Ferrets

[HBW]

Anyone kept them before? I've been doing a bit of research and seems they like sleeping a lot of the day, are very active for a few hours and make generally good pets so long as you have them descented and have femaled speyed [they dont come out of heat apparently].

 

Cheers

[Mick Stockbridge]

I have a pair of ten year old litter sisters, never been mated or speyed, they come out of season okay. The vet will tell you anything to get some work. For instance, when I got my jills at six weeks old I mentioned it to my vet whilst on a visit with my dog, he told me they would have to be injected with some sort of drug that only he could administer once a year to bring them out of season. It's rubbish.

 

As for pets, dont bother! They are working animals that need plenty of space or work but preferably both. Unless you can guarantee either dont get one. The novelty will soon wear off and the ferret will be doomed to a life of misery.

[Highland Forestry]

Ferrets are for work...

 

There are far cuddlier and far less agressive pets you could get rather than a ferret.

 

They aint so cute when they're hanging off your finger or they've ripped a lump of flesh out of your kids ya know!

[Killa Ferret]

Yeah Ferrets are defo for working, ive spent many a time in winter digging hard soil, ive got locating them down to a tee, just gotta be careful at the desired height as you don't hammer the spade through the chamber, tempt it out with another rabbit if you have one, then get your own hand down the hole and have a feel around, not the first time ive been hung upside down Might aswell post a few pics. I use the longnet for ferreting during the day, then at night i can set it out quietly along the hedge line as the rabbits are out eating, then me or whoever can work the field and scare them in. Ughhh listen to me rabbiting on

 

Dan

[Ooops..]

my girlfreind had two ferrets wen i first met her.they used to run riot round the house. one of them caught me off guard wen i was bent down plugging a light into a socket, damn thing took a chunk out of my arse cheek, still got the scar!

 

i hated the damn things!!!

[Andy Clark]

Rubbish!!! They make GREAT pets!!

 

If you knuckle them from a young age (feed them your index finger knuckle, when they try and bite it, push you knuckle gently but firmly into their gob), they'll never bite again.

 

As for the smell, it's mostly from the Hob..... get them spayed, wash them regularly and feed them plenty of FerretTone, and you'll hardly catch a whiff.

 

As for working v pet....... just keep them entertained. If indoors, then a nice BIG cage in the living room (mine used to sit and watch telly for hrs!) with plenty of toys, hammocks and tunnels..... similar for kept outdoors, bit with more of a clearer segregation between play/sleep area. Try a split level rabbit hutch, with a built in run.

[Mick Stockbridge]

And the droppings and urine, how do you stop that from smelling?

 

I'd rather keep mine outside so my house does'nt end up smelling like a fleabag's house.

 

I see idiot's walking ferret's on leads, and you just know that when the novelty has worn off the ferret will be chucked in a pokey hutch and pretty much forgotten.

 

No in my opinion they should be kept as working animals and nothing else.

[Andy Clark]

And the droppings and urine, how do you stop that from smelling?

 

 

Erm.... clean it up! Just the same as you would if it was a Hamster cage, or a Cat litter tray.

 

Plenty of newspaper and wood-shavings in the bottom of the cage, remove the droppings daily, and change the paper and wood-shavings weekly.

 

Simples.

[Mick Stockbridge]

I'm just trying to discourage anyone from getting ferrets because there are far too many unwanted ferrets and polecats around. People need to think hard before getting one as they live a long time and unless you are dedicated to it's well being the animal will suffer. Which happens more often than not.

 

Good luck with em, how old are they and how long have you kept them indoors? They sound like they've got the life of Riley.

[sawmonkey]

had ferrets for years, they're great little buggers.

got 2 jills at the moment, neither has ever bitten me (yes, even done the ferrets down the trou.) step son not so keen since 1 of my none biters was hanging off his finger 2 weeks ago, i grab her and she let go straight away.

 

keep them clean and give them space to play, handle them daily and you'll never have a problem.

 

yes mine are workers