Newbie: From Scratch. . .

[GSkye 94]

Hey guys,

 

Just wondering what I need, from scratch to start ferreting. Yes, including ferrets (Hobs or Jill's?) cages or hutch?

Best food?

Best housing materials?

 

Literally, all the nitty gritty

 

Grae

[Moorside 642]

Id get out with someone who does the job first before buying in all the kit you need. Best way imo. All the best Moorside

[GSkye 94]

Cheers Moorside, I have got someone who's going to take me out around september time but in preparation I take a liking to it (despite wanting ferrets as pets anyway) I'm just looking to see how much this will cost me.

 

It's all well having a ferret for £20 or so but when what you need is £100-200 worth of living and hunting equipment then I don't want to do something stupid

 

I'm sure you can do it on the cheap, as well as, sky being the limit but I'd like to see how much it costs to do it right

 

Thanks,

 

Grae

[paulus 26]

ferret/ferrets/water bottle/food bowl/hutch/shavings/shredded paper/hutch/food/nail clippers/disinfectant/brush/bucket/spot on/tic remover/nets/carrying box/t bar/locator and collar/spade/boots/waterproofs/gloves/coat/......................................................goes on and on everything is as cheap or as expensive as you can afford

[Country Joe 1,411]

Use the search facility on here, there should be lots of posts on all questions,

[bobcullen79 1,495]

200 isn't gonna go far if you buy new.

If your not going out till September, and you want ferrets as pets regardless, then just start with a secure hutch, food, bowls and a pair of ferrets, 2 will keep each other company when your not around. £90 should get you your timber, ferrets, food and bowls/bottle. You`d be better looking for some kit born early in the year, you`ll stand a better chance of having a mature enough ferret to work come winter.

[stealthy1 3,964]

Concentrate on your cage design, bare in mind easy cleaning, maintenance, bad weather if your keeping your cage outside, and not placed in full sun, enough room to exercise when you don't get time to take them out, the rest is basic animal husbandry and common sense, like they have to eat and drink, shit and piss, then its welcome to the smelly world of ferrets

[Country Joe 1,411]

Theres lots to think about, when starting out, first thing is to get as much permission on rabbit holding ground,

bobs post tells you what you will need from the start,

Then will you want hobs or jills, my preference is two Jills and i keep one vasectomized hob that brings them out of season.

you will need a carrying box, Moxy on here makes different types.

nets, most now use Spun polyester, in bright colours, makes them easy to see when lifting,

theres a good pinned section at the top of the page called where to buy purse nets,

with info on lads that make them.

locators, most now use locators, the two most popular are Deben mark 3m which is the latest.

Or the old mark1 often called a knocker box, which I prefer, try and have a go with them, and see which one you prefer.

you need a decent spade Bulldog is a good make and do a rabbiting spade.

Most will have a dog for marking, telling you when a rabbits at home, this is what ferreting is all about for me, watching a decent dog work, a good dog saves a lot of time, and you should only be netting up burys that are occupied.

if ferreting tree trunks, cocktail sticks are handy, just break them in half, and stick in gaps in the bark, then you can hang your net on them.

secateurs handy for clearing round awkward burys,

and you will need a net bag.

And a decent paunching knife, Opanals are good and cheap.

things you dont need but are handy a Probe, which is a T bar, mine is 2ft long fits in the bottom of my bag, used to find the tunnel when digging, do a search on probe, and you will see photos.

rabbit carryer, theres a few different types.

Thats enough to keep you going, later if you really take to it, you may want to use stop nets, which are basically short longnets, 5 yards long, handy for hedges, and places where there a lot of holes, and you can run your stop net, and bolt the rabbits into it, but this is better with a dog pushing them in.

hope this enough for you to get your head round.

[Gazmapp 13]

Try and get a decent book about them, different people have there own views on which books are best, I am just reading new complete guide to ferrets by james McKay, I find it a good read and tells you a lot, but there's loads of books about look on eBay/amazon all the best gaz

[The one 8,534]

Aye there loads to think about far better having a day out with some one in your area ,seeing if you enjoy it before investing in any gear and seeing what gear would be best for your area , any questions just now use the search engine at the top of the page

[GSkye 94]

This is excellent guys, thank you very much!!

 

[The one 8,534]

Seeing the lists up there im buying a euro millions ticket , to start off just a couple of ferrets and some nets and think what you do , okay you may have to sit and wait a while if the ferret kills but how many folk cant or wont get into our sport because there told YOU CANT GO FERRETING WITH OUT A LOCATOR

[Country Joe 1,411]

They way I see it, it doesn't matter what sport you go for, you have to spend money, if you take up shooting, you have to buy a gun, not cheap, archery your bow and kit etc,

The dearest kit you need to buy for ferreting is the locator but once you have it, and look after, it should last for years.

I have a mark1 which must be over 30 years old and still going strong. good bit of kit for a learner, teaches him to locate the rabbit with a dig, the more you use it, the more confident you become, and you should know where your ferret is underground, and save you a lot of waiting which can be a pain in really cold weather.

And lets face it what other sport can you start with a couple of ferrets, usually available for free, plenty of free Rabbit hutches if you look,that you can easily convert, so the only other thing you would need is nets and a spade, so not a lot to pay out, even your permission if you get any is free.

Edited July 26, 2013 by Country Joe

[GSkye 94]

I guess you can spend as much as you like and on other sports alike but I think keeping animals is more of a commitment than you can put your guns and bows in cases or under your bed

 

I'll have a go at it, come September (I think) and see if I like it, the pop on to gumtree and see what's available cheap/free

 

Thanks again

[GreyRake 108]

As the one said, you can always start will the basic gear, ferrets and nets. Then build on it gradually as you go.

 

A fair sized hutch, few bowls and some shavings will get you started with the housing. You can always change or expand on that later too.

 

Good luck