Number of Ferrets

[DeepEarth 104]

Why do people keep huge numbers of ferrets? I have 2 jills here, and that is all I need. I used to have 5 at one point, but I soon realised that I didn't have work for them. When I am out on my own, I can only properly work 2 ferrets at a time without being rushed off my feet. And when I am working with others, they have their own ferrets, and so we can use them all at once. I often work my jills for 3 or 4 days conseculatively, and they work just as well on the first as they do on the last.

 

So how many ferrets have you got, and why?

 

Joe

[patterdalejoel 669]

Ideation, this isnt a dig at all, but you seem to know what your doing, why have you 10 ferrets? i myself have 5. must repeat, not a dig at all, but do you have the work for 10? and you say that your young friend tom has 2 and johnnyboy has some? just curious, ATB

[ryhope toma 42]

i have 6 ferrets altogeather 4 working ferrets and 2 breeding ferrets with 10 generations amongst them , make good money to run up to xmas !

[DeepEarth 104]

i have 6 ferrets altogeather 4 working ferrets and 2 breeding ferrets with 10 generations amongst them , make good money to run up to xmas !

Do you mean that you simply breed these ferrets as much as you can, and not work them? What do you mean when you say that they have 10 generations between them?

[patterdalejoel 669]

i have 6 ferrets altogeather 4 working ferrets and 2 breeding ferrets with 10 generations amongst them , make good money to run up to xmas !

surely it would be more sensible to breed off your working ferrets?

[tomano1 80]

I've 3 two jills and a hob going to bread this year see what get keep one see how gets on and sell the rest try to make the best not buy I like to home breed and improve just like me dogs always strive to have the best ATB no1

[patterdalejoel 669]

I've 3 two jills and a hob going to bread this year see what get keep one see how gets on and sell the rest try to make the best not buy I like to home breed and improve just like me dogs always strive to have the best ATB no1

you breeding all 3 jills?

[Guest cookiemonsterandmerlin]

15 ferts 10 hobs 5 jills purley numbers some buries 400 plus 2 not a whole of lot use in our areas work them five days so have a good stock for rotation .

 

Its all about how offten you go type of ground warren size etc but if your a hobby ferreter 5 in most case is max two plenty.for most.

 

ATB Cookie

[ryhope toma 42]

they are off me working ferrets , what a should had said is av got 4 hobs and 2 jills ! 10 years of working lines bred through the ferrets !

[Brimmer 220]

This is my thinking on it, i have eight at present, I could probably make do with four if I had the perfect ferret at the right age every year, four good ferrets could just about outwork me if I was out three days a week.

 

Now the reason behind having a few, different ground, needs a different approach, some of the slopes and lowland are deep warrens, hence a couple of decent jills to move the rabbits, then on the high ground with shallow digs, a couple of decent hobs to get the job done fast with no nets.

 

Then the part that shows up how soft some of us are, my oldest at 6 now is still good, but not up to the work a younger model is, but he will see his last days here, in reality, should have been moved on, and sometimes you are bringing a few young ones through, not there yet, but by the next season they will be.

[patterdalejoel 669]

15 ferts 10 hobs 5 jills purley numbers some buries 400 plus 2 not a whole of lot use in our areas work them five days so have a good stock for rotation .

 

Its all about how offten you go type of ground warren size etc but if your a hobby ferreter 5 in most case is max two plenty.for most.

 

ATB Cookie

15?! are all the hobs kept together? and what do you feed them all; do you get to sell any rabbits or are they all kept for the ferrets?

[tegater 789]

3 jills, but I am a once or twice a week ferreter at most, and thats enough for me!

[DeepEarth 104]

15?? So how are you able to work that many on a day out? Fair enough if you have work for them like...

[derbylad1 293]

i have 6 jills. I'd day 3 are outstanding working animals...2 are really getting on a bit, 6 maybe 7 years old. one just given to me before xmas and has shown some excellent promise that is only a year old. i do have the work for 4 ferrets....but i could honestly say 3 would be enough for me. unless you have outstanding, excellent workers i dont see the need to breed. if you want them, just have them from others. there are loads about for free come august.

[dannyboy P 5]

2 jills. Had them years that's anuff to use on your own and as already said if you go in a gang they bring theirs.I Never keep loads.the 2 iv got get used every time I go out. I don't keep spares if it don't work I don't keep it!!!!!!