risks of rats

[Guest fraser hamilton]

i have heard roomers e.c.t of rats killing ferrets has anay 1 had this happen to them whot are the risks of ferreting rats ?

whot size of ferret would you use small jill large jill small hob or large hob?

 

i have done a copple of rats with ferrets but it was more a spur of the monent with out thinking but now i am thinking about makeing them 1 of my quorries to hunt but wont to no all the risks e.c.t first

 

 

 

atb

 

 

fraser

[Kay 3,709]

Well i cant stand rats & would avoid them at all costs if possible :sick:

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Fraser; By far ye biggest concern, when ferreting rats, should be the fact that ye'll be seeking out and working in rat infested situations. That means ye Own health and well being should be ye first priority. Now ye bound to hear from people who'll say they've hunted rats, bare handed and smoking before sitting down on a bank to eat their sandwiches and have done it for years. Does that mean you should act as stupidly too?

 

It's fine and dandy to talk like that from a keyboard. But ~ believe me, because I've been there ~ once it Happens and ye find yeself in an Isolation ward with ye kidneys in free fall? Ye don't feel so bloody clever In fact, the world becomes a very lonely place.

 

Did I think that would happen to me? Of course not! I'd never read about anyone wearing gloves whilst chasing rats. I'd read about people catching them up by their tails. About does protecting their nestlings. About terriers and vast killing sprees. I now realise that's because the guys who did all that untill they came unstuck weren't around any more to write Anything!

 

It hasn't stopped me hunting rats for the rest of my life, 'mind. I was at it only today. But now I'm older and wiser and less cavalier. I protect myself from the inherrent and mortal dangers of simply putting my hands where a rat has run. I'd earnestly pettition you to do the same.

 

Before ye start looking for what ever ferret ye think will suit ye best, go to Killgerm and buy yeself a box of their Nitrile gloves. Under £15.00 for 100. They'll keep ye save as ye scrabble and dig about in the vilest of places.

 

I wouldn't wish Weils Disease on many people. Please don't risk getting it yeself.

 

And, to anyone ready to sneer that they've Never worn gloves whilst working rats? Yeah. Fine. That's just what I used to say ~ till it happened.

[ianrob 2]

Fraser; By far ye biggest concern, when ferreting rats, should be the fact that ye'll be seeking out and working in rat infested situations. That means ye Own health and well being should be ye first priority. Now ye bound to hear from people who'll say they've hunted rats, bare handed and smoking before sitting down on a bank to eat their sandwiches and have done it for years. Does that mean you should act as stupidly too?

 

It's fine and dandy to talk like that from a keyboard. But ~ believe me, because I've been there ~ once it Happens and ye find yeself in an Isolation ward with ye kidneys in free fall? Ye don't feel so bloody clever In fact, the world becomes a very lonely place.

 

Did I think that would happen to me? Of course not! I'd never read about anyone wearing gloves whilst chasing rats. I'd read about people catching them up by their tails. About does protecting their nestlings. About terriers and vast killing sprees. I now realise that's because the guys who did all that untill they came unstuck weren't around any more to write Anything!

 

It hasn't stopped me hunting rats for the rest of my life, 'mind. I was at it only today. But now I'm older and wiser and less cavalier. I protect myself from the inherrent and mortal dangers of simply putting my hands where a rat has run. I'd earnestly pettition you to do the same.

Wise words from Ditch' there. I would add that you should get some antibiotics from your vet, should your ferret be bitten, as a bite can quickly turn nasty.

 

Before ye start looking for what ever ferret ye think will suit ye best, go to Killgerm and buy yeself a box of their Nitrile gloves. Under £15.00 for 100. They'll keep ye save as ye scrabble and dig about in the vilest of places.

 

I wouldn't wish Weils Disease on many people. Please don't risk getting it yeself.

 

And, to anyone ready to sneer that they've Never worn gloves whilst working rats? Yeah. Fine. That's just what I used to say ~ till it happened.

