can ferrets go 'stale'? help needed.

[ferretboy66 1]

hi, ive only just joined the forum and i have a few questions to ask you guys about ferreting, ive always had guns but i decided about 6 months ago i would ask my parents if i could have a ferret they said i could as long as i piad for the food and looked after it myself i soon got myself a young albino jill off my friend she doesnt bite and seems keen when it comes to working rabbits, i soon acquired another polecat jlll and shes really friendly but i got her given and was never told her age. when i take her out rabbiting unlike the albino she wont go down the warren and work as such she seems to just dart around the upper layers of the warren and walk around the top of the it? i got told that if ferrets arent worked for a while they go 'stale' is this true? its around the tenth time ive taken them out and she seems to be doing the same every time like she just cant be bothered and isnt interested is this possible or is it a fault of mine any help would be much appreciated?

[tegater 789]

It's possible there are not any rabbits in the warren, have you bolted rabbits with the albino after trying the poley?

[ferretboy66 1]

yeah i put them both down at the same time and the albino always follows the bolting rabbits out? whilst the polecat seems to be somewhere else? its my first season of ferreting so maybe its my fault i have no idea?

[tegater 789]

It won't be your fault, some just don't work as well as others, especially if they haven't been worked before. It is unusual tho imo.

[jimster68 123]

sounds like the ferret that isnt entering the warrens might have never worked before ,or mabe its a youngster that needs a bit of bringing on ,keep trying the polecat and if it doesnt start working properly you could mabe replace it with a couple of youngsters a bit later in the year .or keep your eyes open for someone who is packing in at the end of the season or put an advert in the wanted section and get an experienced worker .ive had a couple of ferrets from the wanted section and both turned out to be excellent workers .

[The one 8,463]

Not ever ferret makes the grade mate it depends how long you want to put up with her as it costs the same to feed a crap ferret as it does a good worker .

I would try putting her to ground first and after she has come out every hole lift her and try the albino and if a rabbit bolts i know what her fate would be

[ferretboy66 1]

yeah i was thinking of just keeping her for ratting and see how she goes at that i know that shes at least three years old so i was going to breed my albino and keep to jills off her as i was thinking of increasing my numbers anyways............big old warrens up here in lancs so im guessing more ferrets the better?

[The one 8,463]

Aye in a big burrow i always put in a few ferrets and add more to get them moving or if the action is slow pop another couple in

[Col_c88 41]

well she could either be getting the run around off a rabbit .. or shes not sure.. a good idea if your albino is always keen to do the job is put your albino infront of the hole.. and as shes going down drop your polecat on the albinos arse.. (not literally like drop it on its arse but close enough..).. she SHOULD follow her down.. this is what ive done with a ferret that isnt keen..... then once do this a few times they start being ferrets and inquistive.. eventually she will bolt a rabbit, thats when something clicks.. ive done this with a few ferrets of mates and its worked .. one of my young albinos was very wary so i had her follow my mature more experienced hob down and after her first bolt she was fine mostly.

 

thats only tip i can give you... good luck

[ferretboy66 1]

cheers for the comments lads!

[Hywel 53]

Try her behind (in the same hole) as an experienced worker early next season and see how she goes. If within a couple of months things aren't productive, it may not be suited to work.

[ferretboy66 1]

cheers ive worked her about 12 times this year? so would another season be a good idea?

[The one 8,463]

If shes young she might be a bit slow to mature ,but as you dont know her age i think your finding out why you got her

[vermin catcher 219]

Hi mate

ive had the same problem with a wee jill this season ,and she is bred from a good working strain .It just takes some longer to switch on to the job but some sadly never make the grade.She has done exactly the same as yours,she goes in fine but i know she is not searching every tunnel. i have then put her brother in and bolted rabbits from the same warren.Ive kept ferrets a very long time and ive come to realise most ferrets will shift rabbits just by entering a burrow but not all ferrets actively hunt for rabbits.Believe me you know the difference when you have got a good un or a bad un.Get her out as much as possible, after a few months she should have improved if not its time to say goodbye.

[slips 114]

just give her a rabbit in the net you,ll make ya own mind up when you see the out come