Ferret As Pet ??

boc121

As above lads i have a 10 year and she's mad for a ferret just wondering what they'd be like as a pet. Would they have to be declawed,descented or what? Also have other kids 8,6 and 18months any advice welcome especially from ferret folk.
Cheers.

EastTyrone

I'd have no problem keeping a ferret as a pet, aslong as you keep petting it and playing with it it would keep it tamed down and when it does go to bit pinch and flick its nose. But be sure and to get a ferret from a young age to minimise chances of biting!

buckshotbrolan

boc121 wrote: »

As above lads i have a 10 year and she's mad for a ferret just wondering what they'd be like as a pet. Would they have to be declawed,descented or what? Also have other kids 8,6 and 18months any advice welcome especially from ferret folk.
Cheers.

Hi, they make great pets, i have found that Bucks make far better pets, i had one and he was like a little puppy dog. I have two young lads that handled them and they were never bitten. Don't know about descenting but you can train them to use a cat litter box.

boc121

Thanks lads, also would it be ok to keep him in the house?

bunny shooter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIDxfntK--4&feature=related

I WANT this bad ass ferret he's afraid of NOTHING :P

EastTyrone

boc121 wrote: »

Thanks lads, also would it be ok to keep him in the house?

my friend has a neutured hob (boy ferret) and he doesnt smell but you can get ones who are absolutley stinking, neutered hobs are better smelling than un neutured hobs and jills. You can get ths spray that does cats and its like deoderant but it isnt lol, it descents them

Eddie B

EastTyrone wrote: »

my friend has a neutured hob (boy ferret) and he doesnt smell but you can get ones who are absolutley stinking, neutered hobs are better smelling than un neutured hobs and jills. You can get ths spray that does cats and its like deoderant but it isnt lol, it descents them

Have to agree, if your going to keep the ferret indoors you should get it neutered, hob or jill! Not sure how much the operation costs but it wont be cheap but at least your house wont smell like p****! As was said already, buy a young ferret! there will be loads of them for sale in a few more weeks! A good breeder will have handled them from about three weeks of age and therefore won`t be biters! The indoor cages you can buy for ferrets are very small so you have to spend at least two hours a day playing with it and letting it run around the room! You could also do what im doing and thats building a good size outdoor hutch! you can still bring it in every evening to let the kids play with it! Or alternatively, you could get a hamster instead!!

ferrete

i have 3 ferrets and they all are really tame and never bite and when they get out of the cage the male follows you

Ferreter

Having kept ferrets for nearly 20 years, I have to say.......

They make one of the best pets you can have!

Unfortunately there are draw backs...I have found Hobs or Jills to be equally as rewarding in the pet stakes....The problem is however....

Jills come into season, and if not bred with a male or taken out of season by a snipped male or given a "Jill Jab" which brings them out of heat.....They will develop health problems and eventually die....

They can be neutered, but its very expensive as well as risky....

Hobs are perhaps an easier choice, but can smell quite strong when in season as well as some being slightly boisterous....I have a Hob who is a gent all year round....

But another who when he comes into season turns into a complete teenager and can barely be handled! He will snap at me, wreck the cage and be quite a handful....

But this can be made easier on both you and the Hob by castration....

Whatever you do....Get a pair of ferrets, A solitary ferret without company will spend the majority (up to 18 hour) a day sleeping....

Its not fair on them at all...And seeing a ferret I have who was kept alone since a kit, playing madly tonight with 6 others, it really does make a difference to them...And there great craic to watch! Mine battle it out every night, ambushing each other, picking on each other and having crazy fights!!


2 castrated Hobs would be perfect as if there not castrated they will kick the daylights out of each other all summer....

Whatever you do....Do get babies....There will be loads advertised in no time....

Handle it well and daily, and you will be rewarded ten fold, by a friendly lively little stinker...

As for flicking and pinching their nose....This will only make the ferret more nervous and more likely to bite....Its great how people who know nothing about ferrets seem to profess on how to look after them...

Ferrets are perfect for children, as they will play and jump and go mental and your little one will love it, the more you mess with them the crazier they get...Just look at the videos on youtube...

And not only that, But they are hardy, and can take a bit of rough and tumble with a child....

Good Luck

boc121

Cheers ferreter,great info there,she was getting one anyway come hell or high water she'll be delighted to hear that now she's getting two:D. So will her mother:eek:
Thanks again.

Ferreter

I dont know where you are....But your daughter is most welcome to 2 young kits from my oldest jill as soon they are ready...Free of course!

pedroeibar1

I see in the weekend papers that a ferret is the new "must have" fashion accessory. Sunday Times has photo of Paris Hilton withe hers, she has ditched the chihuahua for one. Pink collar de riguer of course.:rolleyes:
P.

stevoman

whe i was living in america it was amazing to see how many people kept ferrets as pets. they are very popular.

i have had three ferrets in my day. one hob and two jills. i got the hob in wales and it was a pet to end all pets. i used to take him out for a walk inthe fields and he would follow me faithfully, they are a fantastic creature. I had two jills aswell, but i found them a little bit more on the bitchy side.

Either way once handled from a kit and given plenty of attention the make a lovely pet for anyone willing to mind them.

rowa

stevoman wrote: »

whe i was living in america it was amazing to see how many people kept ferrets as pets. they are very popular.

i have had three ferrets in my day. one hob and two jills. i got the hob in wales and it was a pet to end all pets. i used to take him out for a walk inthe fields and he would follow me faithfully, they are a fantastic creature. I had two jills aswell, but i found them a little bit more on the bitchy side.

Either way once handled from a kit and given plenty of attention the make a lovely pet for anyone willing to mind them.

But i believe that its illegal to hunt with ferrets in america for some reason.

I had ferrets too years ago and if you let them loose anywhere they tend to want to be in nooks and crannies rather than out in the open which i suppose isn't suprising.
Someone told me that queen victoria was a huge fan and breeder of ferrets and used to give them to people as presents and don't forget the old poachers trick still practised at country fairs in the uk as a sport, namely having a ferret loose in your trousers ! rather you than me

pedroeibar1

rowa wrote: »

But i believe that its illegal to hunt with ferrets in america for some reason.

I had ferrets too years ago and if you let them loose anywhere they tend to want to be in nooks and crannies rather than out in the open which i suppose isn't suprising.
Someone told me that queen victoria was a huge fan and breeder of ferrets and used to give them to people as presents and don't forget the old poachers trick still practised at country fairs in the uk as a sport, namely having a ferret loose in your trousers ! rather you than me

Not sure about Queen Vic, but there is a painting of Queen Liz (the First) with one around her neck. They were popular with royalty and popes in the middle ages.
P.

rowa

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

Not sure about Queen Vic, but there is a painting of Queen Liz (the First) with one around her neck. They were popular with royalty and popes in the middle ages.
P.

looks like you were correct pedro, i must have been getting mixed up with queen vic and compo from "last of the summer wine"


http://www.all-about-ferrets.com/victorian-ferrets.html

boc121

Ferreter wrote: »

I dont know where you are....But your daughter is most welcome to 2 young kits from my oldest jill as soon they are ready...Free of course!

Thanks very much for your offer
PM sent.
Cheers.