Ferreting

[comanche 3,076]

9 hours ago, Thecooksta1 said:

I have collars and locater off the old fella I picked it up from. More than likely be next season before it does anything mate. The pup seems to get on fine with it so they should make a good pair if it does it job. Cookie 

It was  lucky ,or odd, that   the chap who found the ferret also happenrd to have a locator to pass-on .

Whatever the story , you now have a ferret

 Dont dash out and get  another ferret .  Maybe   concentrate on getting  the one you have  straight first.   Play with it ,cuddle it ,carry it about . When it relaxes enough sleep on your lap you are getting somewhere.

A hand shy ferret is  not much fun as a pet  and bloomin annoying as a worker so it's  worth putting in the time .

Being a jill there is  the matter of the possible problems regarding  her coming in and out of season .

There are plenty of books on ferret care and kept clean and well fed they're not difficult to look after. 

Good luck

[Thecooksta1 64]

48 minutes ago, comanche said:

It was  lucky ,or odd, that   the chap who found the ferret also happenrd to have a locator to pass-on .

Whatever the story , you now have a ferret

 Dont dash out and get  another ferret .  Maybe   concentrate on getting  the one you have  straight first.   Play with it ,cuddle it ,carry it about . When it relaxes enough sleep on your lap you are getting somewhere.

A hand shy ferret is  not much fun as a pet  and bloomin annoying as a worker so it's  worth putting in the time .

Being a jill there is  the matter of the possible problems regarding  her coming in and out of season .

There are plenty of books on ferret care and kept clean and well fed they're not difficult to look after. 

Good luck

Hello [BANNED TEXT] the man I got it off had ferreted for over 20years when younger he then offered me to sell me his old stuff which looks abit rough tbh so nothing odd about it all cheers for the advice tho atb. 

[Thecooksta1 64]

1 hour ago, jok said:

Got this mental picture of thecooksta wandering round Newcastle looking for another old guy, just caught a ferret in his chicken pen, willing to give it a new home and by the way, here’s  locator and collars?? The mind boggles but you never know. Just a bit of fun btw. Jok.

It was in his chicken pen he lives near a beach that he said gets ferreted a lot on the sets near the top of the dunes… then proceeded to tell me he ferreted for 20 years but he’s too old for it now. His stuff is as old as the hills but he says works fine. Hopefully that clears it up for u

[SeanBlenk 8]

I don’t know what your experience is with ferrets, so I apologise if I’m telling you stuff you already know.

Let it settle in for a bit first before trying to do anything with it. Ferrets don’t have great eyesight, they rely more on sound and smell, so don’t be flapping about when trying to pick her up. looks like you have the hutch in a shed? Try and spend a bit of time in there, so it gets used to you being around.

[Arry 22,480]

I'd be doing a bit of feeding by hand get her to associate you with food.

Cheers Arry

[Aussie Whip 4,145]

Just try to pick her up every day, calm gentle handling and she'll pick up on the caring feeling from you.

[terryd 8,638]

Aye as said time and handling. Bought kit few years ago was last one there. Didn’t take much notice at time it was hid in corner hutch. Complete nervous wreck. Said to wife she’s bloody useless never be able to work her. Ferret not the wife 

Year later superb to handle and my best worker. Sadly died young

[Aycliffe-Ferreter 6]

I’ve found a few ferrets in my time often coming home with one extra, but I’ve never had one that was shying away or trying to run. Maybe it will relax in time. 
 

[Bangersanmash 3,347]

On 29/01/2025 at 21:30, Thecooksta1 said:

Hello [BANNED TEXT] the man I got it off had ferreted for over 20years when younger he then offered me to sell me his old stuff which looks abit rough tbh so nothing odd about it all cheers for the advice tho atb. 

Your right there because anyone who's not had ferrets and caught one in his chicken pen. Would have put the garden fork straight threw it. 

[Thecooksta1 64]

38 minutes ago, Bangersanmash said:

Your right there because anyone who's not had ferrets and caught one in his chicken pen. Would have put the garden fork straight threw it. 

Exactly

[Luckee legs 485]

On 29/01/2025 at 18:13, Thecooksta1 said:

Cheers for the advice do you think it would be a good idea to get another? Atb cookie 

It's an interesting question. As wild polecats live alone but that's a lot to do with prey availability. In captivity I've always had at least two ferrets and up to 10 and they always find at least one soulmates in a group and benefit from play etc. in the group.

Castrated hobs are usually very friendly and the best bet to fit into a group IMO. As you have a Jill another Jill should be OK but just be aware sometimes Jill's don't get on with each other. 

You should be able to find a young hob but make sure you budget for and act quickly to get him castrated as the Jill will be in season soon.

Good luck