More help needed with new hob

[lift boy 0]

I have 2 jills that are 13 weeks old. And I have aquired yesterday a 13 week old hob. The thing is when I get them out the jills are diving on him and winding him up, they dont like to be handled either. I`m handling them know and they seem to be ok mind after a couple of taps on the nose etc. Just to let you know when I go in and out of the shed I use the door, one time today I climbed out of the window and one of the jills started hissing and had her teeth out. But once in she was fine. So with the ferrets back in the hutch I fed them (dry ferret food in a bowl), the hob threw a load out and stuck his head in the bowl and eat leaving the jills to eat what was thrown out and if they went near the bowl he would go ballistic. My hob has polecat markings, one jills also has polecat markings and one jill is albino. And when they are out the hob is placid, loves to be handled as where the two jills are cheeking and always nipping. I have only previously kept ferrets alone so I`m worrying because when I start working them around xmas I`m scared that something will negativelly develop or am I being silly?

[andy mecca 5]

just leave them to it once the hob has matured a bit he will put them jill's in their place and peace will be restored until march when he will be ragging them around as they come into season

[billbroon 9]

My ferts were the same ( jill and hob) when a first got them but now there best of palls and as for hissing the also do that when they play so shes maybe just excited. They will soon sort out themselves out to whos the boss and that. As for them nipping it sounds daft but i put my knuckle in the there mouth, not to hard but just enough for them not to like it, now i can waggle my finger in there mouth and they just lick it lol. Am just new to ferrets but am sure rhey will be ok.

billy

[lift boy 0]

cheers guys, just checked and they are ok, I just worry. I`m a born worrier, lol. It`s strange because my hob is so soft you can stroke his head and he rolls over to have his belly rubbed, like a terrier!!! My jills came from a farm where a young kid was working ferrets old school way with the knot for every yard stuff. But my hob came from a hunter who is big into his hunting. His worked so well he` said he works ferrets thats all. No guns, dogs etc.

[stubby 175]

if the hobs being protective over food, simple use two bowls and its sorted, if your climbing out of the window, rather than the door, you need to fix a panel to the bottom inside of door that you step over,

[stealthy1 3,964]

Ferrets play biting games all the time, just leave them to get on with it, at 13 weeks I cant see you having any problems, and the bowl thing, I never use a bowl if I feed dry, I just chuck it in the clean end of the cage, that way the ferrets get room to eat with out treading on each others toes, it also stops them from becoming territorial over the bowl

[lift boy 0]

That is quite a good idea stealthy, obviously we all learn by giving it a go that`s how you guys are so clued up. Well my jills are strange because I have got them to the point of being handled without nipping but they try and climb out of my hands and dive to the floor. I think it`s just spending time with them. My posts seem to fly on this forum, you guys must enjoy giving your advice out. The thing is the books that are based on ferrets as pets are full of sh*t because its like treating your ferret like a baby. As with working a ferret it seems more ruff and ready and that is what the ferret is. How do they get the ferrets to pose in the pictures with clothes on them, I the rubbish I bought It had sailor ferret and london stock holder ferret but no rabbit hunting ferret, odd in it.

[billbroon 9]

The book i got before i got mine was FERRETING WITH SIMON WHITEHEAD. I think its good, covers everything with the ferret finders and that to.

billy

[stealthy1 3,964]

Next time you buy a book on ferrets, look for one dressed as Rambo Know what you mean about pets, stick to THL, there's always some one who knows the answer

[lift boy 0]

I know stealthy only been on here a week and learnt more than I would ever learn i stupid book that cost £5.99. It`s like college or an apprentiship really. Can`t wait to take the bruisers out in december. Luckily I have about a thousand acres of farmland, forest and hedging in my garden. That`s the beauty of living in wales.

