New Ferret box

EPointer=Birdss

Well lads.
Few pics of the new ferret box. Need to set up the drinkers & few things for them to do inside it. Gonna cut some pipe for a tunnel.
What do ye do to keep them occupied whiles not working?

dicky82

that's a good idea using the cable tray for the base. easy cleaning. only draw back might be frosty mornings. . . i remember as an apprentice i hated using the stuff on cold mornings.
anyway when i made my new ferret housing i put in three levels and plenty of pipes. running up and down from each level keeps them nice a fit. and they LOVE running through the pipes.
best of luck with them. . .

Blackstairs Mountain Man

When I kept ferrets I always found that they sh*t in the same corner. When I made a new box I put them in and allowed them to find their feet. After a couple of weeks its becomes obvious where they are going to sh*t. I then remove the ferrets and adapt the box to put in a sliding removable floor where they sh*t. Then all I have to do is slide out the floor along with its contents despose of the contents wash the floor and replace.

Alternativley people use a mesh floor but I found the boxes seemed a bit draughty.

I am on the look out for some new stock if anybody knows of some good working kits for sale please PM me.

EPointer=Birdss

Blackstairs Mountain Man wrote: »

When I kept ferrets I always found that they sh*t in the same corner. When I made a new box I put them in and allowed them to find their feet. After a couple of weeks its becomes obvious where they are going to sh*t. I then remove the ferrets and adapt the box to put in a sliding removable floor where they sh*t. Then all I have to do is slide out the floor along with its contents despose of the contents wash the floor and replace.

Alternativley people use a mesh floor but I found the boxes seemed a bit draughty.

I am on the look out for some new stock if anybody knows of some good working kits for sale please PM me.

The right hand side is raised an inch to allow me flush out the crap with a hose. I always found ferrets very clean in that they go will away from their bed. Haven't had em I'm awhile though so you'd neve know with those crazy kiTs these days
The timber box is a solid box I can lift out & is sitting on board not cable tray so should be fairly draft proof. Idea of separate box is to be able to lift it out to clean if need be & also to allow me change the box type if ever wanted to convert to a rabbit hutch or somethin (ironic I know)
I must put a hinged cover over the hole to allow me lock them in & a handle on the wooden box top to open close lift in lift our etc. & another handle to open the main door easier.

EPointer=Birdss

dicky82 wrote: »

that's a good idea using the cable tray for the base. easy cleaning. only draw back might be frosty mornings. . . i remember as an apprentice i hated using the stuff on cold mornings.
anyway when i made my new ferret housing i put in three levels and plenty of pipes. running up and down from each level keeps them nice a fit. and they LOVE running through the pipes.
best of luck with them. . .

If we get right cold weather I could scatter a bit of shavings from the chicken coop on the floor. Never thought of that.
Must rig up a few pipes so to keep em occupied.
What do you feed yours Dicky?

dodderangler

I have a large box with hinges on the back of it and a latch and my two ferrets **** in the same corner all the time but the hinges and latch is great as I just take the ferrets out put them into their carrier box and get out the gloves pick up dirty **** and straw into bin and quick rinse with hose and new straw
Job done
It's a gift don know if anyone does that way but I only put the latch and hinges on last week and it's been 100 times easier

Blackstairs Mountain Man

dodderangler wrote: »

I have a large box with hinges on the back of it and a latch and my two ferrets **** in the same corner all the time but the hinges and latch is great as I just take the ferrets out put them into their carrier box and get out the gloves pick up dirty **** and straw into bin and quick rinse with hose and new straw
Job done
It's a gift don know if anyone does that way but I only put the latch and hinges on last week and it's been 100 times easier

That's what I mean when I say let them find where they want to crap and then adapt the box to them. No point designing the box and then putting the ferrets in because they might not crap where you want them to.

Ease of cleaning is important because if they are easier to clean then you will naturally clean them more often. I keep or have in the past kept dogs, chickens, ferrets, horses, cattle, and sheep and I say cleanliness and fresh water are the most important factors in having healthy and happy animals. Hygiene is everything. That's my motto as regards stock.

Its a great box EP and should last forever. You were asking what to do to keep them occupied when not hunting. I do not know if you are familiar with a horse walker. It is a circular track with moving gates. On ours it is on a circular concrete base and the outside wall is nearly 10 ft high and the inner wall about 5 ft high. There is a waste land in the middle of the walker of about 25 ft diameter that is 100% ferret proof. This is full of docks and nettles etc. It is only a matter of putting them inside it and leaving them to it. I put them out in the morning and would not take them in till night. There is a little box there in case it is wet and I am away. I Put them in their hutch then at night. I would leave them there full time only I am afraid that they would not get enough handling. I might put them out there for 2 or 3 days a week and it keeps them fit and healthy and they have a right time in it. I am blessed with it to be honest.

EPointer=Birdss

I know the horse walkers well. Very handy!
I'll end up building a ferret run at the end of the new dog runs

dodderangler

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

I know the horse walkers well. Very handy!
I'll end up building a ferret run at the end of the new dog runs

I building mine beside the hawk in a few weeks should be fun
What are you hunting does or bucks?

dicky82

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

If we get right cold weather I could scatter a bit of shavings from the chicken coop on the floor. Never thought of that.
Must rig up a few pipes so to keep em occupied.
What do you feed yours Dicky?

shot rabbits, pigeon, and lambs hearts. also chicken thighs or drum sticks if i get caught short of the other things. . . also the odd egg with a little hole pipped into it.

EPointer=Birdss

dodderangler wrote: »

I building mine beside the hawk in a few weeks should be fun
What are you hunting does or bucks?

