Ferret Hunting Advice

[EoinGalway]

Lads,

New enough to rabbiting with ferrets, had a few good days using the shotty but have finally got all my nets sorted.

My question is when should the ferrets be feed, if at all, on huntings day? If so how long before they go hunting ?

 

Cheers

Eoin

[henry d]

Full belly before a hunt, otherwise they may opt for the running buffet ! Remember to give them a light lunch of some rabbit liver and if possible some water as its hungry and thirsty work hunting !

 

**If so how long before they go hunting ?** Do you mean after a meal or do you mean how old they need to be before they hunt ?

[EoinGalway]

**If so how long before they go hunting ?** Do you mean after a meal or do you mean how old they need to be before they hunt ?

 

As in what time before they are sent down the burrow?

I've heard if you feed them only an hour or so before hand the can be inclined to lay up for a quick nap if things are going slow..

[Madcowz]

I am also a newbie to this but what I do is give them a feed before going out. Not huge but enough to stop them being hungry.

 

As already mentioned, running about underground is hard work and mine always fall fast asleep when they get back home.

 

Bit like me after a hards day work.

 

bless.

 

 

/Mad

[Ferret Master]

If you put them down a hole hungry they are likely to lie up. Big meal before they go out and I also carry a tub of ferret complete biscuits with me so when I'm having lunch the slinkys can come out and have a meal and a drink.

 

FM :blink:

[lurcherboy]

Mine have access to food at all times when caged.

 

 

 

 

 

LB

[Ferret Master]

Mine have access to food at all times when caged.

 

 

 

 

 

LB

Ditto. Their digestive tract is short and they need to eat regularly.

 

FM :blink:

[mynirvana]

i think it depends on your ferrets partly, two of the jilsl i work eat ****** all. They get fed at least an hour and a half before they get taken out working so that theyre not so hungry they lay up and not still sleepy

[henry d]

**If so how long before they go hunting ?** Do you mean after a meal or do you mean how old they need to be before they hunt ?

 

As in what time before they are sent down the burrow?

I've heard if you feed them only an hour or so before hand the can be inclined to lay up for a quick nap if things are going slow..

 

I`ve never heard or had that happen, however I always have feed in their cub during the winter and my routine is to wake them up and handle them and get them excited, their first action is to have a dump and after I leave they tend to have something to eat. If you have plenty of rabbits on your ground the ferrets will be sharp, remember that the ferret has little to do in the summer and it makes up for it in the winter by going full pelt. The only major lie ups I`ve had are when they have been worked for 3-4 days hard and they need a break.