Reply

Oh, and are Marshall Ferrets the best ones to buy...?

Reply

i live in hamilton ontario and i bought a ferret from a pet store and he costs $250 and the cage costs $150 and litter i used non dusty cat litter from walmart which was $10 for a big bag, food is like $20 -$30 hammocks are around $20, litter boxes are around $10 but thats in hamilton i dont know about where you are

Reply

First of all I would definetly say that Marshall ferrets are the best to buy. I have had a Hagen and a Marshall ferret and I am much more impressed with my Marshall ferret. Also the pet store (if that is where you get it from) has a lot to do with care, ie if he or she comes with fleas or mites also on their handling. We have a pet store here that only has 1-2 ferrets at a time and the owner is AMAZING, they are out daily on their harness and are consistantly being handled and socialize which you will be thankful in the end. As for cost .. the initial cost for me for my little brat girl was close to $500 this included, cat litter (yesterdaze news), small bag of aspen shredding, bag of marshall food, harness, cage, dishes (which I got at the dollar store), toys, treats,corner litter and obviously my girl. However in my cost I only paid $50 for the cage as it was an old skrangly type cage that the pet store had in the back room. Also depending on the type of cage you get I found that there was no need for me to buy the aspen shredding as I have a wire cage and simply put newspaper on the floor, I would also recommend getting a small bag of litter as I bought a 40lb bag and she REFUSES to use to corner littler although she is paper trained. For her hammock I went to the dollar store where they had these really nice dog blanket for a dollar and I made it into a large hammock for her and she loves it to death. Someone actyally gave me a ferret hammock and she refuses to go in it and much rather sleep in the home made hammock. So I think that's everything that I got and the price for it all, there are ways to get around some prices and to be creative because they are quite expensive for a small animal especially if you are going to keep up with her vaccines etc ... Although I have to admit she was quite worth it all. Any other questions feel free to ask !!!

Reply

Thanks for replying. :) My pet store orders Maqrshall ferrets, but they only hold one at a time (exeptions are occasional), and they sell in a matter of days. My OTHER pet shop has a wider selection of pets, including two ferrets (they usually have at leaste two). Should I perhaps consider buying them from my OTHER pet shop? By the way, they're both roughly around the same price.

Reply

Oh, yes. And there's always the option of going on a short road trip to Vancouver to visit their ferret adoption agency. I don't know...

Reply

No need for a trip to Vancouver, all the ferrets with Small Animal Rescue are here in Victoria!!!! Unless FIRST's has any available.

Reply

Hi guys, please try to keep all things ferret related under the one thread otherwise it leads to confusion, with posts being missed., plus it helps keep things simple questions asked/answered all under the one heading. Thanks for your usual cooperation.

Reply

Posted on behalf of a new member under this thread: this is all new to me so you might have to leave room for a few mistakes. i am looking for a ferret kennel in southern alberta. does anyone know if there is such a place. thank you Aline

Reply

I would def recommend getting a ferret from a rescue, unfortunately that was not possible for me as the only one near me was one that is unfortunatly closing down and all the ferrets they have now are in need of long term care and possible surgeries, not that I would have a problem helping out my little girl if that happened but I was not in the position at the time to knowingly provide for a sick ferret. Wish you luck with your search

Reply

Thanks for the info, guys! I just visited my OTHER local petshop, and got all their info. Cage is only one hundred and fifty, and it comes with all the 'bells and whistles' (litter box, hammock, etc.). It isn't bad in size either, and it has three levels. They sell their ferrets for two hundred, and they're from Marshall. I'm assuming that that's the best brand, as everyone is recomending it to me.

Reply

REALLY? There's a rescue place here in Victoria? I didn't get that in my researches... Oh well! What's it called......?

Reply

REALLY? There's a rescue place here in Victoria? I didn't get that in my researches... Oh well! What's it called......? Maybe I should try the SPCA as well. Hmmm........

Reply

Oops, sorry - double post.

