Culling ferrets

[The one 8,534]

I find its only young jills that have big litters my older jills dont one has four and one had two , but rather than cull i'd use a snipped hob

[Neil Cooney. 1]

I spent ten minutes writing this then you locked the post. So I'll post this and you can delete it.

 

I'm 44 now and had my first ferret at 14.

 

Like Meerihunter It's only in the last couple of years thaat I have started to cull them.

Why ? - when I first started ferreting people kept ferrets for work pure and simple, those that were good workers survived those that didn't were culled. '

 

True things in some way have changed for the better eg my grandads ferrets were fed bread and milk and he used to pull the canine teeth out so they would not kill

 

I used to have no problem with surplus stock as I knew most of the people I gave them to (I've never sold a ferret) but since the advent of the 'pet ferret keeper' the amount of idiots pestering me for ferrets was unbelievable. And what really annoys me are those who lecture on how they should be kept! I had one woman who told me it was cruel to keep them outside (mine are in a 8 x 4ft court) and she was going to keep hers in the house, I didn't let her have a ferret

What is worse however are the people who buy their cute 8 week old kits and look after them until the winter comes or they get bored with them and they are destined to spend the rest of their lives in some manky hutch never to work and rarely handled..

 

So yes I cull as soon as possible after birth, this year I need two jills for myself and a friend wants two hence I culled to four, I've had this line for many years so I don't want to buy stock in, better that than finding your ferrets in a pet home.

Good post ,the bottom line is animal welfare.

Like you Sighthound it would bother me badly to see an animal I've bred looked after badly.

If your self imposed rules were imployed by all people to all livestock breeding it would solve a lot of problems.

[whin 463]

the old adage comes into mind with my way of thinking breed to replace and better your stock for WORKING and leave the show goers and pet industry to those that like that type of thing , i was at a ferret show 6 years ago it was not bad at scone palace but a million miles from how i was brought up with ferrets etc etc i suppose kids have to learn but its sad to seee a usefull animal not working etc not my idea more like in the areas were its all shows every weekend etc

[droid 11]

At least when you're breeding for working you're breeding for purpose, not colour.

 

The genetic problems around at the moment - silvers/DEWs, Waardenberg's - are directly due to breeding for shows, where colour does matter.

 

In the long term, I think that these problems will cause more misery for ferrets than killing day-old kits.

[Guest jojoamojo]

Not all shows care about colour, i know there are some serious breeder shows who are so hung up on colour, they breed, inbreed and it wouldnt surprise me if some of their kits hit a bucket for not being the right colour

 

the rescue shows arent hung up on colour, they do every class as they cant pick what colour they get in

 

and most people who go to a rescue show go for a day out and workers go there too, not like the tantrum afflicted breeder shows

[droid 11]

And it's good to see that you've seen the light about serious shows Caz, because it ain't too long ago you were promoting trips to Stapeley with all your mates.

 

The whole serious show scene is shit.

Some of the stuff on here might appal you, but I'll wager worse goes on in the show scene. Pot-hunters turning up with 40-odd ferrets in the back of a bloody van....

Edited May 26, 2008 by droid

[Guest bigredbusa]

so people who show people cull as well tut tut nasty people lol

[droid 11]

Nasty?

 

Having been involved in 'debates' regarding colour with some of these 'show types' I'd say you hunters are a better bag by far.

At least you say what you think and don't fanny about playing psychological games

 

Culling for shows? I've no proof it happens - 'show types' aren't as honest about such things as hunters - but given the genetic diversity in the average ferret, at most 10% of kits might be suitable for showing, and I have no idea what happens to the 'rejects'....

[Guest bigredbusa]

calm down gary

[Kay 3,709]

Nasty?

 

Having been involved in 'debates' regarding colour with some of these 'show types' I'd say you hunters are a better bag by far.

At least you say what you think and don't fanny about playing psychological games

 

Culling for shows? I've no proof it happens - 'show types' aren't as honest about such things as hunters - but given the genetic diversity in the average ferret, at most 10% of kits might be suitable for showing, and I have no idea what happens to the 'rejects'....

 

[droid 11]

'gary'?????

[Guest bigredbusa]

your not a dog are you gary ?

[Halfinch 51]

Yea Busa, who's Gary?? have i missed something LOL.

[Kay 3,709]

Yea Busa, who's Gary?? have i missed something LOL.

 

Only Busa knows the answer to that one

[Guest bigredbusa]

sorry , film quotes lol 'snatch '

 

 

I'd say you hunters

us and them hey lol sorry just made me laugh , it's like (us) hunters are all gone in the head .