Lots of things has happened during the summer and autumn. But since my body definitely don't like to work at a keyboard and five ferrets demand lots of my time, I haven't had much time or felt like writing.
Now that it's getting really cold, with subzero temperatures almost all the time, then we stay in more than otherwise. It's almost only Alison who wants to go out, and already after half an hour she turns toward home again. Rustan behaves about the same, the others turn home almost instantly.
This summer Rustan had one of his scent glands removed. Not one of those in the rear, but one at the back of the neck. Something was wrong with it and there was almost all the time a small scab on it, so it had to go.
He didn't look handsome at all, with an area 5 x 8 cm shaved clean on the back and side of the neck. To my surprise, after only three weeks enough fur had grown back so it looked like before.
Röskva has also had luck with her fur, after having had a totally naked tail, in the beginning of October it had all grown back and she now has as luxorious fur all over as possible, with a good covering on the tail.
Sometimes she acts like she was crazy: Nobody attacks her unprovoked anymore (but Alison has done it a few times at least during the autumn), but she's still scared of them and will attack them if they come too close, especially if there's food nearby.
But if I offer a spoon of favourite food to Röskva and Roxane or Rustan, they'll eat from it. The others eat carefully, Röskva will use full force and lick so it splatters all around. And when she's done, start to wimper and attack the others. Wish I knew how to cure that.
Bringing her to meetings to see other ferrets seems to do some good. She's never got into a serious fight and actually managed to avoid fights with ferrets who fight with everybody. Could be they somehow sense there's nothing in it for them fighting each other. Interesting in any case.
Roxane also has gotten a nice winter coat, and she's competing with Röskva about who's going to be the largest [female].
They fight a lot, but since July there's seldom bloodshed, often they don't even bite each others' necks, just mess about very noisily.
Carmen still bites Röskva, but very seldom. Actually, most of the time she even gets out of the way, so I guess the dislike is mutual.
But basically, I think Carmens isn't assertive is because she's got rather low status. One of my main things I think about is whether this is because she's smaller than the two largest, or if she's smaller because she isn't dominant.
When more than two ferrets fight, i e Röskva and two more, then it can get ugly. Just a few days ago both Roxane and Carmen had Röskva by the neck and pulled in opposite directions.
The old girl is getting more tired, but when she's awake and active she can out-endure all of the others.
Her worst problem is her bad temper. If something doesn't go her way she can get angry at everybody. Roxane looks like she doesn't understand why she's attacked and never gives back, but Rustan can get upset and will start to chase Alison, who of course runs away and screams. Poor her.
At other times, Rustan comes to her and shares a sleeping place with her, as do all of the others except for Röskva.