looking to start

[hunter16 0]

hi im looking to start ferreting jus wundering if i could use ferrets for rats aswell as bolting rabbits and what sort of job would they be able to do on the rats.....the ditch beside my house covered in rat holes and their pathways can be seen clearly but as i have no smoker i canot get them out for the dogs..... atb Brian

[hunter16 0]

will be baby rats in nest just noo

so the female will stand her ground, most will still bolt tho

 

id get a smoker, an use it when you cannae use the ferrets

 

rat all year then,

 

thanks for the reply donnie.... is ther anyway of making a trap so to let the dogs at them.... any links or advice would be great

[hunter16 0]

sure theres a book for sale somewhere on here

it tells you how tae make traps,

 

work out a lot cheaper than buying traps

 

cheers mate

[Ron Weasley 83]

Personally I wouldn't work my ferrets against rats. A doe rat protecting a nest of young will give a good fight to a ferret, and I'd rather not put my ferrets through that. Your call though mate!

[Guest mutz nutz]

Can you get hold of an old 2 stroke engine? strimmer chainsaw etc, only needs the engine working. attach a length of copper pipe to the exhaust add a bit of extra oil to the mix, put the other end of the copper tube down a hole and rev away, hopefully after a little it should drive some rats out in to the mouths of your waiting dogs, if you got them hang some nets around to slow them up, leave plenty of room for the dog to work though.

Dont know if you have your way but the website freecycle would be good for getting an old engine, its basically where people get rid of stuff they no longer need, all free, and you can ask if anyone has one you could have. google it and see if there a site near you. Got my whole ferret palace from there, and it huge. only cost me the screws and petrol to pick the bits up.(6x4 shed 3 storys of hutchs inside and pipe leading to another hutch with a 4x5 run underneath, all for my 2 gills!)

I personaly wouldnt use ferrets for rats, but others do, guess mine are a bit spoilt, but very happy healthy and very fit, brilliant rabbiters as a result.

All the best mate

Neil

[The one 8,579]

Your picking a bad time to start ferreting anything mate everythings breeding ,if youve not got a smoker for the rats you might just be better mouching about till the breeding season slows down