GazCross

Ferretone is so full of chemicals, preservatives and sugars it is not legal to import into UK due to animal welfare standards. Not saying your a dealer but best left avoided. Glad your biter turned a corner though. Atb. No idea whats in it, but it works. Bought in the UK too.....from the local pet shop.

We had one that was a bugger. Mrs tried everything even resorted to wearing gloves etc. Do you what sorted it? Feretone. Worth every penny as it stopped the biting overnight. Couldnt ask for a nicer ferret now.

OK. Age is fine. I'd start off while she is scoffing her tea....from distance and build up. Dont forget a starter pistol sounds nothing like a shotgun....so you will have to introduce her to the gun too.

Joycey...same boat mate. Not many rabbits about here either with the weather, mixy and that virus.....however at night there does seem to be a lot more about. I've just entered a 2012 MHH on rabbit and was thinking he might like a bit of lamping. So any advice on lamps would good. I've been looking at the LED lamps on ebay. Is there a preference? ATB Gaz

How old is she?

How old is the dog? Has it heard shot before? One of the best and cheapest ways I found was to walk from some distance away towards a clay pigeon shoot. Easy and effective. There is potential to spoil a 'nervy' dog. Dont just fire the pistol in his face (I'm sure you wont). Make loud noises as hes eating his ration and slowly introduce him to the 'bangs' so hes not frightened.

Cheers guys. Yes DOC is day old chick (cockerels). They are a staple for hawks and the nutrition has been tested and an article written by Vet Neil Forbes. Funnily rabbit is classed as a low nutrition food and is given when reducing weight. Hare on the other hand is rich as are quail and rat/mice. These are given during the moult.

As above. Get a mentor, read loads and get everything in place BEFORE the bird....this includes telemetry and land to fly on. Try and get out with some experienced austringers. Good luck.

Has the bird been entered?

Thanks for the welcomes. I'm looking forward to reporting on it....hes this years bird and my first. Hes not been entered yet....seems there is a lack of quarry this season, ive never known it like this before.

Funny one. What has she experienced that made her drop the first one and so made her think all blinds are the same? Was it a rotten one? I agree by not making a fuss however by not trying to correct it could that impound the situation? Is it simply confidence? Although she is picking up so its likely a bad memory that has caused this. Perhaps on the next blind retrieve you could catch up with her and encourage her to 'mouth' it and see if she will hold it. Other than that its probably back to the training field and 'set up' some retrieves with MASSIVE praise and encouragement. All my opin

Ive not trained a spaniel but have trained labs. My advice is DONT RUSH things. It doesnt matter if hes not working this season.....there will be umpteen more seasons. Get him right and steady and he'll neve forget. Rush him and he'll be a nightmare....ATB Gaz.

Some good advice above that I can only repeat. Folk introduce game too early and concentrate too much on retrieves leading to running in. Is that the pup in your photo ant? Looks a cracker. Where did you get him from mate? looking for something similar next year myself. Gaz.

Hi, I'm 44 and live and work in the Over Wyre area of Lancashire. I have a male harris' hawk. We have four ferrets that I would like to start working and hoping to get a Cocker Spaniel or similar to assist in my forays. I've been hunting/shooting all my life, but this is my first time on this forum...I do have experience of other forums though so I'm aware of forum etiquette (some are far worse than others!). Married with three kids(two grown up and youngest is ten) and a Blackpool FC season ticket holder .

We have 4 small spayed jills. They don't work at the moment but I hope to change that this week. Up till now we have been feeding dry food, but after reading some posts on here about dry food I took the decision to feed them docs that I have for my hawk and a full rabbit carcass. They were hesitant at first but now love the food. My question is quantity. How many docs would a SINGLE ferret NEED to be healthy? I do understand this would change with certain weather conds and the time of year etc and also how much energy they are expending but just as an average. Also do the docs ne