Wrong Or Wright

[mollski 16]

Right my kits run round all day in there court,there hutch is in there but they have never been locked away in it,have I gone wrong by doing this ,because when we pick them up they go mad to go down,hence they still bite,not so much the hobb but the jill is like a bloody viper,im trying my best when handeing her I pick her up around 10 times in half an hour,has soon has I pick her up she goes mad to go down.if I try and hold onto her just goes mad and trys to bite.should I lock them up all day ,and just have them out to handle until the calm down and stop biteing? thanks for help and advice

[onthehunt 40]

No, don't lock them up because they will have all that pent up energy and after having the court to exercise in taken away from them, may be more likely to take out their frustration on your hands. How many don't like being picked up? Is it just the jill who dislikes it? 10 minutes a day is nothing, I handle my kits/ferrets several times a day. It could be down to individual differences as some ferrets are feisty and prefer not to be handled or are just nippy. With difficult ferrets its a case of handling them (or smothering!) until their fully tame. Don't just handle them in their court, take them into a different environment and get involved with their play.

[Guest norseman]

try a bit of olive oil on your knuckle to calm her down be patient

[chrisj1983 16]

I had the same problem as you mollski. I only handled my ferrets in the court until the Jill started to get nippy after handling her for a few mins, but I solved it by taking them or her outside of the court into different areas of the garden

[Malt 379]

Sounds like they've learnt that you will put them down if they try to bite you, that's one habit you need to get them out of.. If they are able to bite you when you're holding them, then it sounds like you a not holding them correctly. You need to hold them with your palm over their backs and your fingers under their armpits so to speak, and while not too firmly as to restrict their breathing or to hurt them, firm enough so they can't bite you.. Let their rear legs and lower body swing freely. They need to learn that they have to behave before you put them down, and you do this by taking notice of their body language. Pick them up, let them struggle until they give up, relax and go limp, then put them straight down. Keep doing this over and over again, increasing the time you hold them gradually over a few days and they will soon learn that they will get put down quicker if they resign themselves to being held. Ferrets are not daft, they are are a bit like pups in a way and can easily be taught boundaries and what sort of behaviour is acceptable and what isn't. It just takes a lot of time, a lot of contact, and a lot of patience..

[mollski 16]

Thanks malt I will try this, when I come home I always let them run free in the garden and not in the court,so they are getting used to different places.

 

thanks again guys for all of your kind help and time