Ferrets Have Turned

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Looking for a bit of knowlage as im new to keeping ferrets. Ive been handling them daily and have them out with me when i can if im doing a bit of fishing or something in one place and they have been good never biting or carrying on but last night i went out to feed them and they were going mental as soon as i put my hand in to pick them up they were latching on to me. Normally they have a sniff of my hand then i pick them up.

 

They will be coming up towards 6 months old now is this usual behavior for them now there starting to mature? And will it stop? When there kicking off should i keep hold of them until they calm down my logic in that is they might learn once they calm down they will be put down again i might be wrong so thats why im asking.

[whippet 99 2,613]

Let em bite you and gently push your fingertip it's mouth it will gag as such , it will soon stop, if not divide and conquer

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Let em bite you and gently push your fingertip it's mouth it will gag as such , it will soon stop, if not divide and conquer

Do you mean seperate them? Ive 2 hobs together. Also do the squeeks and hiss's they make mean anything to tell if there miffed of or happy?

[Blackdog92 2,047]

I dont know if there playing like i said im green as grass to ferrets so its all part of the learning curve. I dont think i will bleed to death but i have a few punctures. They dont fight each other they just want me lol.

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Ok i will do that. Is there anything i can put in there hutch with them that they can play with for a bit of stimulation or to help tire them a bit? Ive just got a few bits of gutter pipe i conected to make tunnels for them run in at the min.

[Fly The Boy 339]

Sounds to me that when you go to feed them they are really really hungry,,,,,,mad for there food,,,,what you feeding them?they may need more food or change of diet...........

[Blackdog92 2,047]

I have been feeding them on crows and pigeons and what ever else a can get my hands on as well as minced beef and chicken my missus brings back from the butchers ahe works at. I do play with them everyday it was just last night it shocked me a bit because it was totally diffrent to how they usually are. Can they eat trout as i have easy acsess to them.

Edited August 19, 2015 by Blackdog92

[Jax13 251]

I'd avoid crowith if I were you. I have heard of a couple of people losing ferrets after feeding them.

 

I think they may be hungry when you went to feed. Mine can be little sods if they are peckish and they will nip (or try to) so I've started throwing a few loose biscuits in the run or spread a line of malt paste across the run mesh for them to lick at when I come to feed up which has the bonus of them not all diving out of the hutch door when I open it to refill the food bowl!

[The one 8,530]

If it was a one off sounds like they where playing having a crazy half hour , as said feed them handle them if they do go to bite a knuckle in the mouth will cure them within a fortnight

[BIGLURKS 874]

Crows are fine too feed them mate any thing with meat/fur/feather raised 2 lots of kits of crows out of Larsen traps before and like some have said could of just been in the mood for playful fighting with ya what was the hair on there tails like I once had a Jill ferret that clamped on too my hand turned out too be a fox was trying it's luck trying too get in they can go right angry little sods when rats and foxes are about there hair looks like it's sticking up all over the place like it's standing on end there will be cubs starting too knock about this time of year as we'll some will be more braver and stupider then an older lot have a look about the garden for some rat holes or runs or any fox hair on the top of your fences but it's all skeptical with out being there and seeing if there just being playfull or not

Edited August 19, 2015 by BIGLURKS

[Guest vin]

I've got 2 hob kits that will rip me to shreds before I feed them at the moment...lol. . . soon as they've got a belly full of grub they turn into pussycats.

 

I like em feisty. . . if they've got the guts to bite you.. they might have the same for a bunny...lol

 

They soon settle down when they learn who is provider and instigator of all things fun outside of the hutch.

 

Get the finger down the throat when they clamp on..they soon stop and nibble instead.. lol

[Jamie m 668]

 

Let em bite you and gently push your fingertip it's mouth it will gag as such , it will soon stop, if not divide and conquer

Do you mean seperate them? Ive 2 hobs together. Also do the squeeks and hiss's they make mean anything to tell if there miffed of or happy?

 

Handle them after they've eaten

[ryaldinhio 4,977]

mine are doing a bit of nibbling at the minute and swinging round to have a go when I pick em up. I have just been doing as others have said, offer a hand and let em bite you then shove a finger/thumb to back of throat. I was having to do it a dozen times last week each play time....tonight twice so it must be working! Im just gettin back into ferret keeping and have noticed a few phases with mine

1. small and easy to handle, soft as owt, testing if you are food type of nibbles.

2. growing on a bit and getting more energy, still pretty easy to handle, testing if you are food/toy nibbles

3. about fully grown but still young, f**king mental when they want to play, playfull bite if you want to play or not!

 

I am confident with my two hobs now that they are only play nipping. They dont draw blood and I have seen em with a rabbit/pigeon/pheasant so I know what the teeth can do when they actually mean business!

 

I have two young jills that are following the same sort of pattern too.

 

Id just say keep handling them and be confident/dont pull away. As said above I am a relative novice.

 

Ry

[ryaldinhio 4,977]

p.s. I am hoping stage 4 is fully grown and totally chilled out unless you happen to be a rabbit!

[rabbit demon 302]

Aye they chill out more when they are fully grown. You'll still get the odd gentle bite when playing.