Few daft questions about ferreting

[staffyspen 43]

As above,

 

Just a few silly questions I have to ask about ferreting and ferret behaviour,

when handling my hob, he's relatively calm, put him down and he jumps around the floor, "chuffing" away at me, pretty much trying to nip/bite no matter how much handling!

I also have a Jill here who is never calm, continuously trying to nip/bite when being handled or down,

 

Now I wished to work these ferts bu obviously with these traits it's looking not so good of an idea,

 

1; have you ever given up on a fert, if so what did you do with it,

2; bit of a daft question but how often do you get bit by your workers?

 

I visited a bloke by me with "workers" for sale, the b*****d thing savaged my fingers!!!

My thinking is, if I put my hand down a hole, I want to trust that my fert ain't going to try and take my finger off!!!!

 

Thanks

[Ideation 8,217]

They are just playing mate.

[staffyspen 43]

Suppose until I try them "in the field", then I'll never know whether the playful ferts will change into hunt mode!!

It's not that I'm scared of being bit/nipped, not that I like it either, or that I'm going to fob them off,

I'm just in the process of building a court for them with plenty to do in there!!

Just some genuine things I like to ask!!

 

Also, do you find them "better behaved" when they have more space, let's say if you transfer then from a hutch to a largish court??

 

Thanks

[reddawn 2,173]

they are just getting excited and playing, spend as much time with them as possible, an just keep handlng them, they will work, most do

[derbylad1 293]

how old are they mate?are they this years youngens? just a bit excitable...should calm down soon enough.

[darbo 4,779]

just handle them confidently and do it regular. the more space for your ferrets the better.dont think negative everything will be fine with time and patience.

[stroller 341]

dont be wary of them handle them confidently just like you would a kitten or a puppy. they are really playful in their first year and even when working they are like excited teenagers. Im amazed by some people who have had ferrets for years but are still a bit cautious/frightened of them. patience and lots of kind confident handling.

[staffyspen 43]

how old are they mate?are they this years youngens? just a bit excitable...should calm down soon enough.

 

Hob is last years, Jill is year before, both rescues!!

Once the court is done I think they will calm down a little more,

Think iv just been blessed with a really well behaved hob, these two are a whole lot different!!

 

Cheers

[mikeball 108]

They will down mate don't wurry it don't sound like they are nasty think they are just playing about and for biteing when out ferreting most people wouldn't take it out the last thing you want is to be bit evevry time it come up lol

[skycat 6,174]

Pick them up firmly behind the head, then put your other hand round the body. Don't be afraid to hold them firmly. Ferrets will take advantage if you are scared to hold on to them properly. Many won't stay still in your hands no matter what, keep wriggling forwards, can't stay still. That's normal. Takes a while for a ferret to just hand there in your hand. You can get them used to being held by holding round the shoulders and neck while you stroke them firmly all down their bodies with your other hand: they like that: just hold their bodies and let your hand slide right down the whole body to the tail tip. Do this over and over again while you hold them.

 

Also, when going to pick them up, attract their attention with one hand, then grasp firmly round neck and shoulders with the other. Don't be tentative, and keep jerking your hand back: that will encourage them to leap forward at your hand and nip.

 

To stop biting when you are holding them, either stick your whole knuckle into their jaws so they can't close them: not nearly as painful as it sounds. You'll get a few dents in your skin, but with a mouth wide open they can't close their teeth on your knuckle. Also try putting a drop of milk on the palm of your free hand and let the ferret lick it off. If they do get a hold of your skin, don't drag your hand away as they'll tear your skin.

 

Trick is to be firm without hurting the ferret, but let it know you are confident and won't take any silliness. Sounds easy, and I know its hard if your'e not used to little biting things, but practice breeds confidence, and it can't kill you even if it does bite hard LOL

[Malt 379]

As above, they're trying to initiate play with you. With enough confidence (and thick enough skin!) you can get a ferret tame enough to play mouth you like a dog does without hurting you. The ferrets don't want to hurt you, but ferrets are tough little buggers and don't realise that what they do to each other is often painful to humans. You need to let the ferret know it's hurting you when it's being too rough. I also find jills a lot more skittish than hobs, but then that's females for you in general...

 

Once you get them out in the field and down a few holes, they shouldn't do it so much while you're actually out.

[t10shp 20]

ive got the same problemwith my jill except when i go near her she jumps back and when i do get her out then got to pick her back up she arches her back and hisses, any ideas [NO TEXT TALK]?

[Brimmer 220]

Picking them up, approach slowly, kneel down at the side of them and offer up your knuckles slowly on one hand before picking them up around the shoulder/neck area.

Dont grab or whizz around them, be patient, no matter how long it takes.

[Brimmer 220]

Also i get nailed a few times a year whilst working the critters, it always down to me. They always seem to draw blood, but its always accidental, usually by trying to bully my way past them with my arm up a tube, drawing the rabbit.

They wont usually nail you when the job is on, but it happens when they are fired up and not respecting what they do.

[BrianSteven72 369]

ferrets just playing with you if it bites you for real it will leave you in no dought the difference is unmistakeable