Ferret Friday #12-Bathroom Blues

Ferrets are domesticated, but they still have many of the same urges as wild ferrets. Because a ferret's natural instinct is to back in to a corner to do their business, humans need to ~~block access to all corners~~ discourage bad habits by strategic placement of litter boxes in corners. Here, Bela is checking out one of the new bathroom annexes that serves the dual purpose of providing an acceptable toilet and blocking what would be the natural choice. If the humans keep the toilets area clean, ferrets will use the acceptable spots more readily. By paying attention to the natural habits, humans can learn how best to help their ferrets be good housemates. For example, a napping ferret is not going to climb out of a nest and go down three ramps to the big bathroom annex. He wants to do his business as quickly as possible so he can get back to sleep. Providing a small litter box near the sleeping hammock is one way to prevent messy corners in the cage.

We have trained Count and Bela to go to the bathroom before they are let out of their cage. Bela figured it out very quickly. Then, she figured out how to fake it even quicker. Poor Count took longer and would be left in the cage while Bela was free to roam. With a little help, Count has gotten the hang of it too and is now more reliable since he doesn't fake it.

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Can we Talk about Packaging?

Today, many people (myself included) use ancient chain maille armor techniques to create jewelry. Basically, artisans take small rings made of wire and weave them together in intricate designs. In this way, the ancient weaves are re-imagined for a modern audience.

Although some people take raw wire and create their own rings, many rely on retailers for their needs. From that need, a growing cottage industry has sprung up to supply makers with kits that include all of the rings and instructions for a design. Most of these businesses use very simple packaging for their products. Zipper seal bags with simple printed labels are very common.

For companies that are a little larger, heat seal plastic tubing becomes the most common form of packaging. There is one operation that packages per order so that the rings come in a long, unlabeled, sausage-like strip of tubing with a heat seal between each type of ring. Customers must match the segment of the tube to the invoice to figu…

Ferret Friday #3

We have discovered that our ferret is an addict. There is one thing that he loves most in this world, and I am sure that you would never guess what it is. We don't even know how he first discovered it, but all it took was leaving the kitchen pantry door open one time. What is this crack for ferrets you ask? Coffee Mate French Vanilla creamer in those cute little individual cups (and if you dare to follow the link, the comments make me think our ferrets isn't the only one that is addicted).

I am sure that it started out innocently enough. The tabs on the little cups are probably perfect for ferret teeth to grip. The weight is probably a satisfying heft without being too heavy. The cups are small, portable, and easily hidden. And hide them he did. But then, a tooth may have accidentally slipped through the foil and released the contents and a new discovery was made. I am sure that he thought "Wow...a treasure and a treat." Since his first taste, he has been t…

Ferret Friday #16 - Pantry Raid

After several months of not having Coffee Mate in the house due to A. E.'s addiction, I felt sorry for the Hubster and purchased a box. It didn't take long for the A. E. to "ferret" it out. I caught him in the act as he was investigating the pantry on his way to the "crack".

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