rob190364 2,594 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 I've got 2 ferrets adopted from the RSPCA, one hob and one jill, not sure how old they are but they're both fully grown but not old. I've been ferreting with my uncle when I was a kid so decided to take it up again. First trip out with them I only had one collar for my ferret finder so they took it in turns going down into the warrens, didn't bolt a single rabbit even though I tried 5 different warrens. I did a bit of research and thought that it was probably a combination of me making too much noise and the rabbits giving the ferret the run around as it was working on it's own. So I got another collar and went again working them as a pair and making as little noise as possible. I worked approx 8 warrens and they bolted 3 rabbits, 1 slipped the net, 1 came out of a hole that wasn't covered with a net (I only have 10 nets) and I got the other one. There are absolutely tons of droppings around the warrens so I know there are loads of rabbits about but I don't understand why they bolted so few rabbits. The ferrets are not exactly fit as they've basically been pets for a year but both were found wandering the countryside and handed in so I'm assuming they were used for ferreting in the past and were lost. Is it just a case of them not yet being fit enough to chase the rabbits out? Will they improve as they get used to it again? I'm pleased with them having kept going for 3 and a half hours on only their second trip out but they were proper knackered at the end of it! Is it just a case of keep at it and as they get used to it they'll get better and better? Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to post
sam3009 4 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 What yoou feeding them? Quote Link to post
rob190364 2,594 Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) What yoou feeding them? A small handfull of James Wellbeloved ferret food each twice a day and then once a week they have an egg each. I'll replace the odd meal with a bit of chicken or beef or whatever if there's leftover food. Here they are on youtube Edited November 12, 2009 by rob190364 Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Why are you asuming that the warrens you are ferreting hold more than three rabbits, I did a whole hedge last week and only had two rabbits, I have a rescue jill that works her crack off, maybe thats all the rabbits there was? Quote Link to post
rob190364 2,594 Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Why are you asuming that the warrens you are ferreting hold more than three rabbits, I did a whole hedge last week and only had two rabbits, I have a rescue jill that works her crack off, maybe thats all the rabbits there was? yeah possibly, i find that hard to believe though...there was so much rabbit muck around though there must have been more surely! I guess I've been a bit nieve, I assumed there would be lots of rabbits in each warren so I'd come home with a few each time. In a way it's good because it's a challenge rather than being a piece of p'ss! Quote Link to post
sam3009 4 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 IMO Mate, feed them raw if you can. You will notice a difference in their condition fo a start. Wellbeloved is arguably the best dried food out there but ferrets eat meat end of Its all in the fur and feather! I agree with Stealthy, if a bury is empty, its empty! a ferret will stay with a rabbit till the conclusion. If the rabbit bolts.........grand. If not......happy diggin Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Why are you asuming that the warrens you are ferreting hold more than three rabbits, I did a whole hedge last week and only had two rabbits, I have a rescue jill that works her crack off, maybe thats all the rabbits there was? yeah possibly, i find that hard to believe though...there was so much rabbit muck around though there must have been more surely! I guess I've been a bit nieve, I assumed there would be lots of rabbits in each warren so I'd come home with a few each time. In a way it's good because it's a challenge rather than being a piece of p'ss! Droppings are not a sign of auccupancy, or are footprints, it just means the rabbbits have been there at some time, what you need is some thing that tells you the rabbits are in there, period Quote Link to post
rob190364 2,594 Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 IMO Mate, feed them raw if you can. You will notice a difference in their condition fo a start. Wellbeloved is arguably the best dried food out there but ferrets eat meat end of Its all in the fur and feather! I agree with Stealthy, if a bury is empty, its empty! a ferret will stay with a rabbit till the conclusion. If the rabbit bolts.........grand. If not......happy diggin When I give them raw meat they won't eat it, wierd! I've tried them on raw rabbit, chicken and beef and they just kick the dish over and leave the meat. Is that normal if they're not used to raw meat? Quote Link to post
rob190364 2,594 Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Why are you asuming that the warrens you are ferreting hold more than three rabbits, I did a whole hedge last week and only had two rabbits, I have a rescue jill that works her crack off, maybe thats all the rabbits there was? yeah possibly, i find that hard to believe though...there was so much rabbit muck around though there must have been more surely! I guess I've been a bit nieve, I assumed there would be lots of rabbits in each warren so I'd come home with a few each time. In a way it's good because it's a challenge rather than being a piece of p'ss! Droppings are not a sign of auccupancy, or are footprints, it just means the rabbbits have been there at some time, what you need is some thing that tells you the rabbits are in there, period yeah, the droppings were fresh though, I guess the rabbits could have just been passing the burrow but the droppings were right at the entrance to the hole! Quote Link to post
sam3009 4 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 IMO Mate, feed them raw if you can. You will notice a difference in their condition fo a start. Wellbeloved is arguably the best dried food out there but ferrets eat meat end of Its all in the fur and feather! I agree with Stealthy, if a bury is empty, its empty! a ferret will stay with a rabbit till the conclusion. If the rabbit bolts.........grand. If not......happy diggin When I give them raw meat they won't eat it, wierd! I've tried them on raw rabbit, chicken and beef and they just kick the dish over and leave the meat. Is that normal if they're not used to raw meat? Wean them off the dried food gradualy i.e a dry portion and a raw portion once a day to start with. After a couple of weeks they SHOULD BE EATING RAW WITH NO PROBLEMS AND NO STRESS INCURRED. Apart from anything else, Wellbeloved, or any other dried food is GROSSLY OVERPRICED! Hope this helps Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted November 12, 2009 Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 Why are you asuming that the warrens you are ferreting hold more than three rabbits, I did a whole hedge last week and only had two rabbits, I have a rescue jill that works her crack off, maybe thats all the rabbits there was? yeah possibly, i find that hard to believe though...there was so much rabbit muck around though there must have been more surely! I guess I've been a bit nieve, I assumed there would be lots of rabbits in each warren so I'd come home with a few each time. In a way it's good because it's a challenge rather than being a piece of p'ss! Imagine your a rabbit and a fox is on your case, do you A run for home, or B duck into the nearest burrow? I know what I would do Droppings are not a sign of auccupancy, or are footprints, it just means the rabbbits have been there at some time, what you need is some thing that tells you the rabbits are in there, period yeah, the droppings were fresh though, I guess the rabbits could have just been passing the burrow but the droppings were right at the entrance to the hole! Quote Link to post
rob190364 2,594 Posted November 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2009 IMO Mate, feed them raw if you can. You will notice a difference in their condition fo a start. Wellbeloved is arguably the best dried food out there but ferrets eat meat end of Its all in the fur and feather! I agree with Stealthy, if a bury is empty, its empty! a ferret will stay with a rabbit till the conclusion. If the rabbit bolts.........grand. If not......happy diggin When I give them raw meat they won't eat it, wierd! I've tried them on raw rabbit, chicken and beef and they just kick the dish over and leave the meat. Is that normal if they're not used to raw meat? Wean them off the dried food gradualy i.e a dry portion and a raw portion once a day to start with. After a couple of weeks they SHOULD BE EATING RAW WITH NO PROBLEMS AND NO STRESS INCURRED. Apart from anything else, Wellbeloved, or any other dried food is GROSSLY OVERPRICED! Hope this helps OK cool, thanks for this, I'll try and wean them onto raw. Quote Link to post
sam3009 4 Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 (edited) IMO Mate, feed them raw if you can. You will notice a difference in their condition fo a start. Wellbeloved is arguably the best dried food out there but ferrets eat meat end of Its all in the fur and feather! I agree with Stealthy, if a bury is empty, its empty! a ferret will stay with a rabbit till the conclusion. If the rabbit bolts.........grand. If not......happy diggin When I give them raw meat they won't eat it, wierd! I've tried them on raw rabbit, chicken and beef and they just kick the dish over and leave the meat. Is that normal if they're not used to raw meat? Wean them off the dried food gradualy i.e a dry portion and a raw portion once a day to start with. After a couple of weeks they SHOULD BE EATING RAW WITH NO PROBLEMS AND NO STRESS INCURRED. Apart from anything else, Wellbeloved, or any other dried food is GROSSLY OVERPRICED! Hope this helps OK cool, thanks for this, I'll try and wean them onto raw. Hope things work out for you bud,feel free to PM Me if not. only glad to help if I can Edited November 13, 2009 by sam3009 Quote Link to post
The one 8,481 Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 A dog for marking occupied burrows would be the answer Quote Link to post
Hob&Jill 258 Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 You would be surprised at how active some warrens can look without holding. I have a abit of ground, woods backing onto fields, hedges round the fields ect. There are alot of open sand warrens in the middle of the fields, fresh sand all kicked out, footprints, prints all over them but we rarely get much out of them, normally 1 or 2 or less. The hedges and woodland burys seem to hold rabbits more. We have been up there with the lamp and seen rabbits all about the open warrens so I think they are just using them as play warrens or just pass though in the night? Quick cover for them when feeding out in the fields at night? I honestly dont know, anyone had anything similar? This isnt shit ground either theres alot of rabbits there, 20-30+ bags of rabbits regular. I also think if there has been abit of mixy about in the summer, in the early season some rabbits tend not to be to ground and are living above ground amounst braken etc? This is only stuff I've found myself so if anyone disagree's would be interesting to hear what other people have found etc You dont say what kind of burys they are, but I would have ago at the burys in woods or hedges. atb HJ Quote Link to post
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