Good basic working albino stock!

[Brimmer 220]

Had a look out today on my own, the way I like it!

With my old feller dogsitting today, I took the opportunity to take out the young russell bitch 'Brick', and trial a couple of young fezzers bred this year from one of my jills 'Eyeball'.

Its the first breeding I had done since 2008, not needing anymore animals, I have left alone, but have been cutting it close in not doing so. She threw out 3 jills and a hob in May I think, outcrossed to an albino hob (as all mine are now related), owned by my old mans partner in crime for many a year.

He has always over the years helped us out with stock, and this year he did the same again with a line.

I also took 'Eyeball' and 'B'stard' along as back up if I needed them.

Plan was to clean up a few loose ends, and prospect over some land that usually only has a few on it, but needed checking over just in case, no better time than on my own, not dragging my old man all over for no reason.

Anyhow, started off ok, with the russell bitch, on her third time out, marking up a dozen holer, perfect.

 

 

I netted up, and broke out the two kits, the only hob and one of the jills.

Its the first time anywhere near a hole for the pair, and I was uncertain how they would go on, they have been the easiest kits I have ever handled, and never even bit me once over the last 6 months, leaving me thinkng they might not have the fire in them.

I need not have worried, the jill turned tail and trundled off down the hole, the hob just mooched about sniffing, within 30 seconds rumbling started, and the jill kick started her career, and saw the rabbit fly past the hob into the net, foot in the hole saw the hob getting in on the next rabbit, they both were on the tail of the second.

Could not be better, both ferrets were easy to pick up and did not mess about once the job was done, no issues at all.

 

Was struggling to get a mark after that, luckily over a largish warren, a rabbit popped up and popped back down, and got the dogs attention, netted up again, and entered the kits, it took only a short while, and both were into a rabbit in the same spot, I scraped back the snow, and tore the turf back with my hands, and 4 inch down they were both latched on!

 

 

Missed one out of here due to my netting. But got another with a shallow dig.

 

After quite some time walking over snow covered holes, and not getting a mark, just on a hunch, dropped the ferrets in a warren without netting up, this saw 2 bolt to freedom, and luckily the kits pinned the third to give a shallow a dig.

Terriers going to have to step it up a bit, its good at nothing else, and if it does not mark, then it has no place with me, its only the third time out,so plenty of time yet, but I expect a bit more from a terrier, usually they cannot help themselves but mark, but she is coming in season as well, so maybee thats affecting things!

 

Netted a few more warrens after a couple of questionable marks.

 

 

At least the terrier stood up to the cold!

 

Had a few out, but out of two adjacent warrens, I dug down to two dead rabbits which obviously the kits were taken with, they had an eye missing apiece, maybee taken out by the kits, probs a week old, in good order, who knows? Should have kept them really for ferret food, but I dont like the idea of corpses, and left them for the crows and buzzards.

 

It was getting on, and i'd had enough, only 9 in the bag, so we headed off down.

Popped over a crag and spotted 4 rabbits heading to cover under a tree, into a rock crevice. It was around 3pm, I should give it a miss, but the devil in me wanted them.

 

It was a one holer.

 

 

Plan was to put the jill kit in and hope for the best.

 

By 3.15pm, all four rabbits were out with no messing!

 

 

 

 

Anyhow end of the day with 13, not a great bag, could have had a few more, but made up with the two kits.

 

 

 

Ferrets need a name now they are proven, think i'll wind my old feller up by calling the hob Frank after him, see how much fun that will cause!

Edited December 9, 2012 by Brimmer

[The one 8,479]

Nice read and pics once more mate i think thirteen going to be a great bag this season

[lmartin 1]

great read an pics there mate nice looking ferrets to mate

[darrenb47 12]

Nice to get out fella ... How you carried all that gear on your own ... Iv not had 12 in total yet in my 3 times out so far .. There's nowt about around here ... We will have to drag JW out one day stop him from sulking at home an getting bollokins for going on chat room . How's the dog ? All the best

Daz

[21dangermouse 86]

Top post as always keep it up brimmer

[chris87 297]

great read and pics cheers for sharing

[dymented 2,220]

its always nice when your stock comes good for you well done bud

[Mick C. 229]

Thems keen enough

 

 

I like an albino meself

[storm323 191]

Another enjoyable read!

[Sirius 1,391]

Lovely job, nice when the youngsters start showing Promise early one. I have had some which took a few sessions to really get going, and second season before they went deep. A mate just sent me up one of this years kits, a little silver mit Jill will try her very soon.

 

Good tally!

[Jamie m 668]

Good going brim im a big fan of albinos most of my squad is made up of the red eyed critters my top girl and foundation block is of the red eyed seeker strain : ) , her granddaughter I kept back from the summer is quickly filling the shoes already ,

[Brimmer 220]

Hi Daz, JW will get locked up one day for the chat rooms he goes on! His lungs would give out on this ground! Dog is ok.

And Jamie, for decades we have always worked albino's, with me straying off trhe path, with poley outcrosses, every couple of years with no advantage.

A good working ferret whatever its make up does the job under the ground as well as any other, they are all as brutal as each other, its just over the years, i'd like to guess that the majority of failings i have had with ferrets, is usually straying away from a pure albino strain. Mainly coming from the handling above ground, some poley types and crosses i have bred, (Quite a lot) have been dynamite below ground, but can take some picking up, not peeping, but just set off above ground, and can sometimes take a season or two to settle down, as opposed to dopey albino's seem to be more straight out of the box workers with easy handling.

Its just about making things easier in the field for me rather than more complicated.

[darrenb47 12]

Very true on both ... Talk soon keep at em ...

[Sirius 1,391]

The reason I favour the whites, albinos and silvers is they are much easier to see when ferreting the hedges and rough stuff also.

[jack68 628]

Cracking days sport you had there always good to add two more stinkers to the team...jack