rascal_2005 Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 hi guys, i know a lot of you guys keep ferrets. i was wondering if i could get a rundown of keeping them. i have no idea what so ever about how to keep them, houseing, train them, feed them nothing what so ever but i am intrested, so if anyone could help me out that would be great. thanks alot guys john boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Bit general... any specific questions and I should be able to help! FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascal_2005 Posted July 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 hi FM im after info about the basics first really, such as houseing and feeding and training firstly. cheers bud john boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 I guess you are keeping them outside? This is my set up: FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 Food. I feed mine James Wellbeloved Ferret Complete dry biscuit food which they do well on. Although they do get a bit of pigeon and rabbit every now and then as well. The advantage of dry food is it doesn't go off as quickly as meat in hot weather, it's always available and it doesn't start to smell if it is stashed somewhere by a ferret for a rainy day, as they are inclined to do. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 They don't need training to chase rabbits, they do this naturally. Providing them with the odd tube etc. to play with is all the training they will ever need. As for biting... if you have a biter, hold it and let it lick some milk/egg off your fingers, when it nips you say 'NO!' loudly and tap it on the nose. They get the idea quite quickly. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascal_2005 Posted July 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 thanks FM you def know your stuff. would you say that your set up is the minimum? i really want to get some but have a cat so im a bit worried about them fighting as i guess that the ferrets would prob kill him? john boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascal_2005 Posted July 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 also do they need to be castrated or spayed to work as i heard they smell? and what raio would you say as in hobbs/jills mixture? john boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 also do they need to be castrated or spayed to work as i heard they smell? and what raio would you say as in hobbs/jills mixture? john boy They do not need to be castrated or sprayed to work. Ferrets have a musk about them, but they stink just about the same amount as any other animal. You'll find that ferrets that have their hutches regualy cleaned really don't have an unpleasantness about them. This rumour mostly comes from people who clean there hutch about as often as they would something much smaller - say a gerbil - and complain it stinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 thanks FM you def know your stuff. would you say that your set up is the minimum? i really want to get some but have a cat so im a bit worried about them fighting as i guess that the ferrets would prob kill him? john boy No - I'd say a double story hutch is abount the minimum for 2-3 ferrets. As for cats, ferrets and cats can get on like a house on fire (Click Here for proof) But wait till ferrets are big enough for a bit of rough play, and slowly introduce them to the cat, and watch the results. If it's postivie, you can normaly let them play together quiet happlily, but you should always monitor there behaviour and they should never be left alone together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 One of my ferrets will drink from the same bowl as the cat, the other one's main goal in life is to kill the cat. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackthorn Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 john in the summer month a hole hob has a good hum to him, odedeferret if you want something a little less smelly, get it from a ferret welfare society, comes with out nuts personally the pens i build are six foot long, the more room the better :blink: feed them fur and feather, cat food, eggs and dried foods(cat dog ferret types) if feeding fur and feather through the summer take it out when they have had there fill handle them and play with them regally, build up a bond with them, the last thing you want is to have your hand down a warren with a biter if you want to start your own line, get a hole ferret if your not interested in breeding get them from the welfare society, they should be hand and face friendly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW80 Posted July 4, 2009 Report Share Posted July 4, 2009 This is only my perpective, but get them from Kits and get them used to being handled, other than that common sense should prevaile about cleaning etc!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascal_2005 Posted July 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 cheers guys, some really hedlpfull stuff here, i might try and find someone round my way who keeps them if i can. john boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretertom Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Get a good ferret book id not advise you to get female (JILL) ferrets first off all unless they were allready speyed as you would have to get them out of season a few times every year in order to keep them happy and healthy the british ferret club'' is a good website for you to look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit killer Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 my jill had a litter nearly 3 weeks ago now and has started getting nippy, will she stop or should i do the thing with the milk/egg?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 my jill had a litter nearly 3 weeks ago now and has started getting nippy, will she stop or should i do the thing with the milk/egg?? She should do, she's under alot of stress with the young, and she obviously dosn't like you being about. Just let her tend to her babies for another few weeks, with miniumal contact, then see how she is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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