Life has dealt us one crazy hand, but we're making the best of it, living in each moment, and counting our blessings every single day :)
Welcome to 'Camp Isaac'!!!
Rayce (8/04), Holden (3/06), Charlize (6/06), Dante (2/07), and Liliya (1/08)
BONNIELEA.ISAAC@YAHOO.COM
Saturday, November 14, 2009
New pictures of the girls
New pictures of the girls here on my photography blog.
you're right, each ferret is different. HOWEVER, a *lot* of store bought ferrets (those that come from mass producing farms, specfically) have VERY unpatterned shedding seasons early on (year-year and a half) because they are subject to 14 hour days year round in order for them to be bred even out of season. So, it isn't unusual for half-sheds, or out of season sheds (winter coat in the summer, summer coat in the winter) to occur. As for no shedding even after that age, well, it may be relaed to where you live. If you live in a temperate area (or you keep them in a home that has a pretty constant temperature) that doesn't have differentiated seasons, really, then don't expect massive changes all the time (there's still some minute hair gain or hair loss, but nothing like blowing their coat, unlesss the season has been warm or cold enough to warrant it).
As for guard hair - in one as young as yours, it's just the way she's blowing her coat, the guard hairs fall out, she'll get more undercoat in, and *then* the guard hairs return (generally). It leaves them looking a bit...strange and if mine lose their coat that way, they tend to act a bit more uncomfortable, but that could just be me projecting.
In older ferts, guard hair loss *can* be a sign of illness, but it always has to come along with another symptom, really, for there to be cause to worry.
Sorry this is so long-winded; get me talking about carpet sharks and I guess I don't want to shut up. But, I hope this answered your question. If you've go any more, feel free to email me again :)
Hi! I just got your question, so :)
ReplyDeleteyou're right, each ferret is different. HOWEVER, a *lot* of store bought ferrets (those that come from mass producing farms, specfically) have VERY unpatterned shedding seasons early on (year-year and a half) because they are subject to 14 hour days year round in order for them to be bred even out of season. So, it isn't unusual for half-sheds, or out of season sheds (winter coat in the summer, summer coat in the winter) to occur. As for no shedding even after that age, well, it may be relaed to where you live. If you live in a temperate area (or you keep them in a home that has a pretty constant temperature) that doesn't have differentiated seasons, really, then don't expect massive changes all the time (there's still some minute hair gain or hair loss, but nothing like blowing their coat, unlesss the season has been warm or cold enough to warrant it).
As for guard hair - in one as young as yours, it's just the way she's blowing her coat, the guard hairs fall out, she'll get more undercoat in, and *then* the guard hairs return (generally). It leaves them looking a bit...strange and if mine lose their coat that way, they tend to act a bit more uncomfortable, but that could just be me projecting.
In older ferts, guard hair loss *can* be a sign of illness, but it always has to come along with another symptom, really, for there to be cause to worry.
Sorry this is so long-winded; get me talking about carpet sharks and I guess I don't want to shut up. But, I hope this answered your question. If you've go any more, feel free to email me again :)