Missie 1 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 My daughter has decided that she wants to keep ferrets. I can't keep them here as I don't have the room and I KNOW that my greyhound bitch would eat them so I told her to speak to my dad who has said provided she gets everything she needs she can keep them at the farm... He kept ferrets when we were children, I had a pet polecat but what I want is a bit of advice on starting with them, everything that I need and any advice you guys have. I'm hoping to get my lurcher steady to ferrets too and from his reaction to them at the weekend I think he'll be ok so they will serve a dual purpose. If the man from ferretworld who did the display at Highclere happens to read this, its your fault she wants them! :laugh: :laugh: Link to post
Missie 1 Posted May 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Noone got any advice for me? Link to post
will.f11 24 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 buy some that dont bite lol Link to post
olliedakennard 0 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Well i will start you off, Housing: Ferrets need space to run around and play in, this should also include tubes, pipes and lots of toys for them to play with. You need a cage that has easy access to clean and feed youre ferrets in. There needs to be a sheltered bed which should have a type of bedding in either hay, straw, sawdust or papershreddings.. The cage needs to be 100% safe from predators like foxes and should be scure so the ferret cant escape. Feeding: Ferrets will eat nearly anything, but the main diet for ferrets is rabbit, dry food and and other birds or land animals e.g mice, pigeons, crow, magpie, pheasent in season, and squirrels. But as i say the main diet is rabbit and dry food. Ferrets should always have clean and fresh water to access!!! Food and water is a MUST at ALL times!!!!!!!! Handling: Ferrets need to be handled the main reason for the rspca being packed with ferrets is because the lack of handling causing the owner to get bitten. Ferrets need to be handled as much as possible they love it and the more you handle them and get to know them they should never bite you, if a ferret bites you it should be given a flick on the nose and a strict "NO", if the ferret persists to bite then you can put vinegar on youre hands and this will discourage the ferret to bite you. Any other help you need just email me and i am here to help! Link to post
Guest bigredbusa Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 does she want them as pets or workers ? Link to post
will.f11 24 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 I would say that an exersise run would be good. It can be an attached one or just a run with toys which you can put and take ferrets out of and into when needed. this should be in a sheltered place on slabs or level concrete. Ferrets love to dig and you will have lost them after an hour of putting them in! Link to post
Missie 1 Posted May 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Thanks for that. She wants them for pets BRB. I suppose she could use them with my lurcher in time but the intention is as pets. Link to post
will.f11 24 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Thanks for that. She wants them for pets BRB. I suppose she could use them with my lurcher in time but the intention is as pets. she will get bored with them as pets and want to start getting him in warrens and catching its tea! lol. Where are you getting the fert from? Link to post
The one 8,533 Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Get a pair there socialable animals Link to post
Missie 1 Posted May 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Thanks for that. She wants them for pets BRB. I suppose she could use them with my lurcher in time but the intention is as pets. she will get bored with them as pets and want to start getting him in warrens and catching its tea! lol. Where are you getting the fert from? I'm not sure yet, I know there are some ferret rescues locally but i'll look into it in more detail when we're actually ready to get them. I've already said we'll probably get a pair as i've heard they are quite social animals. My dad always kept more than one. Is it best to have one of each sex or can 2 hobs or 2 jills be kept together without fighting? My dad knows far more about them than I do but I want to do this properly and get as much research as possible. Link to post
para1 11 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 get 3 jills go for a mix of colours as my little sister whos four loves all my ferrets bye a cheepish garden shed or wendy house thats what i did and atach pipes hammocks platforms slides let your imagination run wild as ferret are very clever and get bored easyily make sure its water tight in the winter ferrets can get damp and become ill make sure there is a wooden box or too within easy climbing range to sleep in stuff it with hay or paper shreddings ( go too local school or prism and you get them free ) and most importantly make sure they have easy water eaither a heavey flat bowl or a bottle drinker and lots of food i have dry in 24/7 and put rabbit heads in eavy now and then hope this helps you and good luck with your new ferretys Yep I would have put you down as a wendy house type person, with that hair. Link to post
runforyourlife 361 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 get 3 jills go for a mix of colours as my little sister whos four loves all my ferrets bye a cheepish garden shed or wendy house thats what i did and atach pipes hammocks platforms slides let your imagination run wild as ferret are very clever and get bored easyily make sure its water tight in the winter ferrets can get damp and become ill make sure there is a wooden box or too within easy climbing range to sleep in stuff it with hay or paper shreddings ( go too local school or prism and you get them free ) and most importantly make sure they have easy water eaither a heavey flat bowl or a bottle drinker and lots of food i have dry in 24/7 and put rabbit heads in eavy now and then hope this helps you and good luck with your new ferretys Yep I would have put you down as a wendy house type person, with that hair. LOL Link to post
olliedakennard 0 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 Yep I would have put you down as a wendy house type person, with that hair. Haha laugh out loud hahaha Link to post
olliedakennard 0 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 ps dont put 2 hobs together as they will fight unless i think they are brothers or have grown up together but not %100 sure Thats not true atall you are going by gossip, you can keep two hobs together fine be brother or stranger, trust me i had 4 hobs at one stage all not related! Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 Missie if you go down the rescue route theres a probability they will be neutered before you collect them, depending where you are you can expect to pay at least 25 quid per ferret , but if you want them as pets thats what i would do as there primarly for your little girl, it wont matter what sex you have if you do that Link to post
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