pet ferrets or proper working ferrets

[Malt 379]

ive read all your scripts and ill say one thing as some of use are not at it enough to no a ferret aint a ferret and if you are out on well stocked land and doing the place regulary you soon fined out what ferretsare what, and once after christmas when the easy ones are caught the start getting atad more difficult to bolt in some places you soon find whats aworker and whats a bolter ,had lots of ferets and had some good ones some just average but they stick out amile and its not about feed handling its there aproach to rabbiting in awarren and what rabbits are left cause if there good workers they clean aarren out full stop and kill whats left , and run for your life bring aferret or two ille take you out to some land and weel get afew rabbs

 

Whin, all I know is that my ferrets go straight for the thought of a coney, and don't let go until it stops kicking. Is that what you'd call a working ferret?

 

Malt. (Part time ferreter/full time THL extreme hunter!)

Cue a mammal scientist to do the research on Droids theory, there must be hundreds on here, as there are hundreds of genealogists

 

Don't you mean geneticists?

[Leeview 791]

Well dont say t before you do! Its rubbish, i've read it all, and the topic has changed through out. Still stayed a good topic, and no one has threatened anyone but a home ferret is totally different to a working ferret. I have both, simple...............

 

I will invite anybody out with me who has a home ferret. We will take yours and one of my workers.......

 

This is the old 'nature vs. nurture conundrum. Is a decent worker born or does it learn as it goes along?

 

Here's my take:

 

I firmly believe that the only thing that line breeding achieves is to produce ferrets with the physical attributes to make a decent worker. In other words they have the potential to be good workers. I do not believe that complex behaviours like totally clearing a bury (as I think whin was allouding to) are inherited.

In any population of ferrets you are going to get differing levels of ability. Whether you see that ability depends on whether the ferret is worked. So clearly, ferrets belonging to the likes of RFYL and whin are going to show prowess, because they get the chance to prove themselves. Those that don't won't get used. They'll get sold off to some unsuspecting starter or as pets or 'chapped on the heed'. No one is going to say that say, 60% of the 'good worker line' they are breeding are bloody useless.....

 

Only way of telling if breeding for working ability is a reality (in which case I'm wrong, but hey, shit happens ) or a myth is a blind test using a 'good working line'....but all of them, alongside a random selection of 'pet' ferrets.

I agree totally with RFYL and whin theres workers and theres pets/home ferrets unfortunately TRUE

droid: with all due respect you've never worked your ferrets, old ground I know, why would you mention line breeding when refering to workers? I certainly dont line breed,have bred 1 litter in the last 6yrs and the only way to go is best worker to best worker simple,and I also expect my workers to clear a warren pointless doing half a job as for "those that dont, getting sold of to some unsuspecting starter" a member on here asked for a ferret for his lad recently, I got in touch and arranged for him a day out this weekend for the pair of them to see the 2 jills working, along with sorting him some nets out and a ferret box to get him started, cause Im like that willing to help wherever I can

Back on track now earlier this season I gave a couple of members from this site a days ferreting,on leaving the farm we split up and I gave them a choice of which way they wanted to go, they opted to head for a warren having counted 19 rabbits going to ground in it fair enough, they netted up and entered the ferrets(experienced workers he was happy with)by lunchtime they'd packed up and joined myself with 2 rabbits, the day ended with a total of 29 rabbits so what went wrong the rabbits were to ground but his ferrets did nt manage to bolt anymore than 2? perhaps mine and others belief that not all ferrets will/do work was proven? Perhaps others have lower expectations and call their ferrets workers?

Y.I.S Leeview

[bedrock 16]

I think this debate is the same as the one with the working terrier. Working ferret means different things to different people. A professional rabbit catcher would require ferrets that can work hard day in and day out. Were as a ferret belonging to the average working man may only get out and work once a week. I have no problem with that as long as people don’t try to pretend that they’re ferrets are something that they are not everything should be ok. atb bedrock

[stealthy1 3,964]

ive read all your scripts and ill say one thing as some of use are not at it enough to no a ferret aint a ferret and if you are out on well stocked land and doing the place regulary you soon fined out what ferretsare what, and once after christmas when the easy ones are caught the start getting atad more difficult to bolt in some places you soon find whats aworker and whats a bolter ,had lots of ferets and had some good ones some just average but they stick out amile and its not about feed handling its there aproach to rabbiting in awarren and what rabbits are left cause if there good workers they clean aarren out full stop and kill whats left , and run for your life bring aferret or two ille take you out to some land and weel get afew rabbs

 

Whin, all I know is that my ferrets go straight for the thought of a coney, and don't let go until it stops kicking. Is that what you'd call a working ferret?

