Do People Often Lose Ferrets?

[muttley94 74]

Rats are a problem they tuck up in tight places : (

And if you've a ferret that actively works rats not all do , this can be a pain . Often through roots etc ,

do you have to target rats specifically/ train them to target them or more of the case that some like finding them and others dont?

[Jamie m 668]

Some take to it some don't , I'm not a ratting man my self , but have come across warrens with rats in . Also had them in the shed once lol ,

[muttley94 74]

haha gotcha, I dont mind trapping the rats or shooting them but I think I'd rather save the ferrets for the rabbits and use my gun for rats personally

[pie-eater 377]

 

If Im doing warrens in brambles etc where its not easy to see ferrets emerging I use a cat bell on an elastic band which goes around the ferrets neck, using an elastic band ensures that if the bell snags on something underground the ferret can pull free, also the band makes it easier to change the bell a couple of times through the day when it gets mud inside and doesn't work so well. I use a locator and collar as well of course.

 

I believe most of the strays that are found have been dumped rather than lost, Ive met a few ferreters who would leave a ferret in a warren if it was taking to long and buy another for the next session.

yes i thought about a bell but the band is a good idea!

 

do people ferret at night at all? im sure you could use the bell system but also have a small light? or is there no benefit to doing it at night? more hassle than its worth sort of thing?

 

Ive only tried once at night wasn't for me. Theres one or two on here that do it though.

 

Another tip for you, if you cant dig your ferret out for any reason (for example hes under a tree) open up a rabbits belly, put the rabbit in a purse net then chuck it just inside the closest hole to where you think your ferret is, quite often the smell will be enough to draw the ferret out, make sure you stick the peg in the ground so the ferret cant drag the rabbit further down.

[muttley94 74]

 

 

If Im doing warrens in brambles etc where its not easy to see ferrets emerging I use a cat bell on an elastic band which goes around the ferrets neck, using an elastic band ensures that if the bell snags on something underground the ferret can pull free, also the band makes it easier to change the bell a couple of times through the day when it gets mud inside and doesn't work so well. I use a locator and collar as well of course.

 

I believe most of the strays that are found have been dumped rather than lost, Ive met a few ferreters who would leave a ferret in a warren if it was taking to long and buy another for the next session.

yes i thought about a bell but the band is a good idea!

 

do people ferret at night at all? im sure you could use the bell system but also have a small light? or is there no benefit to doing it at night? more hassle than its worth sort of thing?

 

Ive only tried once at night wasn't for me. Theres one or two on here that do it though.

 

Another tip for you, if you cant dig your ferret out for any reason (for example hes under a tree) open up a rabbits belly, put the rabbit in a purse net then chuck it just inside the closest hole to where you think your ferret is, quite often the smell will be enough to draw the ferret out, make sure you stick the peg in the ground so the ferret cant drag the rabbit further down.

 

Ah fair enough, Maybe thats something to look into for me further down the line!

Ah thats a good idea, i think im going to have to write all these down! Thanks!

[blackmaggie 3,376]

 

If Im doing warrens in brambles etc where its not easy to see ferrets emerging I use a cat bell on an elastic band which goes around the ferrets neck, using an elastic band ensures that if the bell snags on something underground the ferret can pull free, also the band makes it easier to change the bell a couple of times through the day when it gets mud inside and doesn't work so well. I use a locator and collar as well of course.

 

I believe most of the strays that are found have been dumped rather than lost, Ive met a few ferreters who would leave a ferret in a warren if it was taking to long and buy another for the next session.

yes i thought about a bell but the band is a good idea!

 

do people ferret at night at all? im sure you could use the bell system but also have a small light? or is there no benefit to doing it at night? more hassle than its worth sort of thing?

