Guest Woody Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Right, I'm looking to the more experienced ferreters amongst you for guidance! A farmer has asked me to help him out with a rat problem! Apparently he's 'over-run' with rats. He asked me to have a go with the ferrets, but I'm a bit wary, as my ferrets havent been innocullated against anything. Personally, I'd rather take the dogs down there. Any thoughts? Quote Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,100 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Right, I'm looking to the more experienced ferreters amongst you for guidance! A farmer has asked me to help him out with a rat problem! Apparently he's 'over-run' with rats. He asked me to have a go with the ferrets, but I'm a bit wary, as my ferrets havent been innocullated against anything. Personally, I'd rather take the dogs down there. Any thoughts? So long as your dogs are steady with the ferrets mate ,then go for it.Only do the rat buries in soil to start with and fit the ferret with the micro ferret collar.Rat holes are a lot tighter than rabbit holes hense the need for the smaller collar.The innoculation thing is a shady area as I dont know whether they can be done against leptospirosis ,the rat spread killer.Most farms that have a bad rat problem are untidy and suggesting to the farmer to maybe move a few things like tyres ,bales,sheets of tin and stacked wood,shouldnt be a problem.Buries under concrete are best either smoked out or flooded with water.This minimises ferrets killing in places where digging is not an option.The ferret /dog combination is a very lethal and satisfying way of controlling the rat.Do a reconisence of the farm at night ,this will show you where the majority of the rats are . Quote Link to post
Guest the dogs bollok Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 i say you smoke the fuckers out and take the dogs because if the rats are cornered by the ferret they will fight back and this could lead to the loss of a ferret Quote Link to post
Guest Woody Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 i say you smoke the fuckers out and take the dogs because if the rats are cornered by the ferret they will fight back and this could lead to the loss of a ferret That was my thinking. My ferrets aren't very experienced against rabbits anyway. Thanks for the advice everyone, keep it coming! Quote Link to post
Guest Woody Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 I just found an almost identical post to this in the Terriers section. Apologies to you all for having to repeat yourselves! Quote Link to post
Guest markbrick1 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 To this day ive never lost a ferret to rat's... i ve had them badly bitten and get infection's and swelling's but none have been beaten of a rat.. ..A ferret is far superior to a rat and will kill one very quick once it's been out a few time's...only if it's a good decent ferret by the way.. ...otherwise it will just walk out making your terrier out to be a lier even though they is something in there.. Millet if your ferret is good with rabbits i wouldnt use it now with rats many of ferrets have had a good hiding of a doe with young as she will protect her siblings if there not that good then go for it try it it is good fun Quote Link to post
Guest RobW71 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 As I said on the Terrier Fourum, "I value my Ferrets too much, to mess around with rats" Regards Rob Quote Link to post
Guest Woody Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Cheers for all the replies guys. I went down their and had a scout about today, to see what I'm up against. Took the air rifle with me just in case- only saw one: killed one. The place is riddled with rat holes, but the farmer has already got loads of 'bait stations' all over the place. We're gonna take my terriers down there sometime in the next couple of weeks, and try to smoke them out. No way I'm putting any of my ferrets in those holes. Quote Link to post
Guest MOLLY Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Ive never seen a ferret yet VERY badly hurt by a rat, if the going gets to bad the ferret comes out, and they all work to rats and rabbits. If a ferret doesnt want to work to rats then it wont...simple. Doe rats usually leave their young to protect themselves. You are no more likely to catch anything from a rat on a ferret than you are from your terriers...good normal hygiene is all that is required...common sense really, wash your hands after touching a ferret/terrier wether it has been in contact with a rat or not, and never allow them near your face MOLL. Quote Link to post
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