AlbionLass

Now gone, many thanks.

http://i100.photobuc.../DSC_0030-1.jpg http://i100.photobuc.../DSC_0018-1.jpg http://i100.photobuc.../DSC_0002-3.jpg Looking for a good knowledgable home for my two hob polecat ferrets, the lighter one is 3 years old and has worked with previous owner, he has had the Deslorelin implant this past May but that will only last until next Spring/Summer then he will be able to mate again. The darker one was born in May this year and is a big well grown hob. They currently live together and are fed on a variety of raw meat/whole prey. They come with a 4 foot double hutch which my partner made

Thanks. it's a Nikon D90 with either the standard 18-105 kit lens or a Sigma 70-300mm

Taken locally to me in the past few months. The photo of the bluetit I applied a paint effect to and had made into Mothers Day cards which I sold for charity. Not wild but life nontheless.

Interesting thread, the whole Eu. thing always polarizes opinion whether on a working forum or a pet forum. I've one of each, the ferret was bought from someone on here and has just turned 3 years old. The Eu kit is 14 weeks old in these pictures. I don't work ferrets now but did for several years in the past.

I use a version of the gagging method, if the kit goes to mouth me I place my index finger or thumb in their mouth, sideways, at the first knuckle and just push it gently back enough to make the kit try to push my digit away with its paws or tongue. Don't push too hard or you could hurt the kit and damage it's jaws or throat but that is just commmon sense. Also in cases of slightly older ferrets that haven't been handled well as kits I sometimes spray my hands/fingers with bitter apple spray which tastes vile so if a ferret does get a bit nippy it soon learns that hands taste crap this can

Sounds like a plan.

thats the way we always done it ,plus there was no internet around then just done what everybody done .never heard bout jill jabs untill the 90s no idea how long its been around but then they say its now outdated and potentialy dangerous just get implants at 90 quid lol .am only goin down the vas hob route cause the internets talked me into it plus if it backfires least it will cover a working jill ... the power of advertising and the internet right enough I think about it like this. . . . . If i was a ferret jill and was in season. and didn't want kits. . would i rather. .

The vet involved who knows his ferrets, he beleaved it was being left in season that had caused her to be in such a state. I was just commenting on what it said in the article about the jill likely having been kept in dirty conditions. Certainly being left in season on top of the other aspects of her care that were lacking did leave her in a terrible state. I know the ferret and rescue personaly and from descussion with them, they truely beleave it was being left in season that made her so ill. Absolutely, I've not said otherwise. I just made the point that the article

The vet involved who knows his ferrets, he beleaved it was being left in season that had caused her to be in such a state. I was just commenting on what it said in the article about the jill likely having been kept in dirty conditions. Certainly being left in season on top of the other aspects of her care that were lacking did leave her in a terrible state.

In my experience I think more people are allergic to pet rats than ferrets.

I'm not defending leaving jills in season as I would not do that myself but the poor jill in that link had been subject to general neglect, not just prolonged estrus.

It's a chunk of money for most people these days but at least you wouldn't have to do anything while they were still kits, giving you time to get the pennies together. Also vets don't usually like spaying jills while they're in season as the operation is harder to do with some increased risk to the jill so the jill(s) would need to get through their first season one way or another.

There is some evidence that neutering, especially neutering before skeletal maturity can lead to an increase in adrenal disease in ferrets. This was initially observed in The U.S where husbandry practices are different to working ferrets in the U.K but has been increasing over here. It seems likely that the combination of ferrets neutered early (in the U.S ferret farms almost have a monopoly on ferret kits, breed them intensively and neuter just after weaning) and ferrets kept indoors and exposed to artificial light and an unnatural photoperiod leads to increased likelyhood of adrenal problem

The implanter needle for Deslorelin is HUGE but many vets don't sedate before giving it as most ferrets don't even bat an eyelid especially if bribed with some Ferretone or olive oil. Freca grumbled a little but that was more from being scruffed on the table than the needle I think. One local vet who doesn't see many ferrets wanted to charge £90 and to sedate the ferret but another vet who treats a lot of ferrets and is experienced at handling them was happy not to sedate and I paid around £54. For me personally I'm happy to pay that per ferret per year if needed as current research says