ferrets pros and cons
Discussion
Kuwahara said:
I was bitten through the lip by my brothers one when I was about 8 ,these f
kers are apex killers make no mistake ,not great pets tbh but for pest control I.e rabbits they are epic…
They do smell and need cleaned out daily…
We kept ferrets for 15yrs and would disagree on some points ..kers are apex killers make no mistake ,not great pets tbh but for pest control I.e rabbits they are epic…They do smell and need cleaned out daily…
They make fantastic pets and are popular for a reason, Yes they bite but they are very quick learners much like a puppy with correct training nipping comes down to play levels but significantly quicker than any other small animal I have ever known.
Their clean animals and very VERY clever, so typically we were litter training a young kitt in less than a week...usually less, much more difficult if they are being kept outdoors - they usually choose the corner and you adapt around it!
They sleep for about 22hrs a day.... But when their up (they will fit in with a regular routine) - you'd better be ready because it's full on play time and mischief.... As they age they chill a bit.
A house ferret may well adapt to mixing with your dog, only you know your dog but ferrets can punch well above their weight when it comes to defending themselves... Ours lived with dogs just fine.
Character - like over excitable kittens that live for years
Lifespan - pretty robust, our eldest was 13
Regardless of what you read.... Get one at a time, and a girl too.....it will fit in with your son and family BUT - ignore it at your peril!!!...
If you do - it WILL set about ruining your life with destructive behaviour!
No regrets here - we fully intend on having more in the future..
Had a ferret years ago, mostly kept outside but often had it roaming about the house. It and our whippet looked to be mortal enemies with a lot of hissing and barking, plenty of what looked like aggressive behaviour but was actually the 2 of them playing. After a bit of fighting the 2 of them curled up on a bean bag and slept for hours.
Getting it out from under the sofa did occasionally lead to some blood loss but it was also quite happy climbing inside your jumper and sleeping when it was in the mood.
Don't think you'd have any problems with rats or mice near the house with one of them, couple of people asked us for ferret droppings to put in their loft when they had a rodent problem, seemed quite an effective deterrent.
Getting it out from under the sofa did occasionally lead to some blood loss but it was also quite happy climbing inside your jumper and sleeping when it was in the mood.
Don't think you'd have any problems with rats or mice near the house with one of them, couple of people asked us for ferret droppings to put in their loft when they had a rodent problem, seemed quite an effective deterrent.
Interesting to read some of the responses on this thread. My only experience is my uncle used to keep them, viscous bds and as kids we were taught to go nowhere near the hutches (not that it took much persuading as they really did stink). But he kept them for ferreting so I imagine that creates a very different character than if they're kept as pets and properly integrated into the home. Not that I would consider keeping them, but it's nice to see another perspective as I'd never really thought of them as pets.
ds and as kids we were taught to go nowhere near the hutches (not that it took much persuading as they really did stink). But he kept them for ferreting so I imagine that creates a very different character than if they're kept as pets and properly integrated into the home. Not that I would consider keeping them, but it's nice to see another perspective as I'd never really thought of them as pets.Zetec-S said:
Interesting to read some of the responses on this thread. My only experience is my uncle used to keep them, viscous bds and as kids we were taught to go nowhere near the hutches (not that it took much persuading as they really did stink). But he kept them for ferreting so I imagine that creates a very different character than if they're kept as pets and properly integrated into the home. Not that I would consider keeping them, but it's nice to see another perspective as I'd never really thought of them as pets.
Yeah, ferrets kept for ratting will become properly vicious. Rabbiting can go that way too, but a bit less likely.ds and as kids we were taught to go nowhere near the hutches (not that it took much persuading as they really did stink). But he kept them for ferreting so I imagine that creates a very different character than if they're kept as pets and properly integrated into the home. Not that I would consider keeping them, but it's nice to see another perspective as I'd never really thought of them as pets.Otherwise, they're cracking little animals. Where pretty much every single other animal has a 'fight or flight' reflex in extremis, for ferrets it's 'keep on fighting'! One of ours escaped and was found wrapped around the face of a fox that'd tried to have a go - the fox was screaming like a woman being attacked. Once we called, ferret dropped off it's face and bounded over with what can only be described as a grin...
As mentioned, can be litter trained. Soon learn not to nip.
Girls are a tad less smelly, but then there's the issue of 'Jill jabs' when they come on season - they won't come off unless mated or jabbed, which will kill them. So, a pair with a neutered male is good.
Cats and ferrets get on famously, haven't ever had one around a dog.
We have three. They have huge outdoor enclosures with hammocks and pipes etc to keep them stimulated. They’re also harness trained and get walked daily.
Two Jill’s and a Hob. One of the Jill’s went AWOL last year for exactly a week to the hour. Field surround us and we searched daily for her to no avail, she miraculously turned up outside her cage by herself but not after we picked up the Hob as her mate was pining.
The Jills had the injection last year, but other half wanted them to have a litter each before he gets Storm ‘done’. So currently we have five kits and expecting a second litter any day. If you go for the jab option find a Ferret group (loads on FB) and do a group buy. We found the vet had to buy a vile which was costly and can only be used once, so best to go in with others and reduce your cost.
Bandit is a bit bitey with me - she’s the Pole Cat looking one. Slinky is fine and Storm (the Hob) is my baby. He’s so soppy, super friendly and playful. He’s half Angora and a big boy. Very clever, inquisitive and will open cupboards and get in to everything.
They smell. I wish they didn’t. But they do and although you can bathe them it’s now illegal to descent them in the U.K.
