Nasty Cnut!

[talt 878]

Against much protesting from me my lad bought a polecat hob from the local market. Admittedly he is a beauty and in very good condition, and only cost a fiver but when we got him home he turned into a bengal tiger! I dont think he has ever been handled and unless he is preoccupied with some meat you cannot touch him. I have had some wild ferrets in the past but this one means business! The question is should we persevere with him, or should i put him down? Does anyone have any ideas on how to calm him down sufficiently to be able to work him so we can see if he is worth keeping?

 

[Tiercel 6,986]

Read the minkery thread that should give you some ideas.

 

http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/topic/299922-i-hunt-with-mink/

 

TC

[torchey 1,328]

After reading the topic with guy training the mink i would say anythings possible...

[foxtails 272]

if it was ME id put some gloves on and handle him as much as possible, spit on your glove, let him lick it, do this a few times a day, feed him, so he knows the food is coming from you ect, and just persavier with him, im sure soon enough he'l be ok, iv had some nasty ferrets in the past and have always tamed them enough to work them, some can take longer than others, but they all come right in the end, ATB with him though mate FTS

[joe14 98]

Sit on the floor let him come to you. Feed him raw meat make sure hes always full up before handling. Let him settle in. Dont put him down give him a chance or pass him to a rescue.

[onthehunt 40]

Why do you buy a ferret from a market??

[foxtails 272]

Sit on the floor let him come to you. Feed him raw meat make sure hes always full up before handling. Let him settle in. Dont put him down give him a chance or pass him to a rescue.

another good post !

[talt 878]

I wouldnt buy ferrets from a market as i already have my own that i have kept and bred for years, but my lad had his heart set on it and bought it with his own money. He has been kept well away from my ferts and he is on his own in a spare cage. He is a young hob so i think we will give him a chance. I fully understand what your saying about buying from a market but as i say its his money and if it keeps him off the playstation and gets him interested in field sports then i will support him all the way.

[Bunny Boiler 177]

Some say olive oil works. Put a dab of it on the back of you hand and let him lick it off. Similar principal to the spit suggestion I guess. I've never needed to try it though. If you're worried, let him lick it through the bars first I guess. They all come round though.

 

Atb, BB

[GreyRake 108]

I'd be starting with thick gloves, get him used to being picked up and held before trying to let him loose on your skin. Try and make him think biting doesn't effect you to start. Never had a wild polecat, but that's how I'd go about it.

[pie-eater 377]

Every time he bites push your finger into his mouth a tiny bit. Not enough to hurt him just to make him gag.

[bobkizzyhugo 40]

hold the thing around the front legs and neck so it cant bite you.let it struggle untill it gives up, offer it youre knuckle, if it tries to bite scruff it until its calm. then repeat. keep doing it, once it doesnt try and bite imediatly try stroking its face, and repeat where neccesary, just persevere. dont let it win. good food and lots of handling will do it.

[bobkizzyhugo 40]

i usualy push my fingers further into their mouth if their nippy. but if its a propper biter, then maybe save that method until it doesnt bite down hard.

[Kaiserdog 20]

Some say olive oil works. Put a dab of it on the back of you hand and let him lick it off. Similar principal to the spit suggestion I guess. I've never needed to try it though. If you're worried, let him lick it through the bars first I guess. They all come round though.

 

Atb, BB

Olive or Sunflower oil works a treat!

[onthehunt 40]

Every time he bites push your finger into his mouth a tiny bit. Not enough to hurt him just to make him gag.

That only really works with kits! Very hard to push finger further into mouth when the bugger is already latched on if you are going to try that do it with wielding gloves.