Da Bash

[smokeyoshi]

Yes, it's for real. The Lovely Dar24 and I are heading to Columbus, OH, tomorrow, to attend the 2016 Ferret Buckeye Bash. None of our ferts are entered, but it's a bucket list Item I've wanted to do for 9 years. Heck, it could be my last bucket list item, lol. We don't expect to be overwhelmed, but I hope to met a few ferrents I've only known online. We'll get some pic for y'all. I've literally spent the entire day so far packing and prepping to haul 7 ferrets 400 miles for a 48 hour stay. What fun!

[dee517]

Your trip sounds fantastic! Enjoy that great adventure. I can't wait to see those pictures.

[Cynde]

Have fun. I would like to go!

[huronna]

I definitely want to see those photos and hear about the adventure.
I was so happy to get to meet you both a couple of years ago when you were in Ft. Meyers Beach.
A few hours was priceless

[smokeyoshi]

Our first ferret show ever, and 15 minutes after walking in the door, here I am in one of the judging rings with judge Dr Ruth Heller, looking over companion class ferrets. I volunteered to be a steward, writing down notes and scores and tallying up totals on each ferret she judged. I learned a bit about what the judges look for. We were able to met a few of the people we hoped to find, but a couple couldn't make it. We spent a LOT on ferret stuff, but didn't leave with any live ferrets, lol. It was a lot of fun.

[dee517]

Wow Chris! They must have known that you are a ferret expert when you walked in the door.

[smokeyoshi]

Nah, they just asked for volunteers and I said hey. we made it home. We had a great time shopping and I had a lot of fun helping the judging. (I wish I had brought my readers because it was a pain trying to work a simple calculator with these stupid bifocals). Our ferrets were so good on the trip. Dar had to do some juggling at the motel to make sure they all got some time out of the playpen while not getting into fights (no names, SCAMP) but it was worth the trip. She's amazing! If we do it again we'll book another day or 2 so we can do some exploring. It was fun meeting Heather and hubby from holisticferret as well as a couple mods from another forum. And spending money on ferret stuff and seeing lots of ferrets and... well it was fun!
But I gotta say, that I went in there thinking I knew a lot and that I was ferret-obsessed...
I am confident in my knowledge, but my obsession is not so great as others'. But it's ok. I understand, lol.

[huronna]

I bet you had a marvelous time, I remember I did back in 2000 in Orlando also.
And then when they had the annual skunk show here in Tampa I went to that also and had an absolutely wonderful time.
Almost became a skunk person, but settled for being a skunk auntie

[smokeyoshi]

We didn't get a lot of pics, BUT,
The small cooler and the small suitcase are ours. The rest is for the fuzzies

swag-more on order

[huronna]

ok here come some questions.
I see two kennels. How many ferrets per kennel? Do they just sleep when they are riding?
It's hard to see the actual size of them.
is there a hammock inside? Where do they go potty?

The only time I took mine on a long trip was when I flew from Puerto Rico back to the states. The first stop was atlanta.
I only had two ferrets in a small under the seat type kennel. Still have it and all my ferret love it but by the time I got to Atlanta, I had to take them into the bathroom and try and clean up the kennel and them.

Sometimes I think of traveling with them, but I never really know what to do. They big car travels is to the vet's exotic pet motel or we had taken Mac with us when we went to North Port over night because he was on special food and could not be left alone over night at home.

[Cynde]

I really would love to go to the bash. I got Thor in Columbus OH. I wish I would have stayed a few days. But I had to take time off work. I day to Columbus and home the next. I wanted to go to the Zoo. It was a Long drive. If I get a chance to go back, I will stay longer now that I am retired. I may have to stop by Thor's breeder, and pick up a new baby or two. shhhhhh! I haven't mentioned the last part. I am afraid Thor might not like a new baby. He is so spoiled. I let him out of his cage and all he wants is me to hold him. I try to play with him, but he wants to be held. Sometimes I let the door open then he plays. Do not understand? I guess escaping is a game to him.

[smokeyoshi]

The 2 kennels each have a hammock, small rectangular litter box, some bedding on the floor and food and water bowls. The small kennel holds 3 that get along well. The big one could hold 4-5. They do sleep most of the time on the road, starting as soon as 15 minutes after we start up. Periodically, one will wake up and want out, and we allow that. They seem to like to potty in the front passenger area, so we keep a puppy pad there. We also have a litter box behind our seats, which might get used once or twice. Notice there are only driver and passenger seat. I took the center ones out and folder down the rears.
I wish I could tell you where to get these particular kennels but they seem to be out of production. I drilled extra holes to mount locking crocks and hammocks, which are hung from ty-wraps/zip ties. We drove from Ontario to Florida with a jam-packed midsize car, with 3 ferts in the small crate and Prissy on the floor, stopping every 3 hours or when we needed gas, letting 1 or 2 ferrets out for a few minutes.

