Nasty Ferrets - Any Hope?

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I've got 2 Jills here, about 8 months old.

 

Picked them up about 3 weeks ago from a lad off here who said they didn't bite. First day Jill 1 Nailed me good and proper, put it down to stress of moving about etc. Jill 2 was really nervous and wouldn't come near me, froze stiff when i picked her up but didn't bite.

 

Anyway - about 5 days later I had them both really tame. No nipping at all. Then 2 days ago the previously timid Jill that never bit me once started biting and then the original biter started biting aswell.

 

Yesterday and today it's got to the point where they make a beeline for me when I go into the run and just attack. While im changing the water they will both dive on me and sink there teeth in, not just nipping - locking on and drawing blood.

 

I handle all my ferrets at least daily for anything from 10 mins to an hour and my 2 Hobs don't know what biting a human is anymore!

 

Is there any explanation for there strange change in behaviour and more to the point is there any hope of getting them tame?

 

They are really nice Jills but no amount of handling seems to settle them.

 

Thanks

 

Gaz

[martnmagik 68]

what blood is in the ferrets mate? ive had some nasty f****rs in the past and most have turned out ok with time exept 2, they where sisters and remained all ther life evil little bitches, untill they went out to work! it seemed they just hated being in a hutch/pen. hows rocky getting on?

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I haven't got a clue what blood is in them mate. One is a sandy and one is a light poley. Both with red eyes. Litter sisters.

 

They have got a 10 x 8 run so loads of space, clean, well fed. Couldn't ask for much more.

 

I feel like im wasting space in the hutch/run, food and cleaning up un-necessary waste for 2 ferrets I can't handle or work.

 

PM sent about rocky.

 

Thanks

 

Gaz

[Millet 4,497]

Keep them well fed when handleing them alway's move slow and pick them up slow..if they do attemt to bite you i find that clenching your fist and ramming your knuckle in there mouth's seem's to deter them from biting you in the end..

[andy mecca 5]

try and keep them seperated and give them some more time handling,see what happens then, if there's no change quick dispatch.

[theferreter 311]

theres always hope for biters just handle them more

[The one 8,585]

Feed them handle them mate and you should see a big difference in a couple of weeks if there still nailing you different from nipping them its up to you to make your mind up what to do with them . I find holding them in one hand and running your other hand down there body comforts and reassures them .

 

As i said its up to you how long you persevere with them but a ferret you don't trust when your sticking your hand in a dead end to pull out a rabbits no use to anybody

[martnmagik 68]

theres always hope for biters just handle them more

i disagree mate, that pair i had were handled 2-3 times a day every day if not more. i had them for over 5 years and they still twatted me every chance they got. but while out working them they didnt even attempt to bite me, but back home in the court was a different story

[Rake aboot 4,936]

Any ferret will eventually settle,

Try spit on yer hands,, let them lick it off,, calms them,, Or a ferret paste, They adore that,, also helps,,

 

Just persevere,, I`ve had some tough ones, but they all came good,, even the worst, still made workers.

 

Good luck bud

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Okay cheers lads. Will preservere a bit longer

[ryhope toma 42]

handle them every day , fist first always when picking them up . me grandads old tip was to spit on the side of your hand and let them lick it off to get to know your cent , probably an old wives tale or should i say grandads tale !

[DanRaistrick 53]

when i got my poley jill she was a little twat! used to bite me allll of the time and sometimes used to attack the other ferrets.

 

after id took her out the 2nd time and i put her in my pocket whilst walking about she just fell asleep and has never bit since, shes soft as muck!

 

out of all of my 4 she is the only one who has ever even attempted to bite, they all seem to love the attention and the more i give them the better they get.

 

my only advice is to keep handling them, if they bite a flick on the nose should stop them and just keep it going... theyll get bored of biting eventually.... (i hope) lol

[pappabear 128]

hi our 2 were biting and malt paste was reccommended to me on here and touch wood they are now good as gold i just put a small bit on the back of my hand and while they were licking it off pick him up with the other hand it was the best £5 i have spent they now come in the kitchen every evening for a run around , good luck with them

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Okay thanks for further replies.

 

Regards flicking on nose - if I flick these Jills on there noses they attack worse, hissing and spitting and twisting around to bite somewhere else.

 

If I offer knuckle, they bite it lol.

 

I'm cool with biting and nipping but these are savage.

 

Gaz

[Jamie m 668]

Give them time to settle and get used to things call them when going down to feed , good luck mate sounds like you need it lol