Starting off a young ferret?

[bettywobble28 0]

Hiya everyone, just wondered if anyone could give me some tips on what probably is a thick question...what is the best age to sart taking out my young hob? He is about 3 months old now, so would like to think about starting him off. Any other tips on just starting (ferret and myself!!) coz basically I have a rough idea but would like to hear from all you experts so I can get it right from the start. Cheers everyone.

[polecat93 4]

i think my hob and jill went out for the first time when they were about 5-6 months old i would say thats probably the best time to take them because it gives them a chance to grow a bit and also they are more able to take a kick off a rabbit at an older age, some people have theres out earlier but i have mine bout 6 month, also you will probably need 20 or more nets to go out with , nice warm box for the ferrets and warm clothing for you cos its freezin now, also you dont have to but it is good to purchase a deben ferret finder because sometimes ferrets love to keep the rabbits down and it speeds things up to dig them out and let them ferret back through the set also if your ferret gets stuck aswell and you are waiting ages it is good, once again thore you do not have to purchase one of these but it saves a lot of waiting around for your ferret, or a spade aswell obviously, could i ask aswell where abouts in northumberland are you because i am to.

 

sorry i think i read wrong i dont think you wanted advise about ferreting but there you go anyway

Edited November 11, 2009 by polecat93

[The one 8,551]

Think hes a bit to young till the new year,but get some pipes in your garden and run him threw them pick him up pet him put him down move about and he will soon be bomb proof and not turn out to be a sulker .Just take everything nice and slow

[festa 206]

i started mine at 3 month they are now 6 month and what a cracking pair of workers but everyones different get them fed of meat (rabbit)asap and i bet you'll be well chuffed with the results ....i very omportant bit of kit i would reccommend is a locator

 

atb gary

[theferreter 311]

yes mate bout 5 to 6 months start getting him out and get urself a locator and collar and try and get out with some 1 who will show you the ropes til u get started all the best anyway pal

[bettywobble28 0]

Cheers lads, thanks for your tips. It was just that there are so many people all giving me conflicting advice on when to start, what the best approach is and all that. So thanks again, at leat somebody is keeping me right!

 

Can anyone recommend any good books for me to get? I know it will probably be on a different thread somewhere...

 

From the hobs point of view, would it be better taking him out with older ones at all, or would it make no difference? Would he be fine by himself? As for me, I have someone to go out with, I just don't want to look COMPLETELY like I have no idea what I'm talking about

 

Sorry for my questions-you probably all are pissin yourselves laughing at how simple I sound!!!

 

Polecat, I'm near Wooler, so not too far away from where you are I think.

 

Thanks again.

[fensaluki 35]

dont be silly mate your not stupid for asking sensible questions and asking for a bit of advice in fact just the oppersite.Its good to see as some newcomers to our sport just get their ferret,dont give it any education,chuck it down a hole and then when they find it either sculks,nips or dosnt bolt on its first outing they either get fed up and don't take em out any more,knock em on the head or worst case leave them in the field causing the ferreters reputation to plumit and detering other newcomers who could do well in our sport.

 

Prob best to give em another month or two (but wont hurt if not as long as he is good to handle) but dont expect to much from him in his first season and if you can find a good working ferret to run him with for a start it will make it easyer for him.

 

Well done for the responsable attitude towards ferreting and Happy Hunting

[Tiercel 6,986]

Over the last 40 odd years I have developed the following as the way I enter young ferrets.

 

First off let me say there is no right or wrong way of entering a ferret. This is the way I do it, other people will enter them differently. I have found that this system works for me. Your first need is a small warren no more than 5 holes if less even better. But and it is a big but. There has to be a rabbit at home, this is crucial for nothing breeds success like success. I like a fine day with a breeze of no more than 15 mph, there has to be some breeze to blow the scent of the rabbit around the warren.

You should now have a small warren with rabbits at home. Quietly lay your purse nets then sit back from the warren for 5 – 10 minutes, to give the warren and the rabbit’s time to settle. Then go to the down wind side of the warren to enter the ferret, I believe that this gives the young ferret an advantage, in that the scent of the rabbit is blowing towards it. This is where the small warren comes into play, the rabbit may only be a few feet away from the ferret so the ferret will not have to roam yards of tunnels looking for a rabbit. If all goes well and it usually does you should have a bolt pretty quickly.

I have found that 2 or 3 trips like this will give the young ferret a wealth of experience and by gradually increasing the size of the warrens; by the end of the first year they are ready and confident enough to find just one rabbit in really big warrens.

 

Down she goes for the first time.

 

 

Result.

 

 

Where did he go boss?

 

[trapper123 7]

good advice tiercel and good pics where in west wales are you mate

[pigeon640 0]

i would add to watch how they act getting on into the afternoon as to them getting tyred

as in my exsperience if worked to long they will get tyred and fall asleep down the warren

and that means getting the spade out or a long wait

 

colin

[mick20 23]

Hi there, a lot of the information will sound conflicting because everyone will have their own techniques and methods in ferret working and husbandry. There are many members on this forum, from the complete novice to some who have worked ferrets for decades, all of whom will have varying degrees of knowledge on the subject, so there is no need to worry about asking the most basic of questions (we ALL started out as novices). I think that the best advice I could give you is go with someone who has been ferreting for a few seasons and learn from them, there is no substitute for this kind of initiation into ferreting.

There are no hard and fast rules on starting off young ferrets but the following is the way I do it (it works for me).

Normally the kit would ideally be about 6 months old and I would always take it out with experienced workers.

I find a small warren with 3,4 or 5 eyes and run one of my older ferrets through first. I do this to ensure there are no nasty surprises down there, (stoat,weasel,mink or anything else) that I wouldn't want a young ferret to encounter first time out. Then I would place the young kit at the entrance to one of the holes, it may not want to go down at first (after all it is dark down there) but don,t try forcing it, if it's a bit apprehensive I would probably try and see if it would follow an older ferret in. It may take more than one attempt/warren for it to pluck up the courage to get in there but eventually and eagerly they go do what they are born to do.

As said above success breeds success and I like to get them into a warren with rabbits in as soon as possible after the kit is happy going to ground.

When the kit reappears I let it walk all the way out and then pick he/she up as I would normally when at home. Never try snatch at it or grab it when it is half way out the hole or it may end up being a skulker.

The purchase of a finder and collar is one that I made only 3 seasons ago but I think a wise purchase (saves time and energy).

As for books to read I may have a couple lying round if you can't get sorted.

ATB Mick

[bettywobble28 0]

Cheers boys for all your advice, it's really much appreciated. The way I work is I would rather ask too many questions then find out my own best way to do it, rather than not ask enough and put them (and myself likely!) off completely. I have found someone who is going to take me out this weekend and show me the ropes so to speak, so here's hoping it will go well, but I'm looking forward to it a lot!

Oh and thanks for not making me feel a pain in the ass for all my questions

 

Mick, I know it's really cheeky, but if you were willing to lend out a book for me to read that would be spot on (pushing my luck now eh??!! )

 

Colin-cheers for the new additions

 

Thanks again lads.

Edited November 13, 2009 by bettywobble28