my ferret is only 3 months old and it bites alot is that normal, i have not harmed it ive only had it 5 days.?

Question

it bites at my hands, feet . and when i walk out of the room it will chase me and start to bite me . i was just wondering if there might be a reason. my guess was cause it is so young it is just playing with me. so might it calm down in the future or is this just the way that ferrets act. cause i read that ferrets are playful animals?

Answer 1

You are partly right, it is most likely just playing at this point. It still hurts though, I know.
He may just be doing it for attention and for kicks and if you jump and squeal---mission accomplished. So try NOT to react. Easier said than done.
From now on, if he gets into a biting mood, scruff him(grab him by the skin on the back of the neck, don't worry, it's tough), look him straight in the face and with a stern loud voice say "NO!!!" or "NO BITE!!!" Then put him down. If he isn't going right back into the biting mode praise him lots, maybe give him a treat.
If he still wants to bite scruff him again, repeat the procedure but this time drag his little hiney across the carpet or the couch for a foot or so. It doesn't hurt them and that is the way adult ferrets teach youngsters respect. I've seen my tiniest female drag a male youngster clear across the living room floor.
Ferret skin is some of the toughest around, it doesn't hurt them, but it gets the point across. You may have to repeat these things for a few weeks before seeing any improvement.
Next, if he's still not responding to the training put him in time out, preferable in a crate or a carrier, because the cage should never be a place of punishment, but a refuge and safe haven. Leave him in time out no longer than 5 minutes,maybe start with 2 min and work your way up. If you leave him in longer he may forget why he's there and fall asleep.
I adopted a biter in May and he's doing much better. I have to work with him though. He his a very intelligent, interactive and smart little guy, but very hyper. I cannot work with him very well when he's in one of his overactive modes, not without first working off some of that extra energy. I try to play games with him that take a lot out of him first and that usually does it. I also keep my hands and feet out of his way until he's a bit calmer.
I found this toy at Walmart called a Kitten Mitten. It's a glove with really long fingers on it, that has pom poms at the end of each finger with a bell in each of the pom poms. It's a good way to play and wind him down a bit without risking your hands being all scratched up.
It took me a few weeks to get him to get the message, but he finally did. Only needs a reminder once in a while, but now I just have to holler "NO BITE!!" and he goes on about his business.
Good luck with your fuzzy and enjoy.
Mail me if you have any more problems.


PS: Never hit a ferret. Their slight built puts them at great risk for injury. Also, never flick them on the nose, no matter what anyone says. You do not want to make your ferret associate the human hand with pain. It would make the biting get worse instead of better.

OH, and ferrets are DOMESTICATED animals. Some people believe they have been domesticated for 2500 years or better(in Europe for instance). So they are not the WILD variety anymore. There is a variety called the black footed ferret and it was almost extinct.It is the only wild ferret.

Answer 2

Have you ever seen a human child? What is the first thing they do when checking something out. They put it in their mouth. The same is with young ferrets. Ferrets also play rougher than most pets. If you train them right then they will learn not to bite or at least not bite hard (I call it touching teeth or ferret tag).
When your ferret has bitten too hard, immediately scruff them (picking it up by the extra skin on the top of its neck) and drag them along the floor a few inches. This is how ferret mamas say "Enough already!" Then in a firm tone say "No Bite!" Let them go to keep playing or whatever they are doing. If they go to bite you again, they are challenging "mama". Just Wash, Rinse, Repeat. Ferrets are very smart creatures but can be stubborn at times. As to the chase play, that is very normal ferret behavior. I have one ferret that will hide behind my husband when the rest are being put to bed in their cage. When it becomes his turn he dances and pounces back and forth. You can almost hear him say, "Can't catch me!"
You can also try to train him that it is okay to bite if your hand is cushioned in a sock but not if bare. I have had some success in that.
Whatever you do, always be gentle, especially with a baby ferret. Do not spank or hit them. They do not understand that is punishment and can regard it even as play. It will likely remain as a "kitten on speed" as it grows up. Enjoy it and the joy it gives you.

Answer 3

This is normal play for your ferret. They LOVE to play "chase" with us humans. You can teach your "kit" not to bite. This is how: Make up a mixture of one beaten egg and cream (not milk but the real thing). Get your ferret out and dip your fingers in the mixture and let him lick it off. He WILL love this stuff. Licking is good, but when he starts to nip and/or bite, at that point withdraw your fingers and tell him "No" in a firm voice. Do this for about 15 minutes 3 times per day for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, you will have a kisser and not a biter.

Answer 4

It's probably rebelling a little because it's in a new home. my ferrets always got upset if i moved their cages across the room. It will not continue this for too long . It might just want to play and that's how it lets you know whos gonna win the game. Ha ha I've had ferrets that use the litter box and sleep in my bed and act just like they owned the house. same as a cat, so don't tell me they aren't domesticated. Good Luck

Answer 5

Ferrets are roughhousers, they like to play, and theit version of playing may be a little more rough than you are used to. When your ferret starts hopping around your feet and you don't want to play, hold perfectly still and he should lose interest quickly, or even get one of those feather dusters (brand new not used) and play with him with it. I had one until one of my three ferrets stole it.
Just don't be afraid of your ferret, and remember, he is only playing. He may bite hard now, but when he does and you think it is too much tell him NO in a gruff voice. He'll learn that you aren't a chew toy eventually. My mom still has to learn this little lesson, she squealls like a little baby when they go 'dook'ing around her feet, they think that she's playing with them, so they keep doing it.
*and frankly, ferrets have been domesticated as long as cats have. They are very misunderstood because of their playing habits.

Answer 6

Young ferrets need to be taught that it is not allowed to bite. One way is to tap or flick it on the nose, not to hard, but hard enough to where they understand and say no with a sturn voice. Make this a constant thing until he learns. Award with treat or love for not trying to bite after a few times.

Hope that works.

Answer 7

IT IS A WILD ANIMAL, ALOT TIMES IT IS HARD TO TURN , WILD ANIMALS INTO PETS , THEY CAN TURN ON YOU ..PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE PETS OUT OF WOLVES , AND END DEAD THEIR SELF ..SO YOU MIGHT WANT THINK TWICE ..