roxy and bear patterdale 3 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 hi i got my ferrets from kits about 4 month ago. i handle them alot and are tame and dont bite i have been trying them down rabbit holes and seem quite keen but they have not bolted any yet what am i doing wrong? the warrens look like they are being used Quote Link to post
Froudy 40 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 How long are the ferrets in the warren for? Are you sure there's rabbits in them, sometimes holes can looked used but can still be empty Quote Link to post
Froudy 40 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Might be worth putting them down with someone else's ferrets so they follow them down and see what they have to do Quote Link to post
rabbitcatcher 1 287 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 They might not be going deep as there not that old, the more you get them out the more they can learn,stick with it atb rabbitcatcher Quote Link to post
Bunny Boiler 177 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Get them in with some experienced stinkers mate. Also, go out with someone who knows what they're doing. They can usually help you look for the less obvious tell tell signs. Someone with a trained dog might help you out too, as it will mark and then you can really tell if they are bolting bunnies or not mate. Every ferret will move a rabbit on, its whether there are conies there and whether the stinkers find them. Atb BB Quote Link to post
digger71 7 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Get them in with some experienced stinkers mate. Also, go out with someone who knows what they're doing. They can usually help you look for the less obvious tell tell signs. Someone with a trained dog might help you out too, as it will mark and then you can really tell if they are bolting bunnies or not mate. Every ferret will move a rabbit on, its whether there are conies there and whether the stinkers find them. Atb BB Your best go out with someone with experience, as stated they may not be going down deep enough, and by going out with someone with a good marking dog, you will soon see how valuable such a dog is. Quote Link to post
roxy and bear patterdale 3 Posted January 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 the time they spend down there varies. sometimes in and out sometimes they pop out and go back in. she was down last time i was out and i heard thumping under the ground. when she came out her paws and snout were covered in dirt as if she had been digging. since then i have bought a finder and will be using in the future. i take my 2 terriers with me and they are pretty good at marking the male one usually starts digging. cheers for the replies Quote Link to post
angusmcfangus 24 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 Keep at it pal they will come good soon. Try and do smaller burries at the start 4-6 holes. Good luck angus. Quote Link to post
digger71 7 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 the time they spend down there varies. sometimes in and out sometimes they pop out and go back in. she was down last time i was out and i heard thumping under the ground. when she came out her paws and snout were covered in dirt as if she had been digging. since then i have bought a finder and will be using in the future. i take my 2 terriers with me and they are pretty good at marking the male one usually starts digging. cheers for the replies maybe with tour terrier digging its making the rabbits less likely to bolt. Quote Link to post
roxy and bear patterdale 3 Posted January 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 im going to leave the dogs at home the next time and see if that makes a differance Quote Link to post
HIGHAM 47 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 im having a similar problem with a hob , aparently about 8 months old ... there was two rabbits in a one hole set and it was in and out in about 10 seconds then dropped my mates jill in and she bolted them in no time , this annoyed me but hes still young and il keep at it for as long as it takes , they need to learn how to work the earth and push the bunnies out or into a stop end either way u will get a result ! atb Matt Quote Link to post
digger71 7 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 im going to leave the dogs at home the next time and see if that makes a differance Bring one of them so you can get a definite mark and hold him up. I let my terrier run the burrows so i would usally use a good strong buck who can put more pressure on the rabbit to bolt,even thou my terrier is quiet bunnies will know his there. Down side to this ferreting is if you like your terrier running the burrows and you use a big buck you will have to dig more to kills. But if you just want to bolt i suggest you hold up that digging terrier and use jills. Happy hunting. 1 Quote Link to post
reddawn 2,173 Posted January 15, 2013 Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 dont leave the dogs at home, but try an keep the diggin at the hole to a minimum, learn to read ye dog an try an stop him when he marks but before he starts diggin, then tie ye dogs up, net up quietly an then wait again another wee while to let things settle, kitts will soon pick it up, practise makes perfect an using somebody esles experienced ferret will speed things up aswell Quote Link to post
NETS 11 Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 (edited) hi i got my ferrets from kits about 4 month ago. i handle them alot and are tame and dont bite i have been trying them down rabbit holes and seem quite keen but they have not bolted any yet what am i doing wrong? the warrens look like they are being used If you got them 4months ago from kits they must be late bred in September or so.I dont know about anybody else but i wouldn't enter a young ferret till its at least 6or7months old.Have seen young ferrets ruined by being hurt and been put off hunting from been entered to early but each to there own.If you cant tell if a burrow is in use just persevere and you will eventually find a burrow with rabbits home look for fresh droppings around hole,fresh tracks and fresh diggings and even then an odd one will be empty,if theres rabbits about and your there early enough you will see the odd rabbit go to ground start there and then you know their definitely at home and if nothing happens you know its your ferrets not able to cope with the task yet as their to young or then again every ferret is differant you could get a great little hunter from the start that has killed and you have to dig out or wait out,if you have a dog that marks or know someone who has ask if you can go with them to learn how to do it. good luck Edited January 19, 2013 by NETS Quote Link to post
roxy and bear patterdale 3 Posted January 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Well she is quite big. And have been told she's ok to start working her. The holes I go to are 5 mins from my house they look fresh but the problem is there are lots of small burrys all over so I think the bunnys move about alot. I'm going out tommorow with a guy who used to do lots of ferreting so I will see how that goes Quote Link to post
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