Ferretts

[SerBonz]

My dad is considering buying a ferrett for me and I was wondering if any one here has ferretts and how do they get a long with your birds?

[idrial]

Ferrets are predators. They attack small mammals like mice and rabbits. I would imagine it would attack your bird much like a cat would. I would keep them separate if you really want to own both birds and ferrets.

[Astrid660]

^was going to say the same thing.

[LovelySydney]

If you have birds I would advise against ferrets unless you never intend to have them in the same room EVER or you always keep the ferrets in a cage, which isnt exactly a great life for a pet.

[Emmilyy]

I wouldn't think it would be too much different than having a cat and a bird and lots of people here have cats, too. I would think it would be even easier, because most pet ferrets are cages for some part of the day at least even if they stay out of their cage alot, where cats aren't usually ever caged..

[Eliza]

Ferrets are predators and adept escape artists.

During my last year of college, I lived in apartment with two ferrets (caged seperately), two budgies (caged together) and one drawf hamster. We had no issues with the ferrets trying to get to the budgies or the hamster b/c they were housed in a seperate part of the apartment and only allowed out when the two of us (one ferret was mine, the other belonged to a roommate) could supervise them together.

The ferrets were never allowed out if the birds were out. The ferrets' cages were always secured when they were in them.

My personal opinion is that the safety risk of having a ferret is the same as if you were to have a cat or dog.

[Emmilyy]

Originally Posted by Eliza

My personal opinion is that the safety risk of having a ferret is the same as if you were to have a cat or dog.

Thats exactly what i was thinking!.

[Emmilyy]

Originally Posted by LovelySydney

If you have birds I would advise against ferrets unless you never intend to have them in the same room EVER or you always keep the ferrets in a cage, which isnt exactly a great life for a pet.

Would you advise against getting cats and dogs, too?

[jaded1313]

I successfully have had a ferret rescue in the past (before I had my parrots) but still keep many ferrets and also my birds. Right now I have 8 ferrets and 6 of my own birds- as well as a few fosters. Yes, ferrets are predators- but they are mostly curious and don't have very good eyesight, and stay close to the floor. Not that my ferrets and birds are ever loose in the same room. The ferrets have their own room to hang out in. I would just practice good safety measures. I also have dogs and a cat- they are not out when the birds are out either. I mean you can cuddle a ferret while a bird is on a playstand- because you are in control of the ferret. They aren't going to leap out of your arms and run across the room and climb a playstand. I just wouldn't ever introduce them, and you should be fine. 10 years for me and no dog/ferret/bird/cat/etc accidents! So it can be done. Good luck!

[idrial]

My ferret attacked my cat once. >.> The ferret won. It was because the cat was hiding in the room and the ferret rooted her out. I didn't know the cat was hiding in my dresser.

So maybe I am biased, but they seem more vicious to me than cats. Plenty of my cats have had dofus temperment and never attacked anything. Both my ferrets were always looking for something to "play" with.

Keep in mind all the cats I've owned were raised indoors and were spayed before I got them as kittens. They never use their claws (and are NOT declawed ew). They seem to have an identity crisis thinking they are small dogs.