A beginners guide to starting ferreting
What basic equipment you will need to begin ferreting:
A Ferret(s) - I prefer using Jills (females)
A Hutch for your ferret
A Ferret Finder
Nets (personally I would start with some purse nets)
A Spade
A Ferret Box (easier than carrying your ferret in your pocket)
Picking your ferret / ferrets:
Pick a kit from a reputable breeder, you want to know the background of your kit and its mum and dad. You preferably want a kit from working stock.
I personally prefer to work only jills as they are faster, smaller and don't smell as much. They also tend to be a lot more active than a hob. Jills can also live together most of the time without too much trouble where as most hobs need to be separated during mating season. That said many people only work hobs as they are bigger, smellier and can take a beating by the rabbit.
Whether you work a Jill or Hob your ferret needs to be happy and healthy; the best workers tend to be the friendliest. You don't want a vicious ferret as a worker, this will just make your life harder and you won't enjoy working him or her.
There are so many variations of colour of coat out there but it won't make any difference to working your ferret although I tend to use black eyed whites or albinos when working bushes or rough places as they are easier to see!
You will pick up on what you like to work and how you like to work with a bit of experience
Housing your ferret / ferret:
The bigger the better! Your ferret will appreciate a big hutch / kennel with plenty of room to run and play and possibly a friend too. Ferrets are very social animals and thrive off each other so when possible try and keep them together; ferrets can get very depressed if left alone for too long. For my team I have a couple of big kennels converted into a ferret house with plenty of tubes, hammocks and toys to keep them occupied when not working. REMEMBER ferrets are escape artists, they can dig, they can climb and they can jump so please make your new hutch ferret proof!
A quick tour of my main ferret pen (converted dog kennel)
TOP TIP - Litter train your ferret / ferrets, this makes life ten times easier for cleaning your hutches to traveling with your ferret. This is definitely a must from me...
Buying your equipment:
A Ferret Finder - Expensive but well worth it, this has been a life saver to all the ferreters out there and is definitely needed, no more losing a ferret or waiting for hours if your ferret has killed under ground.. It's a useful tool that is well worth the money. I use the mk3 as the collars are more commonly available and still manufactured.
A Spade - You should always carrier a good quality spade incase you need to dig your ferret up.
Nets - Purse nets or longnets do the job but purse nets are smaller and easier to carry so I suggest starting out with these. I prefer to carry some 1 metre nets and some 4ft nets for the bigger holes. Spun polyester is the best type of material to use but your can also get hemp and other types.
Ferret Box - The easiest way of carrying around your ferrets, allowing them and you to be comfortable when travelling.
This is the equipment I recommend getting before starting ferreting; once you get used to working your ferrets you can add more to your collection. I also recommend getting a poker stick often used in catching moles so you can feel where the run starts underground while digging without hurting your ferret by accidentally digging him/her up... I just weld two bits of bar together to make a T this does the job.
Long nets - some people prefer long nets and they certainly have benefits but for beginners I recommend purse nets as they are light and easy to carry..
SO you have all your equipment now you can get out there.
Before putting your ferret / ferrets down the hole you want to lay out all your nets covering all holes; bolting holes may be covered so look carefully as you don't want a rabbit slipping the net.
ITS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW TO DISPATCH A RABBIT QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY BEFORE GOING OUT FERRETING!
Top Tips:
1. Always have a spare net in your pocket, this means you can quickly net the hole the rabbit has come out of with out the time of untangling the net with the rabbit in.
2. Be quite and calm when approaching the warren/set, if your to loud the rabbits won't want to come out.
3. Inspect the setup before placing your nets, if its a unused warren you don't want to waste all that time laying nets
4. Put time into training and handling your ferrets
Any questions please don't hesitate to email us at rabbitcontrol2020@gmail.com
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