[Dar24]

Generally Heidi,, ferrets are the best travellers.. even our 13 week old at the time,, slept a solid 6 hrs in his carrier.. The older ones.. a couple scratch to get out.. you can either ignore it and they fall back to sleep, or be like us and let one or two out.. they wander around about 5 - 10 mins find a place to sleep and that's it.. Yes if you allow that.. you have to set up a poop area,, they figure out where they like to go then you can cover with a puppy pad.. As for ours.. every vehicle we have had or borrowed (ie Moving truck) they choose the passenger side floor.. Not sure why its sooo popular but now we just lay a pad there and its easy peasy clean up.. They love new places.. so every hotel room is a new adventure.. This is the first time we penned our guys.. Baby got bored fast.. But our middle agers took to it quite nicely.. At this stage mostly all they do is eat sleep and poop.. haha specially when its soooo hot out..
With just two it would be a breeze.. We really wanted to scale down to four for this very reason.. Travelling..lol This trip was a bit controlled by Scamps since he needs sooo much out time.. But generally they sleep until you wanna let them out or take em for a walk or what have you.. They don't bark and they don't meow so they are great hotel and car travellers..
We have learned the best way to keep the smell of ferrets out of a room.. is just dispose of litter and anything you use to clean it up in a grocery bag in an outside bin right away.. don't store it in the room till you leave.. You do that and no one would even know there was a ferret in the room.. unless you have Poofers that may be a different story.. We don't have any of those

[huronna]

When I moved from PR to USA, I brought my two with me and we stayed in a motel for 10 days while I was waiting to close on my house.
I didn't have a pen, so they just slept in my bed when I was out shopping or getting something to eat. The only thing was , I insisted on NO ROOM SERVICE. which they adhered to because they knew I had ferrets. I had made sure they were ferret friendly with a phone call before I reserved the place.

I get really nervous when my husband suggested we take them in the car and let them loose, even the short distance to the vet. Hubby has very big feet and Isn't to fast moving, and I'm always afraid they would get in the way of those feet and pedals.

I think the longest ride was with Mac when I adopted him from Kim on the other side of Orlando. He was always a dream in every way, he slept in the kennel all the way home , yawned a couple of times, and then met the ferrets in the house and settled right in.

[Dar24]

I have worried about that too Heidi.. Ferrets and pedals.. but surprisingly they do go up there.. but don't stay there long.. I even drove from Michigan to FL with Prissy out the whole time.. She preferred to sleep at Chris' feet on the passenger side..lol Yes, We worried about Jr (Scamp) being
out in the vehicle cause he has a tendency to nip your feet if you don't pay attention to him.. On the way up to Ohio we made it there in good time.. so he never even woke up.. but on the way home the 6 hr trip ended up being 9 hrs.. and by 7 yrs in he was done being confined.. So we let him out.. He did great.. he was more interested in climbing all over the luggage and things in the back then being up front.. lol I personally prefer them caged when I drive.. but they don't concern Chris a bit.. I try to keep them distracted and away from his feet as much as I can.. They generally wander up front once then go settle in the back somewhere.. so it really hasn't been an issue..

I took my first Ferret back int 2007 from Ontario to BC down through Washington State and the northern states home.. 3 week trip.. I think he was the only one who enjoyed it.. haha.. everytime we stopped I put a harness on him and walked him around the truck stops.. back then he did not come out of cage till we stopped at a hotel.. and most places we did not claim him.. Snuck him in.. Let me tell you,, only place he got fleas was the pet friendly hotels that we did claim him at.. I can see why hotels don't allow pets if people don't do their part and at least control fleas on their pets when they travel.. We also took our ferrets on family camping trips when my kids were young.. They loved that too.. More work for me.. But the ferrets enjoyed it.. haha

Oh and "do not disturb" signs are our friends if we travel with ferrets..lol When we went to BC we were there for five days.. with a ferret hidden in the closet.. lol and that do not disturb sign did not come off the door.. We had to stay at that hotel because the reason we went out to BC was for a wedding and that is where the rooms were booked. Again ferrets are silent so easy to keep a secret if you have too.. Just 7 ferrets not so easy to hide as one.. haha We also crossed three borders not once were we asked if we had pets.. so I never claimed him there either.. But he did have his shots and certificate if asked.. You learn quickly dealing with border control only answer what they ask.. Never volunteer anything..lol