starting out

[tomas 9]

I am new to all the hunting game. i have a whippet pup coming in 2 wks both parrents working. i want to start ferreting and i do not have a clue how to start. i know i need a collar and purse nets and invest in a shovel yo. how do you get the dog used to them. also i was thinking of keeping the ferret in a 4ft rabbit hutch attached to a run would this be ok and is it best to get a jill or hob? Can anyone sugest some good book to read? thank you all for your advice. ta tom

[Jingo 6]

Hutch sounds fine so long as have access to the run or are let out for atleast few hours a day, collars definately good investment and make sure ya get a strong but light shovel, use a bulldog garden border shovel myself can carry it all day and great for diggin in confined areas. nets can either buy them or make them if you make them stick to spun poly, hold knots better and tangle far less than the cheap nylon nets.

 

wouldnt bother with books better off just getting yourself out and learn from experience, net holes as quiet as can and preferrably down wind give the set a few mins to settle or do another while your waiting then just drop a ferret down and be patient.

 

as for choice of ferret its personal preference, jills do have to be bred or brought out of season by a vet which can end up costly but being smaller in size they tend not to have the strength to kill a rabbit instead tend more to "annoy" it till it bolts, both are capable of a full days work if you give them exercise but a hob will tend to kill and stay in the burrow mine does atleast once to every 3 it bolts but thats not always the case just depends on the nature of the hob.

 

Dog just comes with time let it near the cage from being young to get used to scent then let the ferrets out near it but never leave them alone, majority of the time its the ferrets what have a go at the dog

[tomas 9]

Thank you for the advice i will hsve my pup in a few wks as there only 5wk at the min

[Ferret mad Dave 65]

As above mate but I would say get two ferrets not just one as one will keep the other company

[albert64 1,882]

As already been said get out in the field you'll learn loads more than a book can teach you

Take your time with your pup don't rush to get it on the back of a rabbit,

Teach it it's manners first

Put what area your from might be someone on here can help you out

[tomas 9]

Im from rotherham near sheffield and i know bout the pup not to rush and train manners and have a good recall as i practice with all my dogs. how much work would i need for 2 ferrets? am i right thinking i shudnt be working my pup til at least 10months? would the 4ft hutch and a atyached run be big enough for 2 ferrets? sorry for all the daft questions ta for your advice ta tom

[Jamie m 668]

Should be right if you type anything you want to know in the search at the top of page all the info from previous posts will appear cheers j

[The one 8,476]

Take it you will be getting a couple of ferret kitts this summer and training them with your pup when its old enough . As long as there hutch is big enough and wind and waterproof there pretty hardy . and during the summer you can pick up some nets and a spade and pick up the rest as you go . The main thing is just bring all your kit home at the end of the day and enjoy yourself

[tomas 9]

Yes i was thinking of getting 2 kits this summer would a 4ft hutch attached to a run by a tube be big enough for them. and what collar and box would you recomend?

[charlie nelly1 142]

yeah the cage and run sounds good for two jills, and I use the deben mk1 ferret finder, however they are not being made so you may be best investing in the mk3, as i have heard they are also good enough.

[tomas 9]

Thank you for your advice. if i av jills dnt they need to have a jab to stop their season

[The one 8,476]

If your only wanting two ferrets two hobs might suit you and they might live together all year round with only the odd squabble . If jills are you choice look carefully at how your going to bring them out of season every method has problems. You would be better with a mk3 or mk3m box as it will be new and you should get a guarantee .

You might want to consider three ferrets a snipped hob and two jills a nice social pack and enough to work most sized burrows and they should manage to live together if you keep a eye on them .

[tomas 9]

Thank you for your advice. what size should i make my run? and how tall should i make it? what are the methods to bring a jill out of season? ta for your help

[The one 8,476]

Make it as big as you can ,it will keep them fit running about and if you build it bigger than you need just now it you can add another ferret or two later . Its up to you how tall you make it but you dont want to be bending or crawling about on your hands and knees to clean it out .

 

You can let your jills have a litter ,then you got to feed them and find new homes for them

You can use the jill jab ,maybe need more that one injection in a year and repeated use can cause hard lumps under the injection site

You can use a snipped hob but the last two hobs ive had done have died of testicular cancer about 6/8 years old when ive had jills live to 12/13 years

Or theres talk of implants but i dont know about them?.

[tomas 9]

I was thinkin 8ft long by 3ft wide by 4ft heigh. il have to have a think of what sex to get thank you for your help