Biting ferret

[Temujin 0]

Hi Guys

can anyone offer some advice regarding a biting ferret, I recently bought two seven month old hobs (brothers), I was assured they had been regularly handled, one seems fine and I have handled with only a little mouthing (no more than you would expect from a young puppy), the other is a right mother , every time I pick him up he bites and I mean he chomps!! each time drawing blood, I've tried the 'hold him by the scruff and hiss' , hold him by the scruff and say no' , 'tap his nose whilst mouthing and say no' routine, but tonight he has decided to try and kill my wrist, really chomped me, claret everywhere.... any advice would be appreciated or do I accept the 'mother' is not going to learn and what should I do?

thank you in anticipation.................

[Guest SUPERTED]

Hi Guys

can anyone offer some advice regarding a biting ferret, I recently bought two seven month old hobs (brothers), I was assured they had been regularly handled, one seems fine and I have handled with only a little mouthing (no more than you would expect from a young puppy), the other is a right mother , every time I pick him up he bites and I mean he chomps!! each time drawing blood, I've tried the 'hold him by the scruff and hiss' , hold him by the scruff and say no' , 'tap his nose whilst mouthing and say no' routine, but tonight he has decided to try and kill my wrist, really chomped me, claret everywhere.... any advice would be appreciated or do I accept the 'mother' is not going to learn and what should I do?

thank you in anticipation.................

already started on the 1st post you put up pal

[Kay 3,709]

scruffing, nose tapping etc will make it worse , there coming into season as well which can change there temprement as well & can turn the most docile hob into a nightmare,

 

Are they rough with each other when there playing ?

[Brimmer 220]

Just get gloved up to start with, it can be less painfull. Eventually the attacks will subside.

Then it's time to go in with the bare hand, don't leave the tender bit's exposed, approach with a clenched fist showing the back of your knuckles only, (It's hurts less there!)

Some animals will always have a 'sharp end'. Especially a fired up working animal.

As they get older, they bite less with regular handling.

Time's a great healer!

[Sterry 0]

i've tried puttin bit of mustard on my hand so when it does bite gets a mouth of the hot stuff but your situation seems bit more serious, it might subside when it gets used to being around you and that your not a thing to be chewing on.

[Rolfe 2]

Just put a glove on if it is biting that much and gently pick it up and handle it with care......don't grab it and flick its nose and scare it........it needs to see your hands are something pleasant.........not something it thinks is attacking it. It will soon realise that you mean it no harm and will become less agressive. You will get better results with kindness every time.

[para1 11]

As Brimmer says mate glove. get it used to being picked up stroking it with the other ungloved hand he will settle. Then no glove be patient and don't hit it.Trust is the magic word (on both sides)

[brad88 133]

i go t told by a old guy by me fairy liquid on your hand when they try to bite you they wont like the taste lol i know it sounds stupid but he swears it works ive never tried it

[Fat-Ferret 857]

Ferretone...Tis the magic golden liquid that willl turn the biggest angriest Hob into a little kitten...Just put it on your other hand when you lift him and after a few times he will realise being handled is good, You will get Ferretone on ebay

[tomthehunter 0]

if you are feeding it rabbits ect dont because they will start to go for you thinking that you are food and handle them at least 30 mins a day with gloves on.

[Kay 3,709]

I am not supprised people end up biters when the animals being subject to nose flicking , etc & having mustard in its mouth , there still young animals & do respond to kindness not brute force

[col g 0]

get the gloves on mate.ive got a huge sandy hob that was exactly the same.its now getting used to me handling it.i found when it was trying to bite me was to put youre finger in its mouth.they soon realise that fingers are not to be bitten and are really too big to be able to do anything with.i got this tip off john-b and it does work.ive also started to rub its head with the glove on just to see how it would react.its never fkinched once and thinks im playing with it.you need to try and earn the ferrets trust or youre in for a long hard battle.stick at it mate and im sure it will come right

[Temujin 0]

Appreciate the comments guys (note the use of a non-sexist term)! I will try again with some welding gauntlets, felt like stretching the little blighter tonight, but accept I am still new to him.

He is very aggressive with his brother, continually grabbing him by the neck and dragging him around, thought he was going to kill him earlier today, but having read posts on this site, resisted the temptation to separate them. I have not feed them rabbit he is james wellbeloved ferret food.

I used to show Rotts (over 20yrs ago) and currently have an Akita (12yrs old) so I have been used to being nipped by puppies, but this little hissing ball really did mean it, I could feel the little so and so chomping against the bone, so no doubt I am going to be a little wary tomorrow..... but as you all seem to say persistance will pay off, lets hope so..........

[John-B 4]

First things first mate, DO NOT! let the ferret know that you are scared of it, if you go to pick it up make sure you DO pich it up and not snatch your hand away as any sharp movements will make it wary and more nervous of you, open it's cage door and hold a few little titbits in your hands and let it come to you, let it take the titbits so you are building up a relationship and trust with it. If when you have got it in your hands and it's wriggling allover and restless i will hold it by the scruff of the neck between thumb and forefinger for a few seconds the get a good grip with the other hand, once you have a good grip bring it close to your chest and stroke it from top to bottom nice and slowly, do this for maybe 5 minutes at a time a few times a day if it is still trying to bite you have to be brave and put your finger sideways on into it's mouth and force it open this will teach the ferret that fingers aren't tasty and show it who's boss, I have never had to glove a ferret and only been bitten once and that was on the nose but that was me being stupid with a young ferret, Most importantly though don't show it you're scared and offer a few titbits.

[Brimmer 220]

You may need to split the two brothers up as the year draws on though. Just depends on whether you can stomach a little homo/incest thing!