Ferrets on there own

[v-max 2]

Hi i was wondering what peoples thoughts on keeping a single ferret is or selling a single ferret to be on its own. never had a single ferret other than when having kits but i know they dont do well on there own or can die off quickly due to bordom etc. Im not keen but should i let any kits go as a single to be on its own or do they fair better than i have seen or heard of there own as a pet/worker. I know they are social/playful animal hence my thoughts on a single ferret.

[Bradford Lad 74]

I can only tell you of when i was left with ferret on its own, i lost my hob near the back end of April and was left with just a jill, she was fine for a few weeks then slowly started to try and nip(she's handled everyday)me, then a few more weeks later she was going nuts in her cage and even worse when out of it to the point where you couldnt handle her. Then last week i picked some new kits up and popped them in with her, the change in the space of two hours was unbelievable, she was back to her placid self and toatally mothering the kits.

 

So in my expirience i wouldnt home a ferret knowing it will be on it's own, you may others on here who have had no problems with single ferrets but that was my expirience.

[kurtrog70 6]

My hob has been on his own since he was a kit, hes great, no problems with him atall.

I will be getting him some company this year though!

ATB

Kurt

[Neal 1,873]

As Bradford Lad, my only experience was by accident when I lost one of two hobs several years ago. The remaining hob was fine for a few weeks but gradually became more and more grouchy over the winter. I bought in a new hob and jill after a few months and although they had to be kept apart at first, after gradual introduction they all ended up getting on fine.

 

Crikey: that's made me realise that my only two ferrets are over six years old. I'll have to get a couple of new ones for this coming season.

[wullieh 53]

My hob has been on his own since he was a kit, hes great, no problems with him atall.

I will be getting him some company this year though!

ATB

Kurt

Dont like to see a ferret on its own, but will rehome a single kit to someone who i know and wants to get a further kit from an onother litter so they can breed, had a jill who spent the first year on her own and never managed to get her used to other ferrets afterwards always went right in for the kill more with the jills the hobs she would have a sniff at first.

[stubby 175]

although my ferts are kept in a court together, come summer time, one hob needs to be seperated "on his own", maybe for 5 months, but of course, he's handled every day, he's still alive and kicking...

 

Ive never heard of a "singularly" kept ferret dying, have re homed a few of my ferts to pet homes, they end up getting better treatment than most, and I doubt very much, they'd ever die from boredom

[Green Island Hunter 28]

On and off threw the years, i have kept ferrets on their own and have never noticed any difference in their behaviour, or work.

 

Dan.

[scothunter 12,609]

well in this day and age we all mostly keep 2 or more ferrets as we like a good working team,a polecat in the wild will live a mostly solitary life only meeting up with a jill to mate,and seems to be quite happy in this lifestyle.im the same as stubby i have to seperate a hob during the breeding season,and it dont seem to bother him in the slightest.he gets the run of the court by himself for 5 hours a day everyday.so yea in theory im sure they will live a happy contented life by themselfs if they are handled everyday.

[Simoman 110]

Personally I like to see ferrets with company, the only reason I would keep a ferret alone is as the others have mentioned, during breeding with a hob........

[v-max 2]

Hi cheers all for your replies on my question. I have to seperate my hobs fae the jills come summer & my jill has turnned bad for biteing & she is in with her 5 kits. had a hob that dident fare well on his own when others died so i havent found them to do well on there own.

[The one 8,494]

Ive never been keen on keeping them by themselves even when i did bred them i kept two jills and kitts together

Edited June 29, 2010 by The one

[ferretertom 7]

Some ferrets dont like being with others.

My entire hobs are kept individualy at this time of year.

All the jills that get on are in groups of threes ect.

As long as they get plenty of human interaction and attention they dont always require other ferret company.

[The one 8,494]

I usually run 5 jill's and a hob in each hutch but when my complete hob died last month i moved them all in with the snipped hob and there's never been a problem , The only time i ever had a problem was two years ago i was moving Jill's between the hobs as they came into and out of season and i wasn't as clever as i thought and two got pregnant but they just had there kits in the commune and if it wasn't for the hob lying on them everything would have been fine

[Rory4 267]

ive did have 2 jills then got a jill kit last summer (was ment to be a hob long story) they were fine from the start, last season ferreting found a little poley jill, tried everything so can put them all together but they dont leave her alone had seperate in end caus her neck was real sore, they got mess in between so get sniff each other all time but let out together will harass her big time, i no dragging by neck is natural but it get proper sore seems be alot harder when do it to her than each other, so getting hob kit this weekend to keep with her and eventually get snipped any ideas how can get them to except her so can all be together?

 

cheers

[max abell 196]

Never kept a ferret on its own for any lentgh of time we only seperate a jill if she has young untill the kits are weaned

then she is returned to the court with the others our vasectomised hob stayes in the court all the time he is good with the

jills and doesnt rag the jills around to much once he has had his wicked way with them when they come in season but he then tends to

leave them alone we borrow my mates compleat hob for breeding most ferrets prefere company but like people im sure there are some ferrets that prefere there own space and doesnt affect them being handled