 

i do a few a few places at night under a full moon or 3 quarter at least its surprising how light it can be on a cold clear night and some red hot places are easy done without any light and a educated mutt or two aid the smooth running of things took some good numbers on places you couldnt do in the day time and with no light or bell either matey just a working collar

Edited May 14, 2015 by blackmaggie

[muttley94 74]

 

 

If Im doing warrens in brambles etc where its not easy to see ferrets emerging I use a cat bell on an elastic band which goes around the ferrets neck, using an elastic band ensures that if the bell snags on something underground the ferret can pull free, also the band makes it easier to change the bell a couple of times through the day when it gets mud inside and doesn't work so well. I use a locator and collar as well of course.

 

I believe most of the strays that are found have been dumped rather than lost, Ive met a few ferreters who would leave a ferret in a warren if it was taking to long and buy another for the next session.

yes i thought about a bell but the band is a good idea!

 

do people ferret at night at all? im sure you could use the bell system but also have a small light? or is there no benefit to doing it at night? more hassle than its worth sort of thing?

 

i do a few a few places at night under a full moon or 3 quarter at least its surprising how light it can be on a cold clear night and a educated mutt or two aid the smooth running of things took some good numbers on places you couldnt do in the day time

 

I see what you mean! do you just use the dogs at night then? not nets?

[blackmaggie 3,376]

both dogs and nets on a night time foray dont normally start while gone ten but hillside warrens and field warrens are best to do that said i do a few railway banking the less cover the better

[leethedog 3,071]

As an answer to your question can a ferret be a pet and work yes they can a ferret is a very clever animal they can even be tought tricks I used to know an old boy who had a jill that would fetch a ball of paper

[myersbg 1,385]

Watched half a doz good fit bunnies go down a single hole on a nice clear banking one day, great i think some nice easy bunnies here, put the little jill in collared up,4 hrs later not a rabbit and not a single click on the box. i put a squirrel trap in the hole and the farmer went back every day for a week, we got her back after 7 days but for the first 5 the farmer took a rabbit out of the trap.

 

Brian

[Bosun11 537]

Never lost a ferret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But if anyone finds a bull rhinoceros in the Merseyside area please drop me a pm!

 

[muttley94 74]

As an answer to your question can a ferret be a pet and work yes they can a ferret is a very clever animal they can even be tought tricks I used to know an old boy who had a jill that would fetch a ball of paper

Okay thats good news! thanks

 

Watched half a doz good fit bunnies go down a single hole on a nice clear banking one day, great i think some nice easy bunnies here, put the little jill in collared up,4 hrs later not a rabbit and not a single click on the box. i put a squirrel trap in the hole and the farmer went back every day for a week, we got her back after 7 days but for the first 5 the farmer took a rabbit out of the trap.

 

Brian

I seem to be getting the impression that kind of thing is quite common! Luckily ive got quite a few live capture traps

[OldhamLad 66]

Left the wife too look after three of mine wile I was away once- Simple mistake after feeding latch not correctly back on the other three was - wakes up next morning ferrets had got out 2 returned 1 didn't - 1 of them was found in a rabbit hutch of someone in town had eaten her pet rabbit - was a little difficult collecting my ferret back of them !

 

Point of the story you have more chance loosing them at home than you do out in the field ! (My opinion)

 

Collar them up / Use a dead rabbit to draw them out of the warren where necessary / Send in a fresh ferret to wake them up / If all else fails fresh bedding cat carrier food and return in the morning

[muttley94 74]

Left the wife too look after three of mine wile I was away once- Simple mistake after feeding latch not correctly back on the other three was - wakes up next morning ferrets had got out 2 returned 1 didn't - 1 of them was found in a rabbit hutch of someone in town had eaten her pet rabbit - was a little difficult collecting my ferret back of them !

 

Point of the story you have more chance loosing them at home than you do out in the field ! (My opinion)

 

Collar them up / Use a dead rabbit to draw them out of the warren where necessary / Send in a fresh ferret to wake them up / If all else fails fresh bedding cat carrier food and return in the morning

Yes i could see all the members of my family doing something like that

 

That seems to be the general consensus though! thanks for the advice

[dytkos 17,784]

Ferrets are sociable animals, treating like pets will not endanger their working potential, unless of course they are tret only like a pet and never worked if that makes sense?

 

Cheers, D.