First Time Ferreting...

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

So, got all my gear ready last night and checked, checked again this morning at 6,

Ferret went into box a little nervously and had a bloody good scratch in there, got to my permission bout 30 mins later,

Poured my first coffee out and wondered which warren to try her on first, found a nice little one that had 6 holes and only a little fresh droppings infront of the main hole.

So out came the nets that were also on test as ive made them.

I was quite worried about letting her go with no collar on and no back up ferret, but she does come back to the sound of my zippo opening and closing, so in she went straight away to the far reaches of this warren, i saw her pop out at another hole and enter again so left her to it, she came out again and as i walked to her i heard the thumping of rabbit and she went in again, 10 seconds and a rabbit in the net. Chuffed, as i didnt think anything was home.

She soon came following, so back in her box as the rabbit got dealt with.

Picked my nets and growing in confidence set off to another warren, this one has 13 holes and has always been busy when shooting.

So netted up the holes and entered the ferret, off she trundelled happy as, out she poppec for air maybe and down again, 5 minutes nothing got down to a hole to listen and out runs a rabbit up the bank closely followed by another and my ferret, missed a hole (has now been clearly marked) strange as it was about 4 meters away from main holes.

Netted this hole as the ferret appeared, took her out and entered the other end of the warren and she managed to shift another one into a net.

At this stage i thought i didnt want to chance anything and had 2 rabbits. So i took her for a wonder in the open while i paunched the rabbits. Gave the ferret a kidney which she loves and some milk,

Put her away and thought id had a good couple of hours very pleased with the ferret and the nets performance,

 

FF

[stoggy 598]

Sounds like you had a good day out and the ferret took to it no bother.

[garbs 90]

Nice one mate good to see your getting into it and evan more so when you get a good result first time out

[leethedog 3,071]

Good first time out mate that will build your confidence and the ferrets

[terryd 8,580]

sounds like you have decent ground to go at that's half the battle. If you haven't all ready I would get some bells on the ferret I just find them really handy

[Sirblessed 2,511]

well done mate. they say milk isnt to good for ferrets I wouldnt give it to mine now but have in the past here is a post I just read.

 

 

Your ferret may love ice-cream, milk and cheese but these should be avoided. Ferrets are carnivores and are supposed to eat meat protein, they are not designed to process dairy proteins.

In particular, Ferrets lack the enzyme required to digest lactose, a little like lactose intolerant humans. The risk is some messy diarrhoea and possibly dehydration and a visit to the Vet. Small amounts may appear to be fine, but why risk feed your ferret something that has the potential to cause intestinal upset.

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

No more milk then...

Tried bells on them last night one just thought it was a game and went mental, try again tonight too.

 

Cheers guys

 

FF

[big napper 3,616]

Like most people iv got locater and collars but still have little bells on the collars incase they come out in thick cover where you cant see them or out of reach of the locator, its helped us out plenty of times

[terryd 8,580]

just let them run around the yard with the collar on they soon get used to them. Then they won't faff about on the day

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

Off out again tomorrow morning, and dont forget clocks go back so ill get an extra hour of ferreting.

 

FF

[darbo 4,776]

No more milk then...

Tried bells on them last night one just thought it was a game and went mental, try again tonight too.

 

Cheers guys

 

FF

Ferrets can have goats milk.

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

So then went out this morning,

 

Dam ferret killed in the first warren i went for luckily it was right near a hole just over an arms length in so no digging, wow the sound they make,

 

Got the ferret out and she was buzzing, i didnt know what to do? Do i put her back in or move on or stop altogther?

 

I didnt have my air rifle so i decided to put her back in, and got 1 more from that warren, so 2 so far.

 

Moved on and done my first hedge, at one point id thought id lost her or shed killed again, so when she came back out checked for blood and fur but none so we moved on again back onto the field. Ill come back to hedges when i have a finder, i think.

 

A big warren, lots of fresh signs but not really checked this one out before so netted up and set a 20 yard long net between what i thought was 2 separate warrens,

Well it wasnt it was one big warren missed 3 rabbits straight off then got 1 in a purse net, and about 10 minutes pass and i see to nets moving 1 rabbit had come out one hole and straight down another double netted, what a mess... whilst untangling these a rabbit bolts straight into the long net another mess, ferrets out and in the box now, then another bolts straight into the long net, not heard of this before nothing chased it out, bonus rabbit.

 

So 6 today, so dogs happy ferrets happy me and kids happy, misses not as happy she dont like rabbit plus she had pet rabbits when we met.

 

FF

[dazbrowne 13 372]

Sounds like you are having fun there pal

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

Its absolutly brilliant...

 

FF

[Bunnyblatter 1,012]

Well done mate. Pity you missed the hole that 2 bolted from or it would of been a nice outing with 4 in the bag.

I used to love getting out on a Sunday doing a bit of ferreting