Alvin and his adopted Razor Babies!

Day 2 with the biters. The evening went well until time to go to bed. One little girl just hauled off and bit me on a finger. I had to physically pry her off. Then I accidently stepped on Willie and that sent him scurrying for cover. Took some big time coaxing to get him out. When I reached over him to pick him up he spun around and bit me so hard it brought tears to my eyes but I managed to get him loose. I scruffed him and that made him so angry he bit me again. then I held him in my arms until he quieted down and gave him some Ferretone. When I put him in the cage he let me scratch his head and nose. So, another day forward. Small victories, small steps but I am happy at how they are acting overall.

Happy New Year to all humans here and the ferrets we love or miss. Starting a new year with my little biters. New Years eve and today were very good days for all of us. I learned something about my little terror, Willie. You can't just pick him up, that will get your hand torn to shreds in a heartbeat. Have to approach him head on, stroke his head and nose then gently pick him up. Makes me wonder if he hasn't been thrown around (literally) and/or handled roughly. He loves to run in and out of the tunnels and dooks as loud as I've ever heard a ferret dook. And war dance, this guy is the king of dance. He has progressed to the point I can lay my hand on the floor open palm and he will take a treat from me. He will also come out from under the sofa and stand up on my leg and look at me, wanting his treat. The Girls are doing very well, Fantasia takes her cue from Willie, if he bites, she bites. Other than that she and Frisky will come to me and stand on my leg wanting a treat. Frisky seems to be the more docile of the two. She loves to be snuggled and when I don't readily give her a treat she climbs right up my leg and sits on my lap and stares at me until I give her a treat.

Well, it's a super cold night here. Been snowing all night and day. Just a quick note about the 3 razor kids. We had a wonderful day today. Lots of playing, dooking, actually cuddled the two girls. And the best part? Absolutely no bites today. Could we be making progress?  I was very careful approaching them. And, I did have the Ferretone handy and gave each a little before I picked them up. Who knows what will happen tomorrow, I might get torn to ribbons. But I do love having a good day with them. I'll keep you posted on these guys, they are so worth the efforts

Okay, Friday is here, and another day with the razor babies. They have gotten to the place where they stand up and wait for me to open the cage and take them out. Haven't experienced the biting I used to get from Fantasia when I tried to open the cage. Even Willie is up and ready to go, no biting when I do it. Did have one minor incident with Willie. It was really my fault, I tried to pick him up as he ran by and he whirled and gave me a nip on the hand. As quickly as he did, I told him no in a stern voice and he instantly stopped. A bit later he actually came back and licked my hand. The girls are doing great. Both come to me for treats and Fantasia climbs my leg looking for treats. I have advanced to the point where I can roll them onto their backs and scratch their tummies and play roughly with them. Fantasia has a thing for blanket rides. She loves to be dragged along and when I stop she climbs my leg and looks at me wanting more. Both girls love to be held and cuddled, Frisky actually likes it more. Well, time to put them back in, thank heavens for Ferretone.

And away we go into another week. Had a pretty nice weekend with work and the razor babies. Did have a little episode of regression with Willie and Frisky. I was scratching Willie's head and neck, then stuck my hand under the blanket to find the girls and she bit me on the finger. I didn't scream or yank my finger back, simply told her No and what are you doing. She let go and that was the end of it. Later i was stroking Fantasia and Willie bit down on my hand. He didn't bite like he first did, no yanking or shaking his head, just a bite that did not draw blood. I told him no, and you know better than that. he looked up at me and let go, then licked my hand. I'm starting to think some of the biting is the only way he knows how to play and some is from fear. I'll have to explore these concepts in depth later. I also have noticed that both Frisky and Willie shiver when i pick them up. I hold them for as long as i can before letting them down. So, here we go, another week. I really do love these little guys. They are so special.

It's Tues night, and the razor babies have just been returned to their cage. Tonight I tried something with Willie and I was amazed, it worked. When I first got him he would try to bite me every time I tried to pick him up out of the cage. Slowly, that disappeared only to be replaced by shivering when I picked him up. Tonight I sat on the floor with a small pan of water and treats. I always lay my hand on the floor and let them come up to get the treats. Recently I started holding the treats up and they would come up and stand on my leg looking up at me and I would give them the treat. I've been working with Willie, every time he comes to get a treat I stroke his back and head. At first he would shrink away quickly. Lately he has been staying longer letting me stroke his back. Tonight I would not give him the treat until he allowed me to pick him up and hold him and give him the treat from my hand. At first he would shiver and try to get away, then slowly he has allowed me to pick him up without biting me. I consider that major, especially when he used to grab my hand, scream and try to tear my hand to shreds. The girls have done remarkably. They still have their little squabbles in their cage over who sleeps where but out of the cage they are best buddies, they play, dook, and chase and attack Willie which leads to some serious running and dooking and war dancing. The girls have just recently allowed me to roll them onto their backs, scratch their tummies and "rough" them up in play. At first they bit with the least amount of provocation.

Another fun day. Have today and tomorrow off. Got up and decided the razor babies had slept long enough ;). Opened the cage door and was playing with them, letting them wake up gradually. Everyone was happy, stretching, enjoying having their necks and heads stroked. Little Frisky was the first to fully wake up and wanted to play. I was scratching her tummy and tickling it, she was enjoying it, grabbing my finger and wrestling with me. I guess she became overly excited because she grabbed my finger and bit down hard. Hard enough to draw blood and right on a knuckle which sent waves or hot searing pain up my finger and into my arm. I didn't scream or yank back, but I told her to let go. She didn't seem to hear me so I gently tapped her nose and told her "no." She let go then, and I picked her up and told her no again and gave her a hiss. Then she did something I did not expect in a million years. She leaned to me, nose to nose, and licked the tip of my nose.
One thing I've noticed about Frisky is that she really desires human contact. When I pick her up from the cage or while she is playing, she immediately snuggles into my arms. She can't seem to get close enough to me. She wiggles and wiggles, pushing against me so I wrap her a little tighter and then she just closes her eyes and stays in my arms against my chest. Fantasia is coming along fine as well. She loves to play, dooks like I've never seen before and runs hard through the tunnels. I make it a point to sit on the floor and give them all a drink of water while they play. I also sit on the floor and play with them all. It's something I've done with every ferret I've had. Fantasia loves to be rolled on her back and scratched and play fight. She also loves towel rides. She will play with me and run and dook and then she will run around behind me and try to climb up my back under my shirt.
Ah, and Willie. Well, he had a little set back today. For some reason he let me scratch his head but when I went to pick him up out of his hammock he went ballistic, grabbing my hand and biting hard enough to draw blood. As quickly as I could, I got my hand free, then got out the Ferretone and gave him a few drops and picked him up while he lapped it from the spoon. All was fine after that. With Willie, I sit on the sofa or floor and have the treats close by. I let him approach me, offer him a treat and while he eats I stroke his body and talk to him. Usually the first time or two doing this he arches his back in surprise or fear but won't pull away. From the way he acts when I stroke him I get the feeling he has had negative feelings from human touch in some fashion. He is doing better letting me hold him, he actually snuggles me for a few minutes but when he is ready to play, it's let go dad, I want to play.
Well, another day comes to a close. Supposed to snow tonight. If I were home I'd take them out in the portable pen, that is, providing it wasn't too cold or windy, but since I'm in remote West Virginia I'll stay in the house and play with them and just enjoy their company. So, the razor babies are all snug and dreaming ferret dreams. Talk to all of you later.