[bill88 6]

i have heard roomers e.c.t of rats killing ferrets has anay 1 had this happen to them whot are the risks of ferreting rats ?

whot size of ferret would you use small jill large jill small hob or large hob?

 

i have done a copple of rats with ferrets but it was more a spur of the monent with out thinking but now i am thinking about makeing them 1 of my quorries to hunt but wont to no all the risks e.c.t first

 

 

 

atb

 

 

fraser

I was out ratting with the terriers a good few years ago,a couple of rats went behind some pallets in one of the barns.We put my mates big hob down to flush them,and 2 minutes later we could here he'd caught one.The ferret came out a few minutes later in a right mess,and died 2 days later!

I personally cannot stand rats,and make sure i put on gloves,boots,and an antibac hand cream,before going near them.When the terriers are finished,i always wash them on site with a diluted disinfectant.

[andy s410c 61]

Would,nt use my ferts for ratting to much risk to them .I would smoke the longtails out let the dogs & shovel do the rest :laugh:Also consider the risk of Weils disease which is basically fatal if not treat quickly....... :sick:

[marko 30]

been ratting for nearly 30 yrs and in that time used mainly ferrets from proven stock that goes back a lot of years what you have to realise is that there 20 yrs ago there wasnt any smokers about no one bothered with petrol strimmers and the like so its been ferrets since god knows how long for i should imagine a hell of a lot of ratters, yes the rats are getting bigger and with the weather as it is they are breeding later litters than ever before so you get situations were they wont bolt and the ferret gets carved had some bad does myself with some nasty injuries to ferrets however never lost one to a rat bite just make sure you clean them up properly and check for even the tiniest puncture these can fester untreated,i might add that i always were gloves while out and wouldnt dream of going without my trusted gloves clean rat bites a few times a day to keep on top of them .

[Guest Chancer]

first off take the precautions advised by ditchy and then get stuck in it'll be some of the best sport you'll ever get

 

over the years i've found jills last longer before they jib than hobs do,a few medium sized jills should get you started but be warned it is addictive.

 

if the ferrets get bitten make sure and clean the wounds but NO penecillen.ferrets are immune to lepto but it's common sense to clean up to prevent infections.

[wabbithunter_15 0]

i was also thinking of using my hob for ratting hes just a bit bigger than a medium sized jill and hes only 20 weeks will he be ok for ratting? do you need to take any precautions towards cuts, bite wounds etc on the ferret.

 

can you use anticeptic etc (spellings prob wrong)

 

thanks in advanced guys!

[Guest fraser hamilton]

thasinks for all your replays tips and advice you have ancerd all my questions

 

just 1 more whot is the best thing to clean out cuts with?

and is thare anaything i chod put on the ferrets that chod prevent them getting bit e.c.t like a thick coller or a harnes type thing my mum makes stuff out of leather sp she chod nak something up if its worth while

thainks agen

atb

 

 

fraser

[ianrob 2]

Fraser, go by the info Ditch gave at the start, and also if your ferret gets badly bitten, or if it gets a bite that looks dodgy, see a vet for antibiotics. Now to you,

Weils desease is horrible and the onset is like flu, yet if you don't get treatment with antibiotics soon enough, you are in trouble. Worth thinking about.

[andy s410c 61]

Fraser, rats are great sport but in my own opinion you should not put your ferts health at risk.Longtails will bolt with some disturbance from shovel,dogs digging them when possible or smoking them out.As a niave teenager i once used one of my best jills for ratting because my mate said "she,ll be okay" result one badly hurt ferret & one friendship dissolved .However that is just my opinion

[Guest ocs1867]

I use my Ferrets on rats and also take a friends border\lakeland.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

This is only my opinion but i like ferrets to have a season at rabbits before they face a rat .Confidence is the key to entering anything ,be it dog or ferret .Wear gloves and clean the dogs up as said .

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

yep i would agree with ditchy and fox dropper make sure you are fully protected and i always use ferrets with at least 1 season rabbiting under there belts !

 

word of warning though ! the greatest risk to you're ferrets is probably going to be the terriers that you're bolting the rats to