WORKING FERRETS?

[Guest Frank]

Right, after much debate at a recent shoot at my local range and on another forum, i want to know when folks start their ferts working when they are young and its their first season.

 

I have never in the past, had problems starting them after 16 weeks old, usually around september, but some folk seem to have a problem with this.

They prefer to start them at a later stage.

I think a lot depends on the individual ferret, some seem to start straight away, others take a wee bit longer, which i use to keep back.

 

So, take a pick, when do you start yours?

If you could explain your reasons, that would be great, would be interesting to know peoples experiences.

Thanks,

Frank.

[Guest chilli]

i wouldnt expect much out of them till the 2nd season , let them do a little but not a lot . I wouldnt dream of putting a 16 week old ferret in the ground your a c**t if you do imho .

[Guest Frank]

Well iv never had a problem with it before?

Now saying this, it was small burrys, with the odd bunny in it, prehaps once a week or every 2 weeks,

Frank.

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

My kits were born in may and will be entered on my first outing wich will be begining sept !

 

cant wait

[Guest chilli]

You lads feed them you do what you want with them , Id not expect much of them an i wouldnt do much with them , I bet more ferrets get passed on as shit workers through early starting than anything else .

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

i done this last season and the two jills i have turned out to be the best ferretts iv seen.

 

[Kay 3,709]

You lads feed them you do what you want with them , Id not expect much of them an i wouldnt do much with them , I bet more ferrets get passed on as shit workers through early starting than anything else .

 

My 2 ferret were born 1st of may and i wouldnt work them untill around christmas, allow them time to mature, all my 2 do is play with each other, i dont think at this stage they will be of much use , would it not be better to take them out with a mature ferret who knows the ropes, i dont like the idea of 13 week old kits working it dosent seem right,

 

If you know your kits you should know the point they stop being kits & become adults, my 2 still look like kits & behave like them as well

[Guest Frank]

You lads feed them you do what you want with them , Id not expect much of them an i wouldnt do much with them , I bet more ferrets get passed on as shit workers through early starting than anything else .

 

I agree with Ricky. Iv had the same results, excellent workers firts time round and lasted for years to come.

Dont forget, polecats in the wild, if they dont hunt in their first year, they starve to death!!

Think about that one.

Frank.

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

as i say i entered mines last year in a five hole set in september and they bolted 8 rabbits.

 

i dont rely on them to do all the work but thats how they start and these two jills are verry good workers.

[Guest Frank]

 

 

My 2 ferret were born 1st of may and i wouldnt work them untill around christmas, allow them time to mature, all my 2 do is play with each other, i dont think at this stage they will be of much use , would it not be better to take them out with a mature ferret who knows the ropes, i dont like the idea of 13 week old kits working it dosent seem right,

 

If you know your kits you should know the point they stop being kits & become adults, my 2 still look like kits & behave like them as well

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Errr, who said 13 weeks?? , im talking from 16 weeks onwards and only gentle entering, not huge mega warrens with 100s of holes.

I agree about knowing your ferret, if you spend time with it, you should get to know when they are ready, i know 2 of mine are in september.

Frank.

 

as i say i entered mines last year in a five hole set in september and they bolted 8 rabbits.

 

i dont rely on them to do all the work but thats how they start and these two jills are verry good workers.

 

Know where your coming from mate.

Frank.

[Kay 3,709]

You lads feed them you do what you want with them , Id not expect much of them an i wouldnt do much with them , I bet more ferrets get passed on as shit workers through early starting than anything else .

 

I agree with Ricky. Iv had the same results, excellent workers firts time round and lasted for years to come.

Dont forget, polecats in the wild, if they dont hunt in their first year, they starve to death!!

Think about that one.

Frank.

 

But ferrets are domesticated polecats are not

[Guest The Big Fish]

these types of threads always make me chuckle, some say dont do this, others say you must do that.

 

Just for the record last year i started my young kits off at 4 months old, now their going like the fecking clappers.

Last week i took one of my new kits out who also happens to be 4 months old and believe it or not she was bolting rabbits Stunning isnt it :11:

 

OBVIOUSLY, kits in thier first year will never be as good as tried and tested 1 or 2 year olds, they are still learning the tricks ffs. But wait until they are a year old before you try them and they have to learn it from scratch then.

Realy is common sense.........

[Ricky-N.p.p 0]

You lads feed them you do what you want with them , Id not expect much of them an i wouldnt do much with them , I bet more ferrets get passed on as shit workers through early starting than anything else .

 

I agree with Ricky. Iv had the same results, excellent workers firts time round and lasted for years to come.

Dont forget, polecats in the wild, if they dont hunt in their first year, they starve to death!!

Think about that one.

Frank.

 

But ferrets are domesticated polecats are not

 

 

still the same animal tho ??

[Guest Frank]

You lads feed them you do what you want with them , Id not expect much of them an i wouldnt do much with them , I bet more ferrets get passed on as shit workers through early starting than anything else .

 

I agree with Ricky. Iv had the same results, excellent workers firts time round and lasted for years to come.

Dont forget, polecats in the wild, if they dont hunt in their first year, they starve to death!!

Think about that one.

Frank.

 

But ferrets are domesticated polecats are not

 

Well, this is true, but ferrets still have the strong instinct, well, good ones do, thats for sure.

Frank.

[Guest chilli]

:11: :11: :11: :11: a ferret isnt a polecat :11: :11: :11: :11:

 

and before someone trys to be picky , i mean they are different mentality . no a different species

Edited August 12, 2006 by chilli