Where Do You Get Your Ferrets?

[Ratreeper 441]

I have had dozens of ferrets over the last 15-16 years and have never been without one. I used to get them from mates, pet auctions and ferret rescues but now I live in Dorset I am not sure where to look for good lines. I don't have any working stock at the minute so would like a couple of gills and a hob for the girlfriend as a pet (hers died recently).

 

My mrs has looked at local rescues but some of the terms are ridiculous, the local RSPCA reserves the right to visit you without warning and take your ferrets away at any time, I have already said I will never deal with the RSPCA as they are cruel b*****ds.

 

Anyway in the past I haven't minded hanging on to non-workers as pets (like the useless stinker I have now, utterly pointless but loveable creature) as I had the space for them in a large shed/run, but now I will just have a chicken run (8 X 6 X 7) so don't want more than four and from experience most ferrets will work, but the exceptional ones are quite scarce to come by (I reckon maybe 1 in 10 were not worth taking out, 1 in 20 have been mentally good).

 

Anyway, if anyone can help me find a couple of good gills that would be fantastic. Not fussed about the price as it can cost £75 just to get them spayed, they will be going to a good home for life no matter what but I would like to hedge my bets they will do the job very well. Last year's litter would be perfect but would consider any age.

 

For the hob, I would like the biggest bugger available, think badger size and not fussed at all about lines or age, but well handled would be a plus. Not willing to pay a lot for this one though...Just a pet that will be so spoilt it will make you sick.

 

 

 

[Carraghs Gem 1,699]

Well i pick mine up from poultry sales, gamefairs and out of my local free ads paper... Its pot luck though that way ive had some brilliant workers and some useless pets... Good luck in your search

[Ratreeper 441]

Well i pick mine up from poultry sales, gamefairs and out of my local free ads paper... Its pot luck though that way ive had some brilliant workers and some useless pets... Good luck in your search

 

I got most of mine from Melton Mowbray cattle auction in the past, I had some good ones from there but like you said it can be hit and miss. It's tricky as people will hang on to proven workers, so obviously there will be a gamble but if anyone knows any genuine sales or youngsters from good lines that have been fed on a decent meat diet that would be infinitely better than going in blind

 

Thanks

[ratpackjack 272]

My jill due any day if you where closer would have given you 2 small jills out of her she is daughter of the best worker we ever owned hob is same size as the jill so expecting small stinkers,will be keeping 3 back and rest can go to good working homes as she is cracking mate and hob is spot on aswell.Maybe one of the lads on here can help you out but i would look for what you want rather than what you can find.

[Ratreeper 441]

My jill due any day if you where closer would have given you 2 small jills out of her she is daughter of the best worker we ever owned hob is same size as the jill so expecting small stinkers,will be keeping 3 back and rest can go to good working homes as she is cracking mate and hob is spot on aswell.Maybe one of the lads on here can help you out but i would look for what you want rather than what you can find.

 

Thanks for offer, I wouldn't mind travelling for the right animal and a few hours driving is nothing compared to the 7-10 years I would be keeping them for (hopefully), if I knew where some of my previous ferrets were bred I would travel anywhere for them. Let me know how you get on mate I could be interested in homing a couple, but ideally I would like to find some older stinkers if I can first that have had a season working but it is a big ask I know.

[Carraghs Gem 1,699]

 

Well i pick mine up from poultry sales, gamefairs and out of my local free ads paper... Its pot luck though that way ive had some brilliant workers and some useless pets... Good luck in your search

 

I got most of mine from Melton Mowbray cattle auction in the past, I had some good ones from there but like you said it can be hit and miss. It's tricky as people will hang on to proven workers, so obviously there will be a gamble but if anyone knows any genuine sales or youngsters from good lines that have been fed on a decent meat diet that would be infinitely better than going in blind

 

Thanks

I bought 5 last year, the albino hob, 3 poley hob kits and a poley jill... The jill was the only one that didnt work... So i gave her away, Sold the kits and the lad who has them is delighted with them. (parted with the poleys as i want to only keep 1 or 2 albinos for bit of nightime ferreting in spots which i cant ferret daytime

[stinkers 102]

Only ever bought one ferret from a pet place in the uk and he was one of my best workers. I mostly get stinkers off oter hunters that hve bred them. But my opinion only is that i dont follow the rule about blood lines or anything like that......iif a ferret is taken out regulary to work they know what to do. And then they just do it naturally. My hob goes out and grafts, proper hunting talent him. But ive had rescue ferrets and theyve worked just as well and probably never seen a rabbit till they were in the burrow and met one face on ..........and then chased the fecker out into my purse nets.