[Kay 3,709]

To be honest the handling of a ferret be it a pet or a working animal is the same , so is the diet & everything else, if the young males hogging food simply put more in than they can possibly eat that way you know if theres any food left the following morning there all getting enough

 

the nose tapping makes the biting worse , handle after there all full of meat & couldnt care less as there so stuffed

[Quixote 9]

With 13-week old kits you're going to get a lot of nipping, end of story! Lol! It's just a case of handling them as much as possible, & they'll soon come out of it. Thing is, ferts have extremely tough skin, so what's a playful nip to them can be quite painful to us. The more they're handled the better they'll be though, especially if you 'scruff' them if they get out of hand. Just as it sounds, you need to get hold of their scruff & gently drag them along the floorof the court. It basically simulates exactly what their dam will do, & establishes you as 'The Boss'

 

My ferts (all adults now) reached the stage where of being totally bombproof by about 5 months. They still use their teeth on me while playing, but never hard enough to hurt. They're pretty smart wee beasts, & soon learn the boundaries if they're handled properly & often. Tapping their nose is guaranteed to get them fearful of your hands, & the end result is either a ferret that bites because he's 'getting the first hit in', or one that won't come to hand while working for exactly the same reason. And in any case, how much mouthing do we tolerate from kittens & pups? It's exactly the same with ferts..........they're not being aggressive at that age, they're merely using their mouths to explore the boundaries, & it's up to the handler to show them what's acceptable

 

The thing to remember is, that like all working animals, ferts will give their best if they get the same from their handler. My ferts all work, & they're also all pets..............they get handled, played with, & a fuss made of them daily so they're an absolute piece of cake to handle, & this makes it far easier to work them, as well as making them damn good fun to have around the place

[Coneytrappr 30]

With 13-week old kits you're going to get a lot of nipping, end of story! Lol! It's just a case of handling them as much as possible, & they'll soon come out of it. Thing is, ferts have extremely tough skin, so what's a playful nip to them can be quite painful to us. The more they're handled the better they'll be though, especially if you 'scruff' them if they get out of hand. Just as it sounds, you need to get hold of their scruff & gently drag them along the floorof the court. It basically simulates exactly what their dam will do, & establishes you as 'The Boss'

 

My ferts (all adults now) reached the stage where of being totally bombproof by about 5 months. They still use their teeth on me while playing, but never hard enough to hurt. They're pretty smart wee beasts, & soon learn the boundaries if they're handled properly & often. Tapping their nose is guaranteed to get them fearful of your hands, & the end result is either a ferret that bites because he's 'getting the first hit in', or one that won't come to hand while working for exactly the same reason. And in any case, how much mouthing do we tolerate from kittens & pups? It's exactly the same with ferts..........they're not being aggressive at that age, they're merely using their mouths to explore the boundaries, & it's up to the handler to show them what's acceptable

 

The thing to remember is, that like all working animals, ferts will give their best if they get the same from their handler. My ferts all work, & they're also all pets..............they get handled, played with, & a fuss made of them daily so they're an absolute piece of cake to handle, & this makes it far easier to work them, as well as making them damn good fun to have around the place

 

Agree 100% mate!

I laugh at the folks local to me that think stinkers have to be vicious and half wild to work well-have fun with that, lads! I'll just crack on with my 'soft' ferrets that don't try to take my fingers off when I pick them up.

[lift boy 0]

Cheers for that, How can I say, different people tell me different things so it`s a job for me to know what`s right and what`s wrong. I kinda thought that a tap on the nose would sort of stimulate playing and they would play more. Im sure they will come tidy, In a years time il be moaning on how they arent so lively,lol. Another thing is the hob wants all the food but 1 jills gets a bit and runs of and the albino jill seems reluctant to go anywhere near food.

[Kay 3,709]

Cheers for that, How can I say, different people tell me different things so it`s a job for me to know what`s right and what`s wrong. I kinda thought that a tap on the nose would sort of stimulate playing and they would play more. Im sure they will come tidy, In a years time il be moaning on how they arent so lively,lol. Another thing is the hob wants all the food but 1 jills gets a bit and runs of and the albino jill seems reluctant to go anywhere near food.

 

In an ideal world you want confident ferrets , the nose tapping will make them hand shy , hands need to be something they dont fear , due to the job you expect from them

 

What food are you feeding ?