Reply

I adopted my ferret from FIRST here in Vancouver, and I am so glad I did, she has since passed away (few years ago) but she was a hoot, litter trained and cuddly. Adopting is one way to go! I do recall there being someone on the island but not sure if they are still rescuing. Also check for local breeders as they might spend more time with each ferret.

Reply

Small Animal Rescue has I believe 5 ferrets in foster care at this time. They are located in victoria (the ferrets that is, the rescue I think is province wide) FIRST is a rescue dedicated to just ferrets and is based in vancouver it does adopt to those on the island and It has some foster homes in victoria also. I would definatly look at getting one from a rescue. As for a cage. I have a used one I am selling if you are interested send me a private message and we can talk. I am in Sooke. Never ever ever ever ever use wood shavings in the ferret cage. They perfer to sleep on blankets, t-shirts towels etc. And the wood shavings can cause respitory problems. Also when working out costs remember that kits will cost $130 ($65 each time) for the first years vacinations and then $65 a year there after for shots. And the 'cost' of time. Ferrets need a minimum of 4 hours a day out of the cage to roam and play. You also need litter (non clumping) and hammocks sleep sacks and the like. I use a Ferret fun 5 in 1 collar/harness that costs $30 its the best. You also need a very high protien food. Ferret food is best but kitten works also. Food costs $15-$30 a bag. Its best to give them 2-3 kinds of foods as they imprint on food and if the food changes or is unavailable, the ferret can go on a hunger strike and die. Litter I use the horse stall pellets from Willow wind in Langford. about $7 for a 40 pound bag. Lasts quite a while Litter boxes. Use the cat ones. Ferrets tend to dislike the corner ones. As for a cage. You need a decent sized one. Ferrets are not really cage animals but can make due in one when its for thier safety. A cage of the size you want will run you $200-$300 or more. I have had 1 real canadian ferret (I miss my Loki) and he was a doll. I have 2 marshall farms ferrets Otis and Niffler and 1 of uncertian history. There is no 'good' and 'bad' in the case of mass breeders. Marshall ferrets are no better or worse then the real canadian ones. They are all mass bred, wheened too young, taken from thier mothers too young and not socialized as well as they can be. Many do not like to buy marshall farms because they breed ferrets for lab use. thats a personal opinion. Personally I do not feel that one or two people not buying really is something they will notice. That all being said my guys are sweethearts and I love them dearly. They did not have a good start in life but they have a good life now.

Reply

They have 4 but one is pending adoption (wink wink Nytetears) 2 just went into a new furever home. 2 have not yet been posted but will be shortly.

Reply

when i first bought my ferrets i spent well over 300$ on assesories etc.

Reply

Marshall is the best to buy ferrets from. You're looking up to $200 to get a ferret with that includes the ferret being fixed/spayed and decented. Unless you're planing to breed them. I would suggest you decenting them cause the are part of the skunk family. When looking for a cage make sure it's big enough so that the have room to play and when you do get one and it doesn't like pooping in the big corners you could buy little corners for hamster. That's what I did when Mellisa pooped every corner but the corner trays. I just got another ferret cause Mellisa needed a friend. From what I was told be FIRST is that always buy ferrets in two's but it also depends on the person if they wanted another one. I spent $150 on a cage which is a started cage for ferrets. It comes with food, water, corners, hamach. For toys they are just like cats. My two loves playing with my cats toy then my actually cats themselves. Food at walmart they are $9 a bag. I would suggest you to start buying some supplies before you get the ferret so that way you're all set instead for buying all the stuff at the time. For little I use I biodegradeable little which is dust free and you could flush in down the tolit. If you have anymore questions feel free to call or e-mail me. Jasmine

Reply

I don't know if there is a kennel in South Alberta but I don have a phone number that you could call and find out just let me know if you want it.

Reply

Oh that is so awesome that you got the two adopted out. I cant wait to get my new baby *bounce bounce* erm...I mean do I know who might be adopting the one? LOL