ferrets training ?????

[hunter1995 92]

Well i am thinking about buying ferret's in the future to go ferreting and i am just wonder do u need to train ferrets to go down rabbit holes and if so how to u train your ferret to go ferreting or is it just instict and all you ahve to do is put them down the warren and also what is better to buy a Jill or a Hob(i am looking to get a least 2)

Edited December 24, 2009 by hunter1995

[Jamie93 57]

I have got some old tubing and put mine through them when they are young, I find that if you put food inside such as raw liver that will associate tunnels with food, thus making them go straight down a warren on their first outing. Then after their first outing they seem to let their natural instinct come out a lot more. As with jills or hobs there are many different opinions on the matter. Well imo i find that jills bolt more and the hobs are better at clearing the stubborn rabbits. So if I were you I would get 3 jills and a hob. Another problem with keeping more than one hob together is that there is a good chance of them fighting once they come in season.

Happy Hunting Jamie93

[8shot 196]

why are you wanting to get 4 ferret..if uve never owned one

just get a hob and jill and get the hob done so they cant have kitts

all you need is to be over run with kitts

with no home to go to

 

atb

[The one 8,598]

1 Use the search bar at the top of the page mate

2 research as much as possible

3 try asking somebody local to you for a day out, some advice

[stealthy1 3,964]

Run my new ferrets through some plastic pipes just to clue them up, it gives you a bit of a head start when you take them out for the first time

[Downunder_Sthn_Ferreter 16]

Hi Hunter 1995,

 

You have a few choices for your needs.

Personally i would suggest either a pair of Jills.

Or two jills & a hob housed seperately.

Consider having them all desexed if they aren't already.

Desexing is usually done when there around 12 months or so.

Don't worry you wont affect their drive to stir up rabbits

 

You can buy a couple of young ones that haven't seen

any work & will be a lot more of a handful than say a ferret

of a year or more in age.

They may not have been handled much & for those who haven't experienced

a bitey young ferret, It can put them off initially.

 

Plenty of handling daily is the key to overcome any nastiness.

I say this as it's no fun being out working your little furry mate

to have him/her try to eat your fingers every time you pick it up.

Putting them through some tubing as mentioned is a top way

of making it that bit easier when you do get them out in the field.

 

You may find the first trip or two is a bit difficult with the ferrets

more interested in playing games, Still you will find that more often

than not one out of the two you have will 'lock' into the game quicker.

It's only a matter of time before its 'mate' soon learns from the other.

 

Rabbit skins are handy also to help increase their interest if they

haven't seen work as they will soon associate this smell when down

a warren.

 

The other option is an adopted ferret(s)

An adopted ferret that has been desexed from a ferret shelter

is another good option as generally they are far more settled &

easier to handle.

 

It sounds as though you haven't owned them before.

Adopted ferrets have been handled a lot & will in most cases,

make it easier to learn the handling of a ferret intitially.

They seem to be a lot more settled when working & take to it

very very quickly, regardless of them not ever seeing a rabbit.

 

Also in a lot of cases with adopted Ferrets, you have a good

backup for any vet issues as most shelters work closely with

vet surgeons in their respective areas.

 

Again pipes or tubing to run through while at home is a good idea

as it gives them good exercise between outings.

 

Cheers,

 

Shaun

[auld salmon 28]

Hi Hunter 1995,

 

You have a few choices for your needs.

Personally i would suggest either a pair of Jills.

Or two jills & a hob housed seperately.

Consider having them all desexed if they aren't already.

Desexing is usually done when there around 12 months or so.

Don't worry you wont affect their drive to stir up rabbits

 

You can buy a couple of young ones that haven't seen

any work & will be a lot more of a handful than say a ferret

of a year or more in age.

They may not have been handled much & for those who haven't experienced

a bitey young ferret, It can put them off initially.

 

Plenty of handling daily is the key to overcome any nastiness.

I say this as it's no fun being out working your little furry mate

to have him/her try to eat your fingers every time you pick it up.

Putting them through some tubing as mentioned is a top way

of making it that bit easier when you do get them out in the field.

 

You may find the first trip or two is a bit difficult with the ferrets

more interested in playing games, Still you will find that more often

than not one out of the two you have will 'lock' into the game quicker.

It's only a matter of time before its 'mate' soon learns from the other.

 

Rabbit skins are handy also to help increase their interest if they

haven't seen work as they will soon associate this smell when down

a warren.

 

The other option is an adopted ferret(s)

An adopted ferret that has been desexed from a ferret shelter

is another good option as generally they are far more settled &

easier to handle.

 

It sounds as though you haven't owned them before.

Adopted ferrets have been handled a lot & will in most cases,

make it easier to learn the handling of a ferret intitially.

They seem to be a lot more settled when working & take to it

very very quickly, regardless of them not ever seeing a rabbit.

 

Also in a lot of cases with adopted Ferrets, you have a good

backup for any vet issues as most shelters work closely with

vet surgeons in their respective areas.

 

Again pipes or tubing to run through while at home is a good idea

as it gives them good exercise between outings.

 

Cheers,

 

Shaun

here here

[hunter1995 92]

thanks for that Shaun i will take all that on board