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Hob Or Jill


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i use mainly 3 jills and a small to medium sized hob,ive found they seem to cover the warrens faster than useing large hobs ,ive also found i seem to dig far less. the last couple of large hobs i used,definatly killed in more and were more lightly to be dug out , the last large hob i kept i only used when their was a stubborn rabbit that couldnt be budged, needless to say 9 times out of ten i had to dig him out ,it got to the stage that thier were some warrens i wouldnt dare use him on as some places i ferret are very hard to dig .

atb.........jim

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I think it can depend on a lot of things. We used to ferret on heavy clay land and used hobs which ended up in several six foot plus digs ( which is fine if your after foxes!) and was hard going. Then we did some warrens in sandy soil that were no more than two feet deep, so a dig or two didnt take up too much time. Because hobs tend to be bigger and stronger they can hold a a rabbit better so in theory theres more chance of a kill down, but i have dug to a few jills as well.

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I'm just in the process of experimenting with Jills this year.

I've got 3 from a litter which the hob and Jill were both huge and 2 from a hob and Jill that were tiny.

I've kept back a mix of sizes and got 5 that hopefully will vary from large to small and I will see what I prefer. Always had plenty of success with medium size Jills.

I don't like working my hob as he kills and lays up constantly meaning loads of digging. I will use him first half of the season while the Jill kits are still too young and then have him vasectomised when the kits are working and keep him for bringing the Jill's out of stud.

Would it not be better to have 1-2 really good workers that you can concentrate on and will use regularly rather than having 5 mediocre ferrets that only get worked occasionally??? Just a thought ;-) I had 2 litters this year so could've had as many as I wanted but I have 2 from last year. 1 had a good 1st season and the other will be getting worked more this season!!! They'll be the main workers for the next few seasons then I'll breed and keep 1 or 2!!! Edited by AirgunGuy
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As i say ive been ferreting practically all my life and used jills all the time, ive been told that hobs like to kill down before, i suppose all are different hopefully the hobs i receive like to bolt then kill down ;) gaz 1989 saw a pic of your youngens looks a nice bunch mate

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Fresh meat all though the winter months & the odd in the summer time, & alpha ferret feast all though the summer.

 

that's what I feed mine always alpha ferret food and fresh rabbit not so much right now because of the flies :thumbs:

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I'm just in the process of experimenting with Jills this year.

I've got 3 from a litter which the hob and Jill were both huge and 2 from a hob and Jill that were tiny.

I've kept back a mix of sizes and got 5 that hopefully will vary from large to small and I will see what I prefer. Always had plenty of success with medium size Jills.

I don't like working my hob as he kills and lays up constantly meaning loads of digging. I will use him first half of the season while the Jill kits are still too young and then have him vasectomised when the kits are working and keep him for bringing the Jill's out of stud.

Would it not be better to have 1-2 really good workers that you can concentrate on and will use regularly rather than having 5 mediocre ferrets that only get worked occasionally??? Just a thought ;-) I had 2 litters this year so could've had as many as I wanted but I have 2 from last year. 1 had a good 1st season and the other will be getting worked more this season!!! They'll be the main workers for the next few seasons then I'll breed and keep 1 or 2!!!

I haven't got 5 mediocre ferrets. I've got 6 useless ones :laugh:

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As i say ive been ferreting practically all my life and used jills all the time, ive been told that hobs like to kill down before, i suppose all are different hopefully the hobs i receive like to bolt then kill down ;) gaz 1989 saw a pic of your youngens looks a nice bunch mate

Cheers pal. Hopefully get a few good workers out of them. I only bred the dark Poley and the albino. The rest I have brought in.

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I'm just in the process of experimenting with Jills this year.

I've got 3 from a litter which the hob and Jill were both huge and 2 from a hob and Jill that were tiny.

I've kept back a mix of sizes and got 5 that hopefully will vary from large to small and I will see what I prefer. Always had plenty of success with medium size Jills.

I don't like working my hob as he kills and lays up constantly meaning loads of digging. I will use him first half of the season while the Jill kits are still too young and then have him vasectomised when the kits are working and keep him for bringing the Jill's out of stud.

Would it not be better to have 1-2 really good workers that you can concentrate on and will use regularly rather than having 5 mediocre ferrets that only get worked occasionally??? Just a thought ;-) I had 2 litters this year so could've had as many as I wanted but I have 2 from last year. 1 had a good 1st season and the other will be getting worked more this season!!! They'll be the main workers for the next few seasons then I'll breed and keep 1 or 2!!!

I haven't got 5 mediocre ferrets. I've got 6 useless ones :laugh:

They're all like that at the start. ATB with them ;-)

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Once a gill knows how to kill a rabbit quick,they are just as likely to lay up as a hob....I have used both prefer gills,due to size....but have had a few cracking hobs....as long as they graft who gives a fcuk...lol...atb...

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