New To Ferreting, Need Advice.

[brownyest01 4]

Hello I'm new to ferreting and I'm 12 years old, and I would like advice on how to care for my ferret and what to feed it, your comments will be gratefully appreciated, thanks.

[3 and counting 22]

Hi,

 

Ferts/carpet sharks/stinkers whatever you choose to call yours eat meat/specialist dry food. If you go for the dry mix then make sure their water bottles are kept topped up with fresh water daily. Ours are fed on dry mix from the local farm supplies topped up with raw chicken drumsticks (1 a day) or rabbit when there available. Try to give them a mixture of food from a young age as they can become set in their ways and don't take to different foods when older. Also a raw egg once a week wont hurt them. If you can get a copy of 'Working Ferrets' by Jackie Drakeford. Loads of info and written in a way that's easy to understand. General care is easy, ours come out to run around the front room for a few hours a day to play and burn off some of the endless energy they have. Handle them everyday and you can't go wrong.

 

Of course there are some folk on here that will say they are workers and should be outside, but if you/your parents dont mind the slight smell then there is no problem with having them in the house. Litter training them is easy as they will decide where their toilet is and all you need to do is put the litter tray there, ours use our cats one when in the house now which is a bonus. Keep the cage/hutch cleaned daily and pop in a tube or two for them to play in. We have some cat balls with the bell in and they love running round with it or pushing it round with their nose.

 

Hope this helps for now until someone else replies with anything I have missed.

 

Bri

[Josh1996 14]

My mate normally just feeds his the rabbits they catch or if not he gives them cat food i think. I'm no into ferreting but i've been a few times. It's decent good luck with your new ferret.

[3 and counting 22]

forgot to say about the cat food. just watch the 'cereal' and salt content as its used in cheaper brands to bulk it out and being carnivours it'll bind them up.

[briggo88 2]

don't give them cat food they just get the run's and can dehydrate, dry ferret food/chicken/rabbit is good,no high salt meat like bacon

[brownyest01 4]

Hello I'm new to ferreting and I'm 12 years old, and I would like advice on how to care for my ferret and what to feed it, your comments will be gratefully appreciated, thanks.

thanks every one for the replys has helped a lot

[Country Joe 1,411]

Hi Browny,

Welcome to the world of Ferreting.

I have read a few books on the subject, and if you are a reader, then I would go for, Ferreting An Essential Guide, by Simon Whitehead, tells you all you need to know, and is up to date.

Even having a section on how to use Debens new Mark 3 Ferret Finder.

Or if you prefer DVDs contact mrpit on here, he sells them in threes very reasonably.

I would go for Ferrets and Ferreting by Simon Whitehead,

Coney Catcher vol 1

Coney Catcher vol 2.

Theres also lots of stuff on ferreting, and how to use finders on Youtube.

You don't say what Gender your ferrets or ferret is, Jills are better being brought out of Season, some use the Vet for a Jill jab, others a Vasecomied Hob, if using the latter, you would be better asking locally, maybe someone could help you out.

A single Hob would be okay, but most do like company, and two Hobs could fight in the breeding season.

If you look at all the posts on this sight, you will find all info on hutches, feeding, and working.

hope this has been helpful,

CJ.