Breeding Ferrets

Over the years I have ferreted more than a few times, so I would like to think that I know what makes a good working ferret. At this time of year lots of kits are being born; the whole point of breeding is to improve on the ferrets that you already have. The litmus test is gauging exactly what you have and how, if possible, can you improve on it. With regret I have to say that today’s ferret is a completely different beast from that of 10 or 20 years ago.

The mighty ferret has become a victim of its own popularity, hybridised beyond belief and weakened by the same DNA that previous generations of owners had taken care to eradicate — a sad yet true statement based on the evidence I have seen and the feedback from the rabbiting community across the UK. It was once a powerful, fearless marauder of rabbits, and had a stronger prey drive and fight mode than any other domesticated species, but sadly today not every ferret would know what
a rabbit is or what to do with it.

The greatest loss to the ferreting community is a particular type of character that kept ferrets. These were the owners who could only afford to keep animals that earned their keep. These people are leaving us and with them go their knowledge and their strains of ferrets. Today it seems to be convenience and fashion that tick the boxes for ferret owners over having ferrets with a strong prey drive, sound confirmation and excellent social skills.

This sobering reality forced me to have a good, hard look at my own ferrets. For them to survive and prosper as I wanted, I realised I had to expand, build a better team, weed out the weak and concentrate on the traits I wanted to cement in my strain. I had to carve out a plan that wasn’t a short-term fix but a vision for the future, the rest of my life even.

[NauticalNightmareDeep]

I love your channel fella. I was driving down a motorway and this Ferret was jumping around in the road! I was in my van as I’m a plumber so I stopped and put the little fcuker in my van vault as it was aggressive, I tried to save its life. The little fcuker! The most loving animal ever. That ferret would steal my phone and it would steal gold and silver! It would curl up in a ball under my sofa, with my important stuff. So if I went to bed, it would scratch on my door and once I let it in, it would sleep under my bed,
It used to run up my trouser leg and poke it’s head out of my pants, then it used to go up my shirt and sit on my shoulder.
I answered my front door one time with a ferret sitting on my shoulder.

[tonynapoli]

I’ve never had a bad ferret in 40 plus years .... good video with good information thank you

[iainbickerstaff]

Excellent video Simon.Hope they are great workers, when they start to work for you and they work well it puts big smile on your face .like proud dad

[johnfigueroa]

I'd love to import some over here to the USA the ones here are so hit and miss due to the pet trade. Some will only take mice and nothing larger. It's a shame how they have fizzled out over the years.

[margaretbushey]

The mark of husbandry and good stewardship. We need more like you.

[TheHappyDino]

I skipped to 3:00 and it scared the shy out of me :3

[stefanmatthews]

you should do a lengthy a-z about ferrets documentary style

[imlost]

I love how you picked them up like noodles lol.

[danielsimpson]

Hello Simon could you do a tour of all your ferret cages because it would be interesting to see me.Thanks

[morganbrim]

The way he just scoops them ferrets up lol

[hutchmusician]

(5:25) Aw! What a cute little bunch of... (5:29) blood-spattered psychopaths.

[Madmicksoutdooractivities]

good helpfull video once again simon. my old jill died in may and just got two kit jills 3 weeks ago which are now 15 weeks old. looking forward to working them and also seen your videos this season.

will you be attending anymore shows? as i missed the lowther show some how even tho its 25min drive from my house

[motohunter]

Simon hope your well just a quicky just wondered if you would make a video from how to teach and train ferrets from day 1 how to get them prepared to start working the rabbit warrens all aspects from day 1 what you do to prepare them ready to start hunting at lets say 6months as that is the most common age people start working there young ferrets I've done it all enough times with my own ferrets over the years but im just really interested in seeing how and what you do from the day a kit is born and theres no videos on this subject and I couldn't think of anyone better to this video explaining what you find best to do when it comes to preparing ferret before you just wack it down a hole like some silly people do take care fella

[ReluctantReader]

Great video, look forward to the day when I can put your wisdom into practice.

[matuscajkovic]

why do you keep them in sawdust? isnt that superbad for them? its even on their food. use old rugs, sheets or old clothes instead it will keep them warm and wont get everywhere

[danram]

i have a ferret from good stock, im quite new to the sport so i guess i need more work than him, i can pick him up he craves attention lil bit nippy but liks too and at about 12 weeks he could easily bite me should he want to, he is very active and when i handle him seems to be hyper and maybe a lil concerned, can feel rapid heart beats at first, got him set with my terrier and lurcher and them with him, i feel he just craves more attention which as a working man i try to give bring him in the house to get him used to being handled, but i look at yours and a totally more relaxed ferret i see, i have bread this year and keeping two back, i have chose strong big ferrets but with a bit of brain which seem to be fine now handling at 8 weeks, but i dont want the sudden change when there brothers and sisters go, im gonna put one of my hobs in with the hob i have mentioned earlier and keep a jill with her mother, i would like some advice, if you think the hob from my litter will get on with the hob i spoke about maybe 4 weeks older but a lot bigger, and also is this a wise action keeping them together as my thinking is if they live together they can work together, also the one from my litter i thought would be neutered but now im not sure ? i hope i havent gone on too long and you maybe could give me some advice simon just a newbie trying to work things out lol cheers mate

[jalencarton]

I want to work with u and the ferrets I love tgem

[nathandixon]

Hello my name is Nathan Dixon and I was wondering if I can ask you some specific questions question one have you ever thought about breeding them with European mink, 2nd question after you breed one with a European mink couldn't you breed a female with a European polecat to make it have an Extremely powerful kill drive To the point where it kills the rabbit for you and drags it out?

[JCATAPULTHUNTING]

Hi Simon at what age do you start working your kits pls thankyou

[okamimisery]

i have a midget jill and i want her to have babies, but im not sure if she'll be more at risk if i was to breed her since she's not the regular size of a normal female ferret