ferret not working

[MickyB 327]

Hi lads not posted for a while, managed to get out yesturday first proper session of the season took my jill and one of this years kits, come to the first warren 2 holes and a pal spotted a rabbit dip in as we approached so we knew there was one in there, i put my kit down and after a couple minutes she returned so i put her down again she disapeared into the dark only to immediatly reappear so put her away and sent her mum down, dead silence for about 5 min,she was working! Sure enough the rabbit came up and hit the net, 1 in the bag took her to a few empty ones when we reached a good 7 holer one of them where you can smell theres rabbit there yourself so i put the youngster down and it popped up the other side of the warren, put back down seconds later it showed up on another side so put her away and put mum down 10 mins went buy and then it happend what felt like exactly the same time within the same 30 seconds 6 bolted the reason i am saying this is i bred for the first time this year and apart from the hob i kept back she looked like she showed promise i have never seen this in a ferret it will chase a dead rabbit round the yard all day but wont work when put to ground. They have been raised on meat mostly rabbit so she knows what it is im a bit dissappointed because i bred her and raised her to work and she doesnt seem to bother is there anything i can do any suggestions as ive never come across a ferret thats been raised to hunt but wont

any suggestions apart from killing it would be much appreciated.

Thanks Micky

[hunter73 1]

its still a young ferret give it time , let it have a wonder around 1st & choose its own path into the warren instead of straight out the box into a hole ...atb

[Bunny Boiler 177]

Let her work with the mother too. I find that often helps with mine. Ferrets tend to "stick together", but what this really means is that they will stay in close proximity of one another. Once the mum starts to chase a rabbit, the kit will follow and get the hang of it. Also, I find ferrets gain more natural instinct after about a year old. Always much better in the second season.

 

ATB,

 

Bunny.

[darbo 4,776]

she is only young no experience give her time. next time put the adult in and put the youngster in behind her. she should follow her in. it will come in time.

[hullhunter 219]

sounds like she is only useing the top section of the warren like said try her with mom or if you have to dig out mom from deep put the baby in the hole you have dug so it has to find its way out of the under layers of the warren. that worked for a few of my old kits. sometimes they are reluctant to go deep for some reason so if you can get then in deep then they have no chose

[MickyB 327]

thanks chaps never thought to put them down together because they were pretty small woodland warrens but did look to deep il try it this week just a little dissappointed because the mum (ive had from 12 weeks) worked the first warren i give her and hasnt stopped since only surfacing when shes happy the warren is cleared which is why i bred her got another jill and a hob that i kept behind to try aswell il let you know how i get on.

Thanks for the advise Micky

[simonrocco 175]

i was out with my kits last week and one i had to put through the sets with its mother and the other worked a set by its self both bolted rabbits and came out with claws full of fur so i was pleased with them just give it time pal it should come right for you in the end atb

[BenjaminCadd 109]

Yeah stick with it, if the mother is a good worker in time the youngster should be , like the other lads say just work them together, then the youngster wont be given the run around by rabbits either!

[jayjay 264]

I find ferrets gain more natural instinct after about a year old. Always much better in the second season.

 

as above.... exactly what bunny boiler has said, i always find this to be the case, and they seem to get their head on to the job in their second season, and start to work better.

 

all the best,

jay.

[The one 8,529]

Did you try putting it in pipes in the garden during the summer i do that to get them used to burrows them enter them with there mother for a bit till i feel there ready to go on there own ,then i still run a older jill threw the burrows after them to see how there getting on as above i wouldn't class them as workers till there second year of proving themselves

[theferreter 311]

it just takes time and paitence mate some just take longer than others to get going stick with her

[MickyB 327]

thanks lads was thinking earlier dont know why i put her away when i got mum out, should of put her back down behind mum first day out this season with ferrets just wanted them rabbits in the net

Edited October 24, 2011 by MickyB