Cochyn 0 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) I'm relatively inexprienced when it comes to ferrets. I recently aquired two new jills, both this year's. The older jill is very placid and calm. The smaller one was not handled as much as a kit and is a bit nippy. I've had her nealry a month now and handle every day. Starting to lose patience with her to be honest. She doesn't bite hard, but has broken the skin a couple of times. If she's like this in my garden who knows what she'll be like when excited in the field. She's even nipped me on the foot (don't ask). Does anyone have any advice please? I'd like to do my best with her (and no I've not lost patience that much). Edited October 9, 2009 by Cochyn Quote Link to post
marc2008 0 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I'm relatively inexprienced when it comes to ferrets. I recently aquired two new gills, both this year's. The older gill is very placid and calm. The smaller one was not handled as much as a kit and is a bit nippy. I've had her nealry a month now and handle every day. Starting to lose patience with her to be honest. She doesn't bite hard, but has broken the skin a couple of times. If she's like this in my garden who knows what she'll be like when excited in the field. She's even nipped me on the foot (don't ask). Does anyone have any advice please? I'd like to do my best with her (and no I've not lost patience that much). how iv sorted it in the past is when they nip flik the end fo their nose with your finger, an do this eery time, gently ruf her up, if she nips flick her nose but if she doesnt bite put some syliva on your finger an let her lick it up, an just repete the proses. hope this helps ATB, MARC Quote Link to post
Cochyn 0 Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Just seen the 'can they be fully tamed?' post below. Didn't need to post this really. Been spitting on my hand. Will persevere. Thanks. Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 thats it mate just flick them on the nose every time it trys 2 bite an this usally does the job Quote Link to post
Quixote 9 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 DON'T flick her on the nose! I don't care how many times you get this advice, or from who! The only thing this will result in is a fert that's shy of your hand, & you'll spend half your time in the field chasing her around bury entrances. Anyone advocating this as a means of stopping nipping either doesn't have the first clue about ferrets, or is willing to fart about chasing them around half the day You want your ferts to work for you, be easily-handled in, or out of, the court, at the vets, in the hunting box, while removing ticks, cleaning the court etc.........? So why the hell would anyone utilise a method that's guaranteed to make a fert shy of your hands? There's some really good advice available on this forum, but at the same time there's also plenty of members more than willing to talk absolute bollocks. If you want the best from your ferts, give them the best you can offer........if someone's not prepared to do that, they should give them to someone who is, & stay away from keeping them in the first place. Some of the dickhead advice given on this forum is a joke, to be honest. It's pretty obvious that quite a few members don't have a f*****g clue................ Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 and who the f**k r u super hunter mr f*****g no it all dont fink so flicking my ferrtets on the nose stoped them biting and i dont chace my ferrets round feilds either they come straight till the hand ok nie Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 In my experience all nose flicking ever did was make hand shy ferrets , not a lot of use if your supposed to pick them up & pass them over a hedge for example If the ferrets handled with respect , fed a good plentyfull flash diet you wont go far wrong Good luck Quote Link to post
Quixote 9 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 and who the f**k r u super hunter mr f*****g no it all dont fink so flicking my ferrtets on the nose stoped them biting and i dont chace my ferrets round feilds either they come straight till the hand ok nie Have I struck a raw nerve there, son? Didn't really understand much of what you posted, to be honest. But I got the definate impression something I said may have got you a tad miffed Quote Link to post
festa 206 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 i had the same problem as did my cousin young ferts nipping the advice we took worked great dont nose flick while it has worked for some i didnt want the possibility of Mking them hand shy so what i done make a fist and spit on the back of your hand let them lick the spit off get them used to it as it the back of your hand the ferts cant grab onto it another thing to look at mate is what food are you feeding them on i had mine on dry food i was told to get them on meat (rabbit) and with them two changes wow what a change i took about 2 weeks but they are totally different ferrets try it mate but be patient thing wont happen over night but they will change atb gary Quote Link to post
The one 8,480 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Every time you feed them handle them in about a fortnight sorted whats the problem ?? Quote Link to post
johnmac666 2 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 DON'T flick her on the nose! I don't care how many times you get this advice, or from who! The only thing this will result in is a fert that's shy of your hand, & you'll spend half your time in the field chasing her around bury entrances. Anyone advocating this as a means of stopping nipping either doesn't have the first clue about ferrets, or is willing to fart about chasing them around half the day You want your ferts to work for you, be easily-handled in, or out of, the court, at the vets, in the hunting box, while removing ticks, cleaning the court etc.........? So why the hell would anyone utilise a method that's guaranteed to make a fert shy of your hands? There's some really good advice available on this forum, but at the same time there's also plenty of members more than willing to talk absolute bollocks. If you want the best from your ferts, give them the best you can offer........if someone's not prepared to do that, they should give them to someone who is, & stay away from keeping them in the first place. Some of the dickhead advice given on this forum is a joke, to be honest. It's pretty obvious that quite a few members don't have a f*****g clue................ like your style mate my kind of guy no nonsense straight to the point, im new to ferrets ( kept them when i was a kid ) i was told never to flick them , have handled mine from day 1 perseverd with the nips now they are silly tame & its true there is that much nonsnense info being said but some good advice can be found on here it really got me confused , but you will learn who to listen too & who not,my old man ( RIP ) if he got a nippy ferret would crack an egg in a pint pot & let the ferret climb in & lick the egg, when it did he would stroke & make a fuss until the ferret bit then he would put back in cage & do same again day after some times it took a while sometimes it works couple of days just perseverve & it should calm down & trust you & learn hands dont taste nice & are not food !! dont give up regards john Quote Link to post
Downunder_Sthn_Ferreter 16 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 (edited) @ nose flicking.... Wake up guys....its an animal you want to be able to trust and work with in harmony. Treating it like a slave from Roots will only see an animal frightened at best. Daily handling will create a bond between owner and ferret if done nicely & without tension. The original poster of this topic mentioned how it doesn't really break the skin. This is a classic sign of the Ferret being in touch with you & wanting to be closer. Look how ferrets play with each other, gentle and sometimes not so gentle bites, play nipping. It's in there nature & will soon settle & or stop altogether with regular handling. Having owned ferrets over 20 years, i don't believe that treating ferrets with what some seem as 'getting them inline' is a positive way to gain trust. Ferrets are like most other domesticated animals. They need heaps of attention and will repay this in spades with devotion & a willingness to work well for you. Cheers, Shaun Edited October 10, 2009 by Downunder_Sthn_Ferreter Quote Link to post
Guest lavyheed Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Well said Shaun, some sound advice there mate Quote Link to post
liftboy1 0 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 I had this nipping problem with my two jill kits. Like quixote says there are people who know what they are on about and others that .........., But after taking advice from the likes of stealthy, one, kay, scothunter and quixote it has stopped. I found that respect, patience, feeding them flesh and putting some of the mouth pop on your finger and letting them like it off works. When I started the tapping on the nose nonsense they just got worse, I personally think they thought I wanted to play. Now when they come to the hole i can stick my hand there and lure them out. Worked for me. Quote Link to post
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