Kit or Adult?

[matt1979 766]

Just after advice regards getting a couple if ferrets, they will be worked, but i am in no hurry to start working them a my permission is not currently ferreted and owned by family. The question is should a rehome/ buy a couple of adult ferrets or wait for this years kits and start from scratch with them. I havent raised kits before, but have kept adult ferrets before in my youth. My concern is if a get adults and they dont take to working then i dont want to end up getting more which will work, but guess this is a risk with kits as well, but would hope the risk is limited if taken from working parents. Your opinions of the pros and cons would be appreciated.

[The one 8,594]

Wait and get a couple of kits then spend the summer running them threw pipes etc and if they don't work out it will be your fault ,Buying adult ferrets i always think your buying somebody else's problems

[tegater 789]

I agree with The One. Go for this years kits. Most ferrets will hunt naturally, but its working them regularly and getting them at the bunnies that makes them good.

[The one 8,594]

I keep asking myself why would somebody sell a good adult working ferret ?. When i get a good answer to that then i might buy one

[shabadoodoo 16]

most ferrets will work as they are very noisy they like going thru setts

[matt1979 766]

Thanks for the responses, my only real concern with kits is realistically, i work 9 to 5 and will probably be able to handle then for an hour or so daily more at weekends and i have always boxed them up and walked taken them on walks with the dogs usually a couple of hours a day and again more at weekends in the past, with this ammount of contact are they likely to tame up ok? if handled correctly obviously. I should add they would be living in a large court within a shed, so have plenty of exercise opportunity i.e. piping etc.

[tegater 789]

An hour a day is fine, and you will always have the odd bits of time with them at other times.

[The one 8,594]

As long as you spend time with them daily they will be fine ,your not giving them time to forget handling them each day

[tote 870]

Wait and get a couple of kits then spend the summer running them threw pipes etc and if they don't work out it will be your fault ,Buying adult ferrets i always think your buying somebody else's problems

 

I would agree the best option would be to get kits but to say if they don't work out it will be the handlers fault. It's a fact that not all ferrets make the grade so sometimes all the handling/training in the world won't make any difference.

 

I keep asking myself why would somebody sell a good adult working ferret ?. When i get a good answer to that then i might buy one

 

I bought a couple of polecat coloured jills at Lanark market years ago and by feck they could work, the old boy that had them was going blind and was giving up.

 

Just last summer I got given the mother of my jill as the lad that had her was too busy at work and like

the above she can do the damage.

 

Saying that there will be a lot passed on because they haven't made the grade but there's always the exception to the rule.

[Country Joe 1,411]

I supose it all depends on why the person is getting rid,if its someone who has worked them regular, and is, say packing up then why not,

Regarding adult ferts, i was out a mooch years ago, walking along a flood banking, when i noticed rabbits bolting, i hung around thinking it was a stoat, when out popped a Polecat Jill fert, i picked her up, she was tame, and turned out to be a cracker.

I also bought the odd kit at Lowther, and never had one that didnt work,

Interesting Tote mentioning Lanark market,this market has always had a good reputation for picking up good Ferts.

[Neal 1,930]

I've always got my ferrets from a local rescue centre and would normally recommend it...

 

However, when my last two ferrets died last year I replaced them with two more and after nearly a year of owning the latter one I still can't put my hand in the cub without her going straight for me. I'm now wondering whether to take her back and get another or, like yourself, wait and get a kit.

[Mick C. 229]

If your in no rush i would bring a couple of young uns on