help with biting

[fresh earth 47]

clench your hand into a fist and put it into the hutch if she trys to bite let her bite your knuckle push it into her mouth not to the extent you hurt her but to the extent its uncomfortable they will soon stop iv never had this trouble with mine as i handle them from the day they open there eyes but iv had some wicked unhandled adults and if your not clued up they can cause you a bit damage but if they do bite push into them dont pull against them .

[deadlyshot 25]

clench your hand into a fist and put it into the hutch if she trys to bite let her bite your knuckle push it into her mouth not to the extent you hurt her but to the extent its uncomfortable they will soon stop iv never had this trouble with mine as i handle them from the day they open there eyes but iv had some wicked unhandled adults and if your not clued up they can cause you a bit damage but if they do bite push into them dont pull against them .

Cheers mate I'll try that as I was letting them come to me and trying to let them come onto my hands but they would come to my hand and then look like they just sniffing then all of a sudden wham latched on! But the knuckle sounds good as that shouldn't hurt as much and as you say bit uncomfortable for them too.

[Plong 21]

Handle them while they are eating they won't bite when they have food in their mouths and get use to been handled.

[simonrocco 175]

handle them all the time pal i got a big albino of a lad off here and he was a biter when i got him he drew blood a good number of times but after a few months of constant handling him it sorted him out iv also got a couple of kits and one of them locked on to me a couple of month ago it does hurt but you just have to keep handling them while there young so that it doesnt become a problem when its older try giving them a bit of food out of your hand thats what i do with mine and there all fine now i havent been bit for ages good luck

[fresh earth 47]

i deffo mate they cant get a grip of your fist where as u put an open hand out a fingers easy to grab hold of should tame up quick enough

[Kay 3,709]

I havent trawled through all the posts but what are they eating, meat or dry food

[billybuttons 0]

i just got two hobs and they are 16 weeks and were wild when i got them but i got advise off people on here and there spot on i kept spitting on the back of my hand and letting them lick it off and there know my scent now and i can put my hand in the cage and they just sniff and lick my hand, they occasionly nip but its not hard there just playing i think.

 

There still abit nippy now when i hold them but i just say no!! in a asertive manner and they soon stop. I was loosing my confidence with them and felt more comfortable with the glove but you have got too be brave and just crack on with it there coming on slowly and i can see an improvement everyday. Just be persistent and regular with her. I handle mine three times a day least ten minutes. good luck she will come round.

[muddy210 34]

ive got 2 young ones here they are about 14, 15 weeks my hob was a little shit and would pounce at you when you opened the hutch up. hes calmed down a lot now due to the handling hes still a head case though and fun to watch but hes stopped the nipping all the same.

 

a few things to try.

 

1 keep them well fed. keep a bowl of food in there all the time.

2 when they are coming to the food to eat, place your hand beind there shoulders and pick them up.

3 keep them held with one hand while stroking them with the other.

4 talk to them so they get to know your voice.

5 dont offer them your hand when they are running free in the cage/hutch allways pick them up untill they are used to you and have stopped bitting

6 most importantly do not give up with them put up with the occasional nip while young and dont loose patience with them. They will stop nipping

 

once they have stopped biting you will know and you will be able to mess with them all you want.

 

please belive me when i say this and i am not dissing you but at that age as said they donot really bite yes it may hurt but belive us when we say this this is a nip. a older ferret will bite and by christ they can hurt i have been bitten by a ferret that was brought to me as found and you would of thought she was a werewolf the teeth she had and the damage she would cause but even this monster becamea softie. bear with them mate and keep handling them.

Edited September 10, 2011 by muddy210

[nod 285]

spit on ur finger, they will lick it off, mine even no the sound before i have even put my finger in the cage, pick them up just as they wake up, they will wonder wtf is going on, someone told me to let them bite ur thumb then squeeze the bottom jaw they will let go, never tried it as never needed to.

[Moggy2011 331]

Put abit ov musted on ye finger it works every time

[j1985 1,983]

My kit opened my knuckle right up the other week the little bitch!! Was a bit nervous handling her after but you just have to man up and keep handling and hopefully it'll come good.

[BULLDOUG 199]

Correct the little blighters, a gentle flick on the snout at the right time will teach them the manners they will need to be your working buddys.

 

ATB D

[marty42 18]

when i got back inta ferreting a few years ago i had the same problem. i gave them a little flick on the nose, that worked. around here back in the 90s very few people hadnt hand tamed ferrets. they belived that wild ferrets were better workers. so when you got a ferret chances were they would eat ya. i got a leather one finger glove offa someone. it done the job. i would pick up the ferret with one hand leave the ferret latch onta me finger glove and i would pet it with me other hand. after awhile the ferret will give up and relised that your not food and that your not a treat ta them. its only a one finger glove so they will still get used ta the sent of your hands. heres an example i found on the net. you could easy make yourself, maby outa a greyhound collar. and it would be a humane way of training them. they would be no harm ta you or your ferret

[maphunter 0]

i use a welding glove on the holding hand and stroke them with the other,it doesn,t take long for them to realize that being handled is a nice experience,after 3 or 4 sessions you should be able to do away with the glove...

[darbo 4,774]

the lads only asking for advice on handling young kits. not 1/2 grown lion cubs.[welding gloves etc] ffs.