dicky82 1 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) any body got any experience with overly agressive ferrets? i understand that young ferrets mouth and nip and that frequent handling brings them round. its just that i have recently got two jills from this season and one is very agressive, she chases my hand anytime im at their inclosure and when she gets it she sinks her teeth in, as if she was eating a rabbit, her sister nips a tiny bit but more so out of curiosity? anyway just wondering what are your experiences of ferrets that would be overly agressive? Edited September 21, 2011 by dicky82 Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Handling is the only way, they will get bored nipping you in the end Quote Link to post
muddy210 34 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 handling them more will be the best option as stated Quote Link to post
Col_c88 41 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 One of my jills was fine.. until i took her out and shes went right back to biting... today ive spent best part of the day with all my ferrets and i was putting ferret paste on the back of my hand.. letting her lick it.. while she licks it pick her up.. pull her into my chest and let her almost sit on my hand and id put my thumb infront of her face.. touch her head etc... once done licking i put her down... 5 minuts later i did it again (with less paste each time)... ill do this for the rest of the week as by the time i was only dabbing the tube on my hand she was expecting to be picked up..... try this.. but make sure you put it on the back of your hand and with a tight fist so they cant bite hope ive helped.. :S to add... by the time she figured out what was going on she stopped trying to scratch at me too defintly progress Quote Link to post
dicky82 1 Posted September 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 ye handling is the way forward alright but what im trying to explain (not very well) is the pure agression, even when im not handling her or near her, as soon as she comes out of the nest box she just makes a bee line for my hands, it reminds me as if i have walked into someones yard and their dog just keeps attacking my leg no matter how much you kick it away. its mad because she locks on, and i have to prise her off. Quote Link to post
muddy210 34 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 noit had those problems before but suggest sneaking up on her when shes asleep the carefully picking her up and fussing a bit over her so that shes still a bit drowsy or feeding her first before handling just suggestions maybe worth trying. hope ya solve it mate. Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Sometimes snatching ferrets as they appear can make them nipp more, like snatching from tunnel entrances make them hesitate before the exit, try giving it a bit of time to walk around before you pick it up and see if that makes any difference. Quote Link to post
dicky82 1 Posted September 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 thanks for the replies lads, its not the picking up thats the problem really, i can actually pick her up and avoid a nip when i'm holding her, its when she's free to run around, she just bolts for my hands, actually today she jumped from a platform down onto the next level to get my hand. im not teasing her of coaxing her to do it she just wants my bloody fingers off. Quote Link to post
ferret100 47 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) If she is a kit and when playing about uses you as a target, it's nothing personal! It's just a game to her, chasing your hand. I have the same problem myself. If she is good in every other way, apart from when she is full of energy, she should grow out of it, very soon. Some kits are just more boisterous than others. Just keep going and she will be grand. Atb. Edited to say, the less you react to her biting, the quicker she might be bored of doing it. Edited September 21, 2011 by ferret100 1 Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 thanks for the replies lads, its not the picking up thats the problem really, i can actually pick her up and avoid a nip when i'm holding her, its when she's free to run around, she just bolts for my hands, actually today she jumped from a platform down onto the next level to get my hand. im not teasing her of coaxing her to do it she just wants my bloody fingers off. Is your jill on its own? Quote Link to post
jac 12 Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 I would get her looked at by a vet. if she is in pain or something hurts, then the last thing she wants is picking up, and she happy to tell you that. Quote Link to post
Jamie m 668 Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 any body got any experience with overly agressive ferrets? i understand that young ferrets mouth and nip and that frequent handling brings them round. its just that i have recently got two jills from this season and one is very agressive, she chases my hand anytime im at their inclosure and when she gets it she sinks her teeth in, as if she was eating a rabbit, her sister nips a tiny bit but more so out of curiosity? anyway just wondering what are your experiences of ferrets that would be overly agressive? I bred a litter last year did everything right and the majority turned out like savages : ( only three of them were as they should of been I kept a jill back out of the savages it wasn't as though she was a real savage it was just a case of well I'm not sure perhaps she knew she could bite me and she was going to let me know at every opportunity , she calmed a little as tge winter went on but not as I had hoped , anyhow back end of the season I was determined to persist so I took her out to work , she wrigled like mad when i tried to put the collar on as though I was trying to kill her It took a good twenty mins to get it on she even pissed all over me : ( but as soon as that collar went on bang she changed she went all limp I could stroke her I was miffed , anyhow after a warren of work I could lift her off the ground she was tame couldn't believe it she is now a joy to work and she lives for it , I still wouldn't put my finger ne'er her mouth though ha ha but she's as steady as any in the field and works a treat , Quote Link to post
dicky82 1 Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 cheers again for the replies, she seems to have chilled out a little in the last day or so, not as agressive but she did get a hold of my hand today and had a good hold of it, i know that she will chill out more as time goes on but it wasn't the handling that was the issue, shes was ok to pick up and hold it was just how that when she got the oppertunity to bite me she went at it as hard as possible, its funny how something so small has such power in its little jaws. . . its no wonder they can take out a full grown rabbit. Quote Link to post
Malt 379 Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 Spit on the palm of your hand and let the ferret lick it off. It might sound disgusting to some, but it's an age old method that can work in certain circumstances Quote Link to post
theferreter 311 Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 you just need to handle it as much as possible it will soon come round Quote Link to post
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