 

Malt. (Part time ferreter/full time THL extreme hunter!)

Cue a mammal scientist to do the research on Droids theory, there must be hundreds on here, as there are hundreds of genealogists

 

Don't you mean geneticists?

 

 

I was looking from an ancestry point of veiw Malt But geneticists are welcome to join in the debate too

[Malt 379]

ive read all your scripts and ill say one thing as some of use are not at it enough to no a ferret aint a ferret and if you are out on well stocked land and doing the place regulary you soon fined out what ferretsare what, and once after christmas when the easy ones are caught the start getting atad more difficult to bolt in some places you soon find whats aworker and whats a bolter ,had lots of ferets and had some good ones some just average but they stick out amile and its not about feed handling its there aproach to rabbiting in awarren and what rabbits are left cause if there good workers they clean aarren out full stop and kill whats left , and run for your life bring aferret or two ille take you out to some land and weel get afew rabbs

 

Whin, all I know is that my ferrets go straight for the thought of a coney, and don't let go until it stops kicking. Is that what you'd call a working ferret?

 

Malt. (Part time ferreter/full time THL extreme hunter!)

Cue a mammal scientist to do the research on Droids theory, there must be hundreds on here, as there are hundreds of genealogists

 

Don't you mean geneticists?

 

 

I was looking from an ancestry point of veiw Malt But geneticists are welcome to join in the debate too

 

I thought that after I posted it TBH, but you'll have to excuse me for being a bit confused, I've been following whin's fecking threads all day!

[stealthy1 3,964]

ive read all your scripts and ill say one thing as some of use are not at it enough to no a ferret aint a ferret and if you are out on well stocked land and doing the place regulary you soon fined out what ferretsare what, and once after christmas when the easy ones are caught the start getting atad more difficult to bolt in some places you soon find whats aworker and whats a bolter ,had lots of ferets and had some good ones some just average but they stick out amile and its not about feed handling its there aproach to rabbiting in awarren and what rabbits are left cause if there good workers they clean aarren out full stop and kill whats left , and run for your life bring aferret or two ille take you out to some land and weel get afew rabbs

 

Whin, all I know is that my ferrets go straight for the thought of a coney, and don't let go until it stops kicking. Is that what you'd call a working ferret?

 

Malt. (Part time ferreter/full time THL extreme hunter!)

Cue a mammal scientist to do the research on Droids theory, there must be hundreds on here, as there are hundreds of genealogists

 

Don't you mean geneticists?

 

 

I was looking from an ancestry point of veiw Malt But geneticists are welcome to join in the debate too

 

I thought that after I posted it TBH, but you'll have to excuse me for being a bit confused, I've been following whin's fecking threads all day!

 

You do better than me mate, I can only handle on of whins threads a day

[Tug 168]

could the mods please when giving people a handle like extreme hunter etc well make sure they are

 

It's a rank based on forum usage, the ranks progress through stages according to post count. Repalce the word "hunter" with "poster" and they make more sense, but seeing as the forum is called "Hunting Life" it's fair to say that those on here are hunters (or certainly think they are).

 

I've encountered a lot of "chairgunners" in my time. Anybody can whack up 3000+ posts by saying things like "nice pics mate" and "cracking" but others prefer to seek help or provide answeres, sometimes wit ha little banter or chat thrown in for good measure.

 

I've been on here to ask for tips and advice because I'm just starting out ferreting. I've trapped and snared rabbits for the table since I was a young'un and have shot for many years. It's only recently that I've decided to work my pet ferrets and they do the job adequately, they get better at it every visit (helped by my working jill that I inherited).

