rats and ferrets

[alexcjacko 1]

what age would be ok to enter ferrets for bolting rats?

[Guest bodgerbear]

Hi, its only my opinion but I would advise against using ferrets to bolt/hunt rats. I cant find it but there was a really good post about this. I have heard that the rats can put up a hell of a fight especially when cornered, and I wouldn't want to risk hurting any of my ferrets. I know someone mentioned smoking the rats out to a terrier? As i said this is only my opinion, someone may have other ideas or know first hand.

Regards

Rob

[Rolfe 2]

Never put anything other than a fully grown experienced ferret in to try and bolt rats( if indeed you have to do it at all). They are a formidable opponent and a doe rat with young will give any ferret a pretty torrid time before either bolting or getting killed. I had a hob ferret many years ago that relished the task of ratting and big has he was he pretty badly bitten at times.

Most ratting ferrets will eventually tire of the task as they can take an awful lot of punishment. As a one off job, like bolting a rat from a shed or pile of bin-bags etc, you should be ok, i often use mine for that in my pest control duties and bolt the rat for the waiting terrier......... but other than that i would advise you not to use ferrets for rats and opt for a smoker instead.

 

 

Rolfe.

[Leeview 791]

Hi, its only my opinion but I would advise against using ferrets to bolt/hunt rats. I cant find it but there was a really good post about this. I have heard that the rats can put up a hell of a fight especially when cornered, and I wouldn't want to risk hurting any of my ferrets. I know someone mentioned smoking the rats out to a terrier? As i said this is only my opinion, someone may have other ideas or know first hand.

Regards

Rob

I partly agree with what you are saying smokers are an excellent method to bolt rats.

Now if I may include this in your topic alexcjacko I have nt used a ferret to rats in a lot of years(30 odd+) but have bolted them whilst rabbiting I've never known myself or anyone else that have dug down and found a ferret facing rat anyone on here that has? When ratting out buildings, clearing rubbish/bales etc when you get close to finishing Why are rats piled up in corners heads down

on top of each other?

Y.I.S Leeview

[romany52 313]

Hi, its only my opinion but I would advise against using ferrets to bolt/hunt rats. I cant find it but there was a really good post about this. I have heard that the rats can put up a hell of a fight especially when cornered, and I wouldn't want to risk hurting any of my ferrets. I know someone mentioned smoking the rats out to a terrier? As i said this is only my opinion, someone may have other ideas or know first hand.

Regards

Rob

I partly agree with what you are saying smokers are an excellent method to bolt rats.

Now if I may include this in your topic alexcjacko I have nt used a ferret to rats in a lot of years(30 odd+) but have bolted them whilst rabbiting I've never known myself or anyone else that have dug down and found a ferret facing rat anyone on here that has? When ratting out buildings, clearing rubbish/bales etc when you get close to finishing Why are rats piled up in corners heads down

on top of each other?

Y.I.S Leeview

It's because rats won't face a ferret unless there cornered, don't ask how I know, but most ferrets aren't much good on rats. Ferrets come in three types as far as rats are concerned, the first is the ones that just pretend the rat isn't there, the second will face the rat but keep dodging the sharp end and go in at the rear end, getting mauled in the process , these are the ones that soon give up and become the same as the first lot. The third and best type go straight in at the sharp end rarely get bitten because they've got the rat by the cheek or throat.

[anthonytomo 8]

me personally i wouldnt put a ferret on rats purely because we had rats in our back once went out with the dogs and dug them out [bANNED TEXT] we got them out the biggest one was alot bigger than the ferret but once we had killed it we got the ferrets out and they new what to do it dived straight for the back of the head and split it right open so i gess with the right ferret you could but i wouldnt