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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/14/2012 7:52:29 AM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 3
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| Actually, Marshall DOES NOT and CANNOT breed Rabbits. They would have to sign up and register with the American Rabbit Breeder's Association (which takes a "Show Quality" Breeding Pair just to start.) I also used their contact form on their website to talk with them and they told me that they do not breed Rabbits and nor do they plan to breed Rabbits anytime in the foreseeable future. They do however make products for Rabbits. If you can afford it (which, unfortunately, most people these days can't. Myself included) I would recommend contacting a local hobbyist ferret breeder to get a healthy, happy ferret to spend your time with. Usually a hobbyist breeder has more variety in colors and the ferrets are EXTREMELY well socialized to other ferrets and humans alike. Some downsides, other then the slightly higher price, are that you may have to travel a further distance (sometimes out of state) to obtain your ferret then you would if you went to Petco, for example. Another possible downside is you may have to get your ferret spayed or neutered yourself. In Addition, some ferret breeders may make you sign a contract agreeing not to De-Scent (remove the Scent glands from) your ferret which may lead to a slightly smellier ferret and you may have to clean their cage and bedding (and even the ferret them self) more often. Whatever you do always do your research before buying any animal. Pets have feelings too and need to be taken care of to live a long, healthy life. Never buy a pet on impulse. That ferret may look Cute in the cage at the pet store but they take a big commitment. Are you willing to spend the next 6-10 years with your ferret? Are you going to still take care of your ferret when the initial shock of a new pet wears off? Can you afford a new pet? If your answer to any of these questions is "NO" then you should not buy a ferret. Whatever you do, think carefully and consider these points long and hard before you decide to get a ferret.
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/20/2013 10:24:46 AM
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The local petstore in my town used to sell Marshall ferrets but last year they stopped because they kept getting sick,now they buy all of their ferrets from a well-known top quality breeder about 2 hours away from here.
Whoever said money couldn't buy happiness,has never been in a pet store!
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/3/2013 4:41:00 PM
Posts: 282,
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I am happy to hear this. Marshall's is a problem. Their ferrets are sickly and not bred for quality. However, many ferret owners get Marshall's ferrets because they don't know better. The best thing we can do is spread the information on this ferret farm. The more people know, the less likely they will go to Marshall's. We CAN change this if we try. If someone asks you about ferrets, be sure to tell them the facts about Marshall Farms.
~Veronica
Money CAN buy happiness, it can buy SMALL PETS! 
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/17/2012 6:27:24 AM
Posts: 4,
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| Both of my ferrets are Marshall ferrets, but I adopted both of mine and did not purchase them from a pet store. My eldest, who just recently passed away had a severe case of insulinoma that did not show up until it was well advanced. I am very carefully watching my other girl and controlling her diet carefully in the hopes that she will not contract the disease. I plan to adopt a cage mate for her soon, but if personalities match for her, I would rather not have another ferret that comes from Marshall. It really is a travesty how poor the health is in these ferrets. My vet tells me that they all come from a very small stock, are all inbred, and thus all the health problems.
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/3/2013 4:41:00 PM
Posts: 282,
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Sadly, it's true. Marshalll ferrets are inbred and are far more likely to get insulinoma and other diseases. I would not get another Marshall ferret, they cause so much heartache. No type of ferrets are free of disease, but Marshall ferrets are the most likely to get cancer and other ailments. According to my vet, the average lifespan of a marshall ferret is 3.5 to 4.5 years, while ferrets from private breeders ten to live about 6 to 7.5 years. Of course, there are some Marshall ferrets that live a bit longer, but this is what a vet who has worked with ferrets for 30 years says. Just some stuff to consider.
~Veronica
Money CAN buy happiness, it can buy SMALL PETS!
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/10/2012 11:28:00 AM
Posts: 6,
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| If you got your ferret from a petco store than your ferret is a marshalls ferret. I used to work at a petco and also adopted all three of my ferrets from petco. This is crazy to me that there are reports of marshalls ferrets getting sick.
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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/10/2012 11:28:00 AM
Posts: 6,
Visits: 5
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In my own personal opinion... and it is ok if anyone does not agree with me on this... but when any company, not just marshalls, mass breeds any type of animal for profits, the results most of the time are not good. I have three marshalls ferrets and, knock on wood, they are all healthy and have not had any issues. However, if I would have been able to find a creditable private breeder near me or would have known about ferret rescues, I def. would have went through them. I have not heard of anyone having problems in particular with marshalls but after reading this I am going to have to keep my eyes out.
Also does anyone know of any ferret 'get to togethers' so to speak in Michigan. I think there should be a spot on the website that allows ferret owners to be able to easily find other ferret owners in there area or post any ferret 'get to togethers' that they might know about. There is a petco by house that holds ferret playdays that is free and open to the public and I really love taking the boys to those.
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