[Guest vin]

in next couple of months there will be people begging you to take ferret kits off thier hands..because every year they breed too many.

 

your mates say...ooooh yes please i,ll have a couple of kits etc etc..then when its time they,ve changed thier minds and the missis wont let them have one etc etc etc...its the same story every summer..

 

So anyone wanting a ferret should just hang about and wait for the surplus stock that will be getting offered all over the country very soon.

 

This is one of the reasons I cannot for the life of me undertsand why anyone would steal another mans ferrets.

 

good luck in your search Sir.. i would be having a trip to see Ratpackjack if i was you... you wont go wrong there.

[tiger82 43]

Look on gumtree and preloved. Their getting more and more ferrets workers and so on everyday.

 

Good chance you might get something good off there.

 

atb

[whippet 99 2,613]

tooth ferry leaves mine under my pillow

[redpat1 225]

I managed to get mine either through THL or other hunting related type sites, they should at least come from reasonable working stock that way. In Theory.

[Ratreeper 441]

Only ever bought one ferret from a pet place in the uk and he was one of my best workers. I mostly get stinkers off oter hunters that hve bred them. But my opinion only is that i dont follow the rule about blood lines or anything like that......iif a ferret is taken out regulary to work they know what to do. And then they just do it naturally. My hob goes out and grafts, proper hunting talent him. But ive had rescue ferrets and theyve worked just as well and probably never seen a rabbit till they were in the burrow and met one face on ..........and then chased the fecker out into my purse nets.

 

When I started out I used to think that any ferret would work given the time (still do to an extent), everytime I got a new ferret it would always do the job. But as time went by and a few hundred more trips out under my belt my standards went up, I had a team of 9 workers and I used to rely mostly on 3 of them, two would go in and run around like maniacs flushing all sorts then I would put the last one in who would always go down to the very depths and flush out a big 'orrible buck rabbit. It was the perfect team and the first two started out as nasty, bitey lazy fat buggers that a mate of mine wanted to shoot with an air rifle and get rid. However I do think that the bloodline makes a difference, as I think some of the pet stuff only bred for looks are a bit softer and have a lesser instinct than proper ferrets, but I would agree if they were worked regularly they would still do a reasonable job. But the best ferret I ever had was found in the wild and seemed to have been like that for a long time, I am not confident the one I have now would survive a week on its own. She was fearless, always looking for a fight with the ones that wouldn't shift and was a hooligan on rats, I would just like to have her back

[Ratreeper 441]

in next couple of months there will be people begging you to take ferret kits off thier hands..because every year they breed too many.

 

your mates say...ooooh yes please i,ll have a couple of kits etc etc..then when its time they,ve changed thier minds and the missis wont let them have one etc etc etc...its the same story every summer..

 

So anyone wanting a ferret should just hang about and wait for the surplus stock that will be getting offered all over the country very soon.

 

This is one of the reasons I cannot for the life of me undertsand why anyone would steal another mans ferrets.

 

good luck in your search Sir.. i would be having a trip to see Ratpackjack if i was you... you wont go wrong there.

 

Very true, sad to think what happens to most of them and it's not as if anyone could even break even on the cost of breeding them so it seems a lot get born just because it costs too much to get them spayed. I have had a litter myself but was able to keep them all, but the costs of getting a dozen ferrets castrated/spayed was horrific so I wouldn't ever breed again. I always get my ferrets spayed too, I think it is much better than letting them come into season every year and the hobs do smell less when castrated so it is a win-win. But unfortunately I would really prefer to get some older ferrets this time, one's that can go in with our current gill straight away and perhaps work this year.

[The one 8,594]

Know most of the local lads wev'e had good and bad days out and enjoy the crack and get ferrets from each other , or point lads looking for ferrets in there direction