need some advice

[gentleman jim 2]

hi lads,

i want to get into ferreting and need to know, what breed/sex of ferrets do you reconmend? what age to start them working at? what tools of the trade do i need? what locator do you think is worth buying?

i've been out ferreting a few times with a mate, and have plenty of land to ferret on and i have 30 purse nets already! i just want to see do you's do things differently and what tools you's use?

Edited January 4, 2010 by gentleman jim

[stubby 175]

just use the search button, top right of page, these questions have been asked so many times, you'll find pages upon pages to your questions

[gentleman jim 2]

cheers fella!

[The one 8,485]

Every piece of ground is differnt and has differnt requirement but i think what your mate uses will suit you as well

[jigsaw 11,866]

What part of the county are you working from JIM?

[Coneytrappr 30]

Could start out with a pair of jills, just keep in mind that they will need to be brought out of season, and that you don't actually have to breed them to do this [nor should they be bred, until they are well proven]. Or you could get a jill and a hob and have the fella vasectomised so he can bring the jills out. Or just get them all desexed, which is the easy option.

 

I start mine working at six months of age, but don't judge their working ability until the second year. Some are slow starters and don't get the hang of it the first season, but I have had some very good ferts that were slow to come on.

 

MK3 locator is the way to go, for sure.

 

Other than that, a spade, ferret box and knife will get you by just fine.

[gentleman jim 2]

What part of the county are you working from JIM?

 

 

im living in meath jigsaw! were are you based?

[gentleman jim 2]

Could start out with a pair of jills, just keep in mind that they will need to be brought out of season, and that you don't actually have to breed them to do this [nor should they be bred, until they are well proven]. Or you could get a jill and a hob and have the fella vasectomised so he can bring the jills out. Or just get them all desexed, which is the easy option.

 

I start mine working at six months of age, but don't judge their working ability until the second year. Some are slow starters and don't get the hang of it the first season, but I have had some very good ferts that were slow to come on.

 

MK3 locator is the way to go, for sure.

 

Other than that, a spade, ferret box and knife will get you by just fine.

 

what do you mean brought out os season? what is the reason for this?

thanks for your reply

[jigsaw 11,866]

long way from you my man.....munster.

[Coneytrappr 30]

Could start out with a pair of jills, just keep in mind that they will need to be brought out of season, and that you don't actually have to breed them to do this [nor should they be bred, until they are well proven]. Or you could get a jill and a hob and have the fella vasectomised so he can bring the jills out. Or just get them all desexed, which is the easy option.

 

I start mine working at six months of age, but don't judge their working ability until the second year. Some are slow starters and don't get the hang of it the first season, but I have had some very good ferts that were slow to come on.

 

MK3 locator is the way to go, for sure.

 

Other than that, a spade, ferret box and knife will get you by just fine.

 

what do you mean brought out os season? what is the reason for this?

thanks for your reply

 

Hi mate, unlike dogs, which cycle in and out of heat, female ferrets will come into heat and then experience a prolonged season, typically staying in heat until something happens to stop it, whether being mated to a intact hob, a vasectomised hob, or given a hormone injection.

If left in prolonged heat, the jill will become more prone to picking up dangerous infections and the elevated hormone levels can cause a suppression of bone marrow production, which is bad news.

 

A lot of people deal with this by breeding their jills every year, but I think that there are much simpler options, ones which don't leave you overrun with kits.

 

Hope this helps

[gentleman jim 2]

Hi mate, unlike dogs, which cycle in and out of heat, female ferrets will come into heat and then experience a prolonged season, typically staying in heat until something happens to stop it, whether being mated to a intact hob, a vasectomised hob, or given a hormone injection.

If left in prolonged heat, the jill will become more prone to picking up dangerous infections and the elevated hormone levels can cause a suppression of bone marrow production, which is bad news.

 

A lot of people deal with this by breeding their jills every year, but I think that there are much simpler options, ones which don't leave you overrun with kits.

 

Hope this helps

 

 

cheers fella,

learn something new everyday! i think i'll get two females and a hob and get them desexed! is there different breeds of ferrets? or are they all the same as long as i buy them from working parents?

Edited January 6, 2010 by gentleman jim

[Coneytrappr 30]

That's a good combo of ferrets, can't really go wrong there.

Unless you go out of your way to seek out lines known for being larger or smaller, they are all much alike. No colour works better than another, it is down to personal prefference as to whether you get poleys, albinos, sandies, etc. Goodluck!

[James Doyle 59]

jigsaw where in munster are ya?

[gentleman jim 2]

That's a good combo of ferrets, can't really go wrong there.

Unless you go out of your way to seek out lines known for being larger or smaller, they are all much alike. No colour works better than another, it is down to personal prefference as to whether you get poleys, albinos, sandies, etc. Goodluck!

 

thanks mate, you have helped me out on alot of the questions i had!

i look forward to getting set up now!

 

ATB

Colin