Im gettin 2 does at the weekend. Haven't had ferrets in a long time so had it in my head to get a few for awhile. The sparce rabbit population around me has picked up this year so wanted someting to mix it up now & then. Farmer asked he cull them a bit also in his patch

dodderangler

Everyone prefers Jill's but I have a Jill there and she's very small and kills an awful lot but I have a buck there who is huge and is great at Boltin rabbits

EPointer=Birdss

Went out for a quick hours ferreting tonight. Brought a nicely colored Jill I got recently.
Worked like a trooper & quiet as a lamb (unlike the other one I've christened nipper!)
Happy out.
Rabbit & duck tomorrow night now

EPointer=Birdss

Oh great to get some use out of the Davy Moore Knife

anthonyos

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

Oh great to get some use out of the Davy Moore Knife

thats a nice knife alright were you get it

EPointer=Birdss

anthonyos wrote: »

thats a nice knife alright were you get it

Ah my friend you've been missing out on all the fun

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056368840&page=40

dodderangler

Wonder why ya named it nipper lol
How are you finding the ferreting now? Them ditches are still quite heavy do ya think
There's a few places I've been shooting on that I also ferret and it's still bit heavy roll on cold weather to kill the ditches
I was thinkin of bringing the ferret out and shotgun and whatever bolts just shoot then

EPointer=Birdss

dodderangler wrote: »

Wonder why ya named it nipper lol
How are you finding the ferreting now? Them ditches are still quite heavy do ya think
There's a few places I've been shooting on that I also ferret and it's still bit heavy roll on cold weather to kill the ditches
I was thinkin of bringing the ferret out and shotgun and whatever bolts just shoot then

Your spot on about the ditches. Very heavy yet & was only saying it to the farmer. Some spots in fields banks etc are fine though so tying their instead of gettin nettled alive.
Shotgun could be bit of sport alright & quicker for the rabbit.
Whiles I get used to the ferret & visa versa I'm just trying to just make sure I don't lose her yet! It's a fine way to pass a nice evening though!

dodderangler

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

dodderangler wrote: »

Wonder why ya named it nipper lol
How are you finding the ferreting now? Them ditches are still quite heavy do ya think
There's a few places I've been shooting on that I also ferret and it's still bit heavy roll on cold weather to kill the ditches
I was thinkin of bringing the ferret out and shotgun and whatever bolts just shoot then

Your spot on about the ditches. Very heavy yet & was only saying it to the farmer. Some spots in fields banks etc are fine though so tying their instead of gettin nettled alive.
Shotgun could be bit of sport alright & quicker for the rabbit.
Whiles I get used to the ferret & visa versa I'm just trying to just make sure I don't lose her yet! It's a fine way to pass a nice evening though!

Have ya not got a ferret finder
I wouldn't go with out mine as my little doe as small as she is is a Cnut for killin she's killed some rather large bucks this year so I use my big lad who is huge yet doesn't kill is great at bolting
I bring a machete for the ditches if using nets
I think there is some law bout farmers cutting ditches think they have to wait until October to cut them so I'm gonna wait to use nets till then
If you've no finder you should get one and the main reason why is if she gets lost she'll walk around and end up on a farm with chickens or other fowl and kill em all and you can lose permission over it
Happened to me 4 year ago
Get a little bell for her collar so you can hear her when she comes out
Atb

EPointer=Birdss

dodderangler wrote: »

Have ya not got a ferret finder
I wouldn't go with out mine as my little doe as small as she is is a Cnut for killin she's killed some rather large bucks this year so I use my big lad who is huge yet doesn't kill is great at bolting
I bring a machete for the ditches if using nets
I think there is some law bout farmers cutting ditches think they have to wait until October to cut them so I'm gonna wait to use nets till then
If you've no finder you should get one and the main reason why is if she gets lost she'll walk around and end up on a farm with chickens or other fowl and kill em all and you can lose permission over it
Happened to me 4 year ago
Get a little bell for her collar so you can hear her when she comes out
Atb

I have bell but the funds haven't stretched to a finder yet. I had one before that died. It's on the 'to get' list along with another 1000 items! Let's see how good Santa is!!
Luckily the same farmer has no fowl etc in that eventuality but a valid point.
I'd hate to lose her as she is a nice little ferret & looks good so far

dodderangler

I understand mate
I held off on ferreting for a while until I got a finder and the prices of them are mad 180 brand new is mental so I looked on donedeal and gumtree and found one a deben mark 3 hardly used for 70 quid with collar and got it straight away and within an hour had 5 rabbits
If you want I can bring you out if you want a days ferreting with my collar and il bring the hawk aswell

brian45

hi lads,i have 6 collars and 2 finder box,iv been picking up stuff over a few years and it unreal what stuff i have now,but i would never leave the house with my finder,but saying that i rarely get a ferret staying underground for a long time....a tip for ye lads that has no finder feed your ferrets before ye bring them of hunting,me myself i don't like the idea of a ferret killing underground,when a ferret keeps doing that hes not wroth keeping

Eddie B

I ran a pipe about 8 foot long outside my run, couple a u bends, and right back in again, propped up at the end with a few cavity blocks, worked a treat! Loads a room to play and get exercise!

brian45

Eddie that's a very good idea,i have the pipes in my shed on the 4 side about 6 feet long,i do let them run around every day for about 3 hours,i also have a wooden ferret wheel its like a hamster wheel but mush bigger and they love it.the pipes i have found are very good for young ferrets to get them to go to ground mush faster then they would very good training for them.