 

Those that spend more time on the internet talking about hunting usually have time to, because they aren't out doing it!

[ferretville 69]

Turned into a good thread, nice to see folks presenting their opinions as opinions and not trying to state them as fact for a change.

 

Life would be boring if we all agreed, it's a shame that all debates on here aren't like this one.

Its been a interesting thread with valid points from across the board . True not everyone can get out 24\7 to hunt and work there little stinkers no harm in that. Great for those who can , circumstances and life in general often dictate what time we can and cannot spend a hunting.

Is it not human nature that over time we have evolved and learned that breeding from the strongest,fittest animal enhances our sporting chance in the field ??? Its like in nature only the strong survive and in that the genes of future generations benefit . I have no qualm with the man who hunts when he can or the guy who`s at it nonstop each to there own in a round about way they both get the same out of it.

Some hunt to put food on the table some do it to get away from the wife or kids for an hour or two . For whatever reason we do it we do it for the love of it .

So whether your a mega hunter or pet ferret owner enjoy what you have , i know i do cheers FV

[droid 11]

perhaps mine and others belief that not all ferrets will/do work was proven? Perhaps others have lower expectations and call their ferrets workers?

Y.I.S Leeview

 

Misses the point.

 

Which is the question 'is working ability bred or learned somehow?'

 

If anything, your post rather tends to the 'learned' side of the argument. You clearly do a lot more ferretting than the guys you took out, your ferrets are therefore much more experienced, and better at it. It isn't 'bred in' as you've only bred them rarely.

 

As far as whin's comment about the ranking system, totally agree with the incomprehensible Scot....it's bloody embarrassing having the moniker 'extreme hunter' when the only 'hunting' I do is on the local lake or river after the Friday night shift.

 

 

Perhaps 'extremely hairy gobby twat' might be more appropriate

Edited November 10, 2009 by droid

[whin 463]

good worker is bred into them had them for thirty years and bred alot over the years ,, got some bred out of workers a few of my freinds have them they killed there rabbit first time and bolted afew, were some of his pet ferets are sloat coming on and no were as strong even the jills are alump like the old greyhound type , if i had aferret that wouldnt kill arabbit or one that wouldnt stay if there were more in i wouldnt be happy , we all have diffrent standard but i strive to say good worker to worker is the only way to have achance

[comanche 2,944]

I think I'm only an extreme hunter because I don't have a television.So in the evening once the self abuse is over (5to 10 seconds ) I rely on THL for entertainment and intelligent debate .

 

Ooh now talking of inherited working abilities in freds. Anyone think that since everyone started using locators there are too many ferrets that go in hard and lay-up ?

I'm gonna duck now !

Edited November 10, 2009 by comanche

[whin 463]

if they are fed om rabbs alot they dont lay up , they kill you get amark dig it and they either move on to the bext ,som ekil so quick you have to no what to look for

[Leeview 791]

Which is the question 'is working ability bred or learned somehow?'

 

If anything, your post rather tends to the 'learned' side of the argument. You clearly do a lot more ferretting than the guys you took out, your ferrets are therefore much more experienced, and better at it. It isn't 'bred in' as you've only bred them rarely.

Well the answer IMHO would be "working ability is bred" but improves with maturity,obviously not the finished article after a couple of times out,

Neither would I claim my ferrets do more work than the others, Why isnt it "bred in" as I've only bred them rarely?

Breeding every year or once in 4yrs does nt affect working ability

Y.I.S Leeview

[Leeview 791]

if they are fed om rabbs alot they dont lay up , they kill you get amark dig it and they either move on to the bext ,som ekil so quick you have to no what to look for

Y.I.S Leeview

[droid 11]

Why isnt it "bred in" as I've only bred them rarely?

Breeding every year or once in 4yrs does nt affect working ability

Y.I.S Leeview

 

Because if you selectively breed (as in for working ability) you increase the chance of that ability being enhanced in every generation you breed, ergo mere breeding cycles = more enhancement.

 

That's if hunting ability is genetic.

 

If it isn't, it doesn't matter.

Which is what your post seems to be saying.

Edited November 10, 2009 by droid