[vfr400boy]

dose any one keep ferrets ? i have 10 and a vecetomised hob if any one wants to borrow him just pm me

[ZacB]

I bought two ten week old jills for my son a couple of months ago. He had been pestering me for ages about getting some after going out ferreting with a friend a few times. Had been put off about keeping due to the teeth and smell.
Pleased to say the teeth worries have so far amounted to nothing    Lots of handling.
The smell though...........they do have a certain odour but they are worth it 
Now looking forward to working them, collars and finder being picked up next week    at the Shooting Show in Warwickshire http://www.shootingshow.co.uk/ well recommend a visit for anybody interested in this type of thing.
I did buy them for him honest 
Kind offer vfr400boy - where abouts are you? (Edited) Ah Ha..ignore..East Yorkshire I see

[vfr400boy]

i have kept them since i was 12 there addictive , grate pets and grate workers ! i normally breed 2 or 3 litters a year

[Hazelwood Flock]

I currently have 14 ferrets of various sorts, but have had up to 60 when we used to put on ferret racing displays. They are definately addictive, especially if you work them - I like to long net rather than purse net, until the mice nested in my long nets during the summer and wrecked them! 

[bigchicken]

Aye ma boy an me huv ferrets day a bit ow moochin kept ferrets fur aboot 45 years great wee beasties.

[vfr400boy]

60 wow i can have up to 50 in spring with the kits , what do you guys feed them on? mine are on rabbits and butchers scraps in the  winter and ferret food in the summer they have goats milk ones a week to , i use purse nets and my young whippet pup but he has a lot to learn ( my old whip was mustard )

[Derby_menagerie]

Used to have whippets and ferrets when I was younger, I only had 5 purse nets so my dogs always had plenty to do! Hoping to get some more ferrets before to long, just need to convince the wife that they don't really smell that bad!

[MAK]

We saw a girl with one on a lead in town the other day ( and a chap with a goat the week before). Each time I see them on the market I am attracted to them and can imagine myself wasting hours watching them or maybe teaching them to work. maybe one day.

[vfr400boy]

i have allways had whipps and think i will allways have one , you dont have to train ferrets to work thay just do it as long as ther tame and not shy you will be fine

[Mammyshaz]

I'm nursing a stray ferret at present.  It is thin and was weak with hunger when it came to us. Today it has gained new energy and is a feisty beast.  It runs at the  cage door and rages at anything near ( including hands  ) Any advice appreciated for handling . It has no fear of people. It will be needing a new home if it's not claimed by next week.

[vfr400boy]

feed him a littel goats milk on a saucer so he gets used to u , the way i stop them from biting is when they bite you push your finger in there mouth and don't take it away for a min even when the ferret is trying to spit it out u have to be brave tho (sounds harsh but it stops them )

[Mammyshaz]

If it aimed at the finger I'd try the choke but it just flies across the cage and hangs on to whatever it sees. This can be a towel ( when trying to give him a new hiding towel ) or a bowl ( when giving new food ) or even the movement of metal loops on the cage as I open the door. Putting an arm or hand in is a red rag to a bull and there is no knowing where it will attack as it flies so quickly at any movement 

[bigchicken]

I use the finger in mouth method for kits but not for adult ferrets. been badly bitten twice in 40 years and it is very painfull one jill had such a hold that I had to prise her mouth open with a screwdriver and no amount of pressing my finger into the back of her mouth was working. my advice would be to desensitise the ferret to anything that it attacks by bombarding it with attack material. but not fingers. Very rarely is a ferret just out to kill everything that moves often it is frightened because of lack of good handling. you may on may not eventually gain its trust.

[Mammyshaz]

Thanks BC, I must sex it tomorrow, it looks more jill-like but who knows. That aside, it holds on to anything for grim death. I certainly won't chance my hand in there       
   I do love ferrets but we don't have facilities to keep it and I finish work tomorrow until Monday  so am hoping to pass on advice to  give the best outcome but Im the only one who will handle it at present after somebody ended at a& e for a nasty bite! I've nursed many but never had this degree of aggression and soooo quick to hold on 

It really needs an experienced person to take it  I talk to it and it  allows my pen to stroke it but anything unknown is not tolerated. It is even a big deal just to change water or refil food  .

I have a feeling it was abandoned for aggression but was hoping to get maybe a lesser guilt from experienced people. This behaviour may be normal, if so, please advise and accept my ignorance   

[vfr400boy]

the ferret you have could ov been born in the wild ? lots escape and breed ??