Ferrets getting along.

Question
Hello, I have 7 ferrets that get along really well.  We have introduced different ferrets into the clan over the past year, after the intro time and settling in they get along - building up to a nice size of 7 ferrets.
For my birthday I got a baby ferret that was being neglected in a pet store.. poor little thing was starving and called "the runt" - I tried to get the other ferrets to know her and they started to immediately beat her up.
She stays upstairs in her cage, once in a while I let the other ferrets, usually one at a time try to get to know her. So far two of the bigger males seem to be ok with her.. but now the baby is so scared when one of my females comes up and jumps on her - to dominate her, she poops herself and is totally scared, runs and hides  - I feel so bad I pick her up, separate them and she lays on my chest for 10 minutes pouting and wants me to hold her.
I am not sure what else to do to try and get them to accept the baby.  Do you have any suggestions?
My 7 older ones all have a huge ferret room and have free time to roam the house when I let them out..
The baby is in a nice sized cage - getting very big - but has to be kept separate from the bigger ones.
I appreciate all advice on this issue!

Best Regards,
Coral Babet

Answer
How long have you had the new baby?

I would give 15-20 minute intro sessions every day until she is no longer scared of the other ferrets. She may have been beaten up by the other ferrets at the pet store before you buying her. When she poops separate her for a little while and try again.

It can take some ferrets a very long time to accept another ferret.

Another thing I would try is take the one she is afraid of the most and put some ferretone on it's head then let her lick it off and visa versa. This mimics grooming which forces them to get used to one another.

Take some hammocks or blankets out of the group cage and put in her cage so she is used to their smell. After awhile put her cage directly beside the group cage so she gets used to seeing them everyday and they get used to seeing and smelling the new ferret.

I would also try bath time introductions so they all smell the same. Put a few inches of water in the tub and either do one on one intros or a few at a time and see how she reacts once they all smell the same.

Very rarely a group will not accept a new ferret in which case I would prepare for either a lone ferret or putting a couple she gets along with with her. It is not an ideal situation but sometimes it is necessary.

It can take a long time or a very short time... My first introductions were instant bonds my next few took months and months of short playtimes before it was safe enough to put them all in the same cage.

Good Luck!