Ferret Biteing

[Mick C. 229]

Its probebly going to take days rather than hours.Stick at it you should get there in the end.

 

The idea of rubbing the hands with cloves is an interesting one

[zachrussell 1]

Does she bite you when you put your hand close to her ,or does she not bother.

I put my hand down and she sniffs it puts her mouth round it slowly and its as if instinct kicks in she then will slowly bite harder and harder till she draws blood and then hanging on but i have been ignoring her when she does it. Ive been away and my little brother handled her today he said she did exactly the same thing she opened her mouth and then froze just before she went to bite after about a second she thought about it and pulled away since then she hasnt bit him or anyone, maybe this shows progress?

Edited February 17, 2010 by zachrussell

[saxonmaster 74]

this works for me on adult ferrets i use one glove just for a couple of days and feed treats and stroke with the bare hand just so they get used to being picked up but never put them down if they bite because they will know if they bit they get put down thats why i use one glove and one bare hand so they can smell u but at the same time they can bite the glove but u must correct them when they bite the glove i blow hard in there face. and stroke on the cheeks ears and nose area this is what the mother would do and they would never bite her, and dont be to soft with them. try to get them on there back while holding them trying to stroke all the time. even when they come to u and u dont pick up give them a treat everytime but dont forget it takes about two weeks for them to settle down. this works for me mate but if u ask ten people your probably get ten answers anyway good luck mate

[Quixote 9]

froze just before she went to bite after about a second she thought about it and pulled away since then she hasnt bit him or anyone, maybe this shows progress?

 

Definate progress mate! Been watching this with interest & there's been some good advice given (along with the usual utter sh&te!)

 

I'd say just keep your fingers out of the way & let her gain confidence in you. Gloves are ok up to a point, but they can sometimes teach the wee buggers that they just have to bite harder to get a response............she doesn't seem to be overly aggressive from what I've read, she just hasn't learned the boundaries & has learned that being a wee arse gets her put back down. Keep feeding her with bare hands. If she gets her teeth on you without really biting distract her by moving the feed bowl/clicking your fingers/scraping the cage mesh, etc & then pick her up. Give her a quick stroke, then let her down. I've been accused of being a 'pet ferret' keeper in the past by one or two eejits here, but I've kept working ferts for over twenty years & I've never been 'properly' bitten by any of my own yet..............lots of advice available here. But it's up to you to sort the good from the bad

[Coneytrappr 30]

Sounds like progress to me. As least her slow, considered actions show that she is thinking about it The worst ones are the ones that bite repeatedly, lightning fast, and without let up, as though there could not possibly be any other action. Your jill will come good.

[Kay 3,709]

You seem to be making good progress with her... keep at it .. imo ferrets or any animal for that matter respond to kind handling rather than some of the other methods people sometimes use

[MARKR1985 15]

What you need is a BIG F***ING FERRET WHACKING STICK!

 

Only kidding,Im glad they are coming round Zach,I told you they would! Keep up the handling mate,it's becoming obvious they were hardly ever handled before.In a week or two you'll have two completely reformed characters

[zachrussell 1]

What you need is a BIG F***ING FERRET WHACKING STICK!

 

Only kidding,Im glad they are coming round Zach,I told you they would! Keep up the handling mate,it's becoming obvious they were hardly ever handled before.In a week or two you'll have two completely reformed characters

Thanks guys you've been really helpful, im coming back home today will see what she's like. Ive just bought 15ft Mk1 ferret finder,15ft collar and some bisley nets, im going to see what they will be like on a small warren. I will keep you posted on the biting tonight and what they're like to work, i dont expect wonders but one rabbit would be nice lol

[taff57 0]

I don't like hurting them, i don't like wearing gloves and i don't like covering hands in funny stuff - all that does is teach them that your hands are not a pleasant place to be. Time, patience and care and she will come round. It's much better to have a ferret that doesnt bite you cos your her buddy and source of food rather than one that doesnt bite out of fear.

 

atb, hope you get it sorted.

 

 

Jai.

good advice there mate

[theferreter 311]

just plenty of handling is needed mate she will come round in time you can keep a glove on 1 hand a keep the other free and when shes not trying 2 bite the glove switch 2 your bare hand just keep doing this and she will come good