They’re fine with other animals, cats and dogs, but cats and dogs don’t want to play with them.
Two Jill’s and a Hob. One of the Jill’s went AWOL last year for exactly a week to the hour. Field surround us and we searched daily for her to no avail, she miraculously turned up outside her cage by herself but not after we picked up the Hob as her mate was pining.
The Jills had the injection last year, but other half wanted them to have a litter each before he gets Storm ‘done’. So currently we have five kits and expecting a second litter any day. If you go for the jab option find a Ferret group (loads on FB) and do a group buy. We found the vet had to buy a vile which was costly and can only be used once, so best to go in with others and reduce your cost.
Bandit is a bit bitey with me - she’s the Pole Cat looking one. Slinky is fine and Storm (the Hob) is my baby. He’s so soppy, super friendly and playful. He’s half Angora and a big boy. Very clever, inquisitive and will open cupboards and get in to everything.
They smell. I wish they didn’t. But they do and although you can bathe them it’s now illegal to descent them in the U.K.
They’re fine with other animals, cats and dogs, but cats and dogs don’t want to play with them.
Purosangue said:
looks like an option to build a decent size frame walk in cage ( something like a chicken coop ) and keep them outside ,
out of interest what is their diet
thanks
Sounds perfect. Give them lots of climbing platforms and use pipe work - ours love running through them and lazing in hammocks. They eat a dry kibble diet formulated for Ferrets. They’ve had some fresh meat in the past but aren’t that fussed by it. They have a raw egg every now and then and a specialist Ferret paste for extra vitamins/used as a treat/training aid. Not expensive to feed at all. Regular flea treatments are necessary. out of interest what is their diet
thanks
Second litter born yesterday. Not sure how many there are but both Mums are doing great and happily sharing
Storm (the Hob) has been spending a lot of time with us on the boat. Came home from work tonight and he’s running around on the gunwales, hopped on the tender that’s tied up to the swim deck off the wheelhouse and came in through the door at the front to play on the bed no fear. I don’t think they do life jackets for Ferrets!
Gretchen said:
I don’t think they do life jackets for Ferrets!
]
It was too tempting not to google…]
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/790460059/ferret-p...
ChevronB19 said:
Gretchen said:
I don’t think they do life jackets for Ferrets!
]
It was too tempting not to google…]
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/790460059/ferret-p...
First Kits (Bandit’s) have opened their eyes and developing their colours and exploring out the the nest. I’m already in love with a couple of them. Slinky seems to now be doing most of the Mothering.
Dad Storm has a new snuggle hammock we picked up from our trip to coast last week. He’s loving it
Dad Storm has a new snuggle hammock we picked up from our trip to coast last week. He’s loving it
We rejected daughter's request for a kitten, she countered with "ferret then". I was truly expecting the idea to be squashed by a visit to a ferret rescue open day but both ladies of the house were enamoured, as was I on the next meet and play day!
Sisters Milly and Molly, 2 rescue jills:
Their shed with run, catflap access:
Wipeable vinyl flooring to keep the ammonia wee smell down but otherwise they smell ok, quite nice even.....jills are less whiffy than hobs in general.
They are such delightful, adorable, cuddly little nut jobs...those 2 hours awake are full on. Nipping replaced by licking, they love a slow back scrub when waking up.....dance and duke about with excitement on being brought in to the house to play...then bloody disappear under the floor boards through the tiniest gap under the cistern....inspection boards up and one enticed out with a whiff of the oil that is their cat-nip, an original victorian cast iron air brick disintegrated when releasing the second from outside...little buggers but an easy twelve out of ten on the cute-o-meter. Guaranteed to raise a smile, lift a mood. So bloody glad we caved to daughter's whim!
Sisters Milly and Molly, 2 rescue jills:
Their shed with run, catflap access:
Wipeable vinyl flooring to keep the ammonia wee smell down but otherwise they smell ok, quite nice even.....jills are less whiffy than hobs in general.
They are such delightful, adorable, cuddly little nut jobs...those 2 hours awake are full on. Nipping replaced by licking, they love a slow back scrub when waking up.....dance and duke about with excitement on being brought in to the house to play...then bloody disappear under the floor boards through the tiniest gap under the cistern....inspection boards up and one enticed out with a whiff of the oil that is their cat-nip, an original victorian cast iron air brick disintegrated when releasing the second from outside...little buggers but an easy twelve out of ten on the cute-o-meter. Guaranteed to raise a smile, lift a mood. So bloody glad we caved to daughter's whim!
Ours are on meat every day and a permanently topped bowl of kibble:
We manage portions so that they finish the plate on first visit, learnt quickly after finding fly eggs and even maggots on chunks they had hidden in the beds. Mind you, they'd eat double helpings at the mo, voracious.
Jill jabs £150ish...ouch. Should last a couple of seasons but check their fannies periodically for indications of coming on heat.
Ours plush-up for winter, retain fat, coat grows longer, then slim and molt a little as the weather heats up. Seasonal foos!
There are hundreds of ferrets awaiting rehoming in rescues up and down the country.
We manage portions so that they finish the plate on first visit, learnt quickly after finding fly eggs and even maggots on chunks they had hidden in the beds. Mind you, they'd eat double helpings at the mo, voracious.
Jill jabs £150ish...ouch. Should last a couple of seasons but check their fannies periodically for indications of coming on heat.
Ours plush-up for winter, retain fat, coat grows longer, then slim and molt a little as the weather heats up. Seasonal foos!
There are hundreds of ferrets awaiting rehoming in rescues up and down the country.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff