rescue pair, waaaay cheaper and less stressful!

Sounds like you are an enthusiastic animal lover.
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Old 02-25-2017, 11:45 AM   #17
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

I'd go for a Bengal kitten, they look like miniature wild cats. They are spotted and growl. I'm allergic to them or I'd have one.
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Old 02-25-2017, 02:09 PM   #18
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

I don't think a bonded pair from a rescue would be possible,at least without travelling very far and risking the health of the rabbits with transportation.Local shelters aren't very good even for dogs and cats in my situation,especially since I want the most ethical source possible no matter which way I go(breeder,rescue,etc)which at least one local shelter is very questionable in their practices.The other local shelter would maybe work,but they tend to rarely have pairs of rabbits in my experience(though they did have a pair of piggies at one point I was very tempted to try adopting!).

I could just get several groups of guinea pigs instead though,rather than taking the risk of having horrible luck with several rabbits.I'm not saying I'd absolutely never try though,as there is the possibility of a neutered male and spayed female pairing which is supposed to be better in general especially with littermates.Of course,that would take some very serious planning.

Animals in general is just one of many passions Then again,I couldn't avoid them anyways being somewhat of an animal magnet(even with reptiles).
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Old 02-26-2017, 05:56 PM   #19
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After spending more time with a chihuahua(one with a good personality of course,not the stereotypical ankle biters of doom!),it has further reinforced that breed as a good choice.They're more delicate than some breeds,but I don't mind.They're certainly easier to play with than a pit for example,at least when it comes to not ending up with sore muscles after even a few minutes of playtime!I will say that I'm more of a long haired chihuahua person,but if I met a short haired puppy with a good personality that would be fine too.

I really don't want to deal with the potential risks having a female though,so it would probably be a male puppy.It comes down to personal preference,and evidence backing up that spay/neuter later in life is generally better(or not at all,but I'm not the kind of person who is willing to tolerate a female in heat all the time).Plus my current dog makes it risky to get a female,as he is not neutered(perfectly healthy boy with the sweetest personality but very protective of his human pack).
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Old 02-26-2017, 06:15 PM   #20
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Default Re: Future Pets(Or the chaos I somehow got myself into)

A chihuahua sounds like a lovely pet! Despite having two small dogs of my own, I cannot stand how yappy tiny dogs are! Rabbits also make amazing pets though. A rabnit would be really fun, and you could get a single one if you could perhaps find one who doesn't quite like other rabbits and thus can be housed alone with extra TLC. I have one rabbit who is super aggressive towards other rabbits, but the sweetest little girl towards me She was tried several times to be paired up by the rescue group she was with, but ended up nearly killing the other bun every time she saw him you could end up using a C and C grid cage for some other critter and have a free roaming rabbit! My bun free ranges in my house and she never causes any trouble, in fact my dogs are more destructive than she is!
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