Overcoming Biting

[ryaldinhio 4,591]

Alrate lads

 

just a quick one. I am new to ferrets and hoping to get ferreting before long. I have a hob and a jill both from this years young. I keep them in a hutch in a shed. I have had them about three weeks and i go in and handle them everyday some days it is only a few minutes and some days i let them run around the shed with me in it for half an hour or so and during that time i stroke them and pick them up etc.

 

For the first time today the jill bit me. It wasnt what i would call a viscious bite and she didnt hang on i think she was just playing. I just said a firm no and moved my hand away and she let go.

 

Where i got the hob from told me to flick them on the nose if they bite but i have read on other websites this is not the way to do it.

 

I was just wondering how you lot stop your ferrets from biting? Different people have different methods i suppose but most will have more experience than me so thought i would ask!

 

Cheers

 

ry

[Andrew Beirne 78]

what I do is when they bite shove ur finger back into the mouth and it works for me after a few times they stop

[vanman1 411]

Ok in my experience ferrets mainly bite when they have been suprised etc, especialy if you have them from kits. ALWAYS talk to your ferret as you aproach let the ferret know your coming.Again every time i feed my ferrets i make sure they see its my hand feeding them,talk to them.They should associate your hands/fingers with good things only. I have only ever reared my own ferrets for the last 20years and whilst handling kits if they attempt to bite i GENTLEY push my knuckle into their mouth you will find after a few times they will try and spit it out to the extent once my ferrets are to a size where the bite would actually hurt its a job to even get your figers in their mouth.I have NEVER had a serious bite from one of my ferrets in 30yrs.

[ryaldinhio 4,591]

Vanman these are my first ferrets. The hob was from a rescue centre and the jill came from a 'working' background where there must have been 50+ ferrets. Dont get me wrong they all looked well kept and clean but i think handling was from hutch to box and box to warren.

 

I was more wary of the hob to start with because he is quite a bit bigger but he seems fine. The jill is fine with being handled when i first get them out but once she has been sniffing around a bit or if i have put them through my log pile in back garden she seems very excitable n that is when she gets nippy.

 

Today was the first time she has got her teeth on me but i did see it coming and let her do it because i figured how can u teach them not to do it if you just avoid it happening, because sooner rather than later that is going to end up reducing handling them which would have a negative effect and snowball to a ferret that never gets held?

 

I didnt suprise her, she came to me climbed up my wellies on her back legs so i put my hand to her she had a sniff around and opened wide! In no means was it a serious bite. And they are well fed on a mix of rabbit (when i get them) and dry ferret food so she shouldnt have been hungry. I think it was inquisitive/playfull.

[vanman1 411]

Ok your hobb was from a rescue centre,so no-one is 100% of the history and the jill altough looked well and was kept fed/clean etc, because of the amount of other ferrets she could have been neglected(handling wise). My guess from what your saying is she was excited and it was a playful nip.

 

Now my approach would be take it gentle with the hobb(you dont know his history)just carry on as you are handling him talking to him etc etc you need to build yours and his confidence he may well be spot on and your never have any problems.The problem is you dont know his history only time will tell.

 

With the jill i would carry on as you are but the next time you run her through your log pile or she gets excited sit down talk to her and let her come to you dont put your hand out to her just ignore her as if she wasnt there, she may well have a sniff etc and carry on!If she tries to bite, immediatly pick her up with the hand she didnt try to bite and place the knuckle of the other hand into her mouth at the same time telling her no in a stern voice,then place her away for 5 mins for some time out.Ferrets are very clever animals and it doesnt take them long to cotton on.If she is fairly young you should solve the problem especialy as time goes on and they realize what a wonderful home they have and its you thats always nice to them feeding/ cuddles etc.

IMO its the first 6 months of a ferrets life that is important this is when they learn and handling everyday is essential.My adult ferrets can regularly go 2-3 days without being handled due to work commitments etc but its never an issue as ive reared them from day old.

Good luck buddy and stick with it .

[ryaldinhio 4,591]

Thanks for the help vanman.

[bjay 21]

The last two ferrets i got hold of bit like crocodiles ,,

What i did was give them puppy milk and when they are drinking it,

I would stroke them when they are busy drinking, They know it is you

took about a month or so but it worked

Ferrets that bite = pain in arse

 

Forgot to add if they get a good hold of thee ,, Blow down there nose they cannot breathe and let go ,, dont ask me how i know

 

regards

Bernie

Edited January 6, 2014 by bjay

[Poacherspocket 189]

Iv found with my big hob especially and some ferrets from the past that when you pick them up that they like to mouth your hand and this is not actually a bite. Il be honest when I first got the ferrets this scared me a little to the point I hesitated to pick them up or maybe even snatched at them. This has been the cause of every bite iv had. And no I find it best to just gently pick the ferret up and let them mouth you. I soon learnt what was play and what wasnt. If they mouthed hard or I thought it was a bite then id simply shove my fingers to the back of their throat and say no. Atb Blake