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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2014 18:03:03 GMT -5
This is turning into a chore... I've contacted SIX breeders, and not a single one has gotten back to me. You'd think they'd at least respond to me...
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Post by Heather on Oct 8, 2014 0:44:38 GMT -5
Finding breeders is really difficult. I won't deny it. Most breeders at this time of year have nothing to offer you as they've no kits and won't be breeding until the spring. Have you checked into the show circuit? Thought of maybe taking in a show and actually trying to contact breeders at that level? Breeders, like shelters are often busy and don't necessarily return emails promptly. I know there's a big show this weekend (think it's this weekend) so it may be that they're busy getting ready and getting set up for this show. Have you just done a single email to these breeders? Not meaning to pry, I do remember how hard it was to get someone to respond to an email when I was looking for my dog. I had to be a bit persistent. ciao
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Post by crazylady on Oct 8, 2014 3:46:06 GMT -5
Hi I am sorry breeders have not returned your e mail maybe I can shed light on that a lot of breeders simply see unknown e mails and send them to the trash can I know when I do shows in different countries it is not unknown for me to get ten or more requests of please can I buy a kit from you and in some cases when you reply explaining sorry I dont sell them you get an e mail filled with abuse things like your a greedy b**ch you have so many why cant you sell me one! I will come to your house and steal one ( another reason a lot of breeders wont disclose where they live ) try and talk to a breeder be prepared to wait until they are ready and know and trust you and your boy will come good things always come to those who wait ! take care bye for now Bev
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 7:08:34 GMT -5
My husband is coming home from Afghan this weekend so no show yet, but we'll be in Chicagi next month sk I may see if I ca catch a show there. I have sent just one e-mail and, if they have them, filled out their adoption applications. My e-mail expressed that, as I know it is an unorthodox request I have made andfelt compelled to contact them so I can establish a good line of communication. I also told themy reasonings for said request, and have received zero response. I'm trying to be patient, and I do understand why people have misgivings... I just wish they'd respond even with a polite "No, I won't sell to you.". I really can't be angry if I get a response no matter the nature. I have not contacted foreign breeders just yet. Before I commit to buying my lovey I'd like to visit the ferretry and meet the breeder and their breeding ferrets. Even if I don't buy my kit for another three years after. I truly want the perfect kit for me and Puck:)
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Post by Heather on Oct 8, 2014 11:45:17 GMT -5
If you don't mind me asking what is your unorthodox request? That might be why you're being ignored...I"m playing devil's advocate here. I do know that some will respond even if the request is out of order (I've seen these discussed on a breeder's forum) but I know others just hit trash as Bev mentioned. One of the problems that we get over here is that there are a few people who spend their whole time (often just changing their names) pestering the breeders for intact ferrets. They are BYBs or prospective BYB's who want to cash in on a fast dollar. There isn't one when you breed correctly...in fact it's really expensive {sigh} but you can't tell them that. If I'd sold all the kits that I had got this year, I wouldn't have even come close to breaking even. They only see the main charge for a kit and they've got dollar signs. There are a quite a few breeders on facebook who run pages to get to know their prospective kit people, and to provide support for them after they have their kits. It might be worth seeing if any of the breeders you've contacted have such pages. It might actually be a better way to see what and whom you're dealing with ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 15:34:22 GMT -5
Asking to allow my Hob to remain intact for the duration of his life. I knew asking about that would get me into trouble with a lot of breeders for exactly the reason of BYBs. I am just trying for my pet to live a natural healthy life. I also understand why they tend to ignore me. They don't know me. They only know that that kind of request can lead to the mistreatment of ferrets, not the betterment of their breed.
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Post by unclejoe on Oct 8, 2014 15:46:19 GMT -5
Yeah, all of the breeders i know and know about make you sign a contract that you will neuter at an appropriate age fir reasons you stated. And all of them are quick to say there's no money in breeding ferrets. They do it mostly to provide a healthier line, but they can have problems too.
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Post by Heather on Oct 8, 2014 20:56:39 GMT -5
I'd honestly see if you can get on a couple of facebook pages that are run by the breeders you're looking into. The reason is twofold...it gives you a chance to actually get to know the breeder and their ferrets and they get to know you and just what angle you're coming from. I know that no one would touch me on this side of the pond with an intact ferret. They just wouldn't talk to me, even to answer my questions. There are a couple of breeders who are on here who would talk to me and answer my questions but they're not necessarily frequent flyers, so I'd have to wait until they came back on board. Sherry put me in touch with Bev. I worked with Bev for 2 yrs before she considered me a possible ferrant for her wee ones. To be honest, I never really thought about getting a ferret from Bev, I just wanted answers. Many of the older breeders to prevent their "pet" ferrets from breeding (because they don't consider them quality and are not good representatives of their ideal ferret don't want them to represent their lines or to be reproduced) urge altering before their first birthday, not even waiting for maturity. Its to protect their ferrets from being used for breeding and to protect their best interests. It might seem simple, you're only asking for a hob....but because they don't know you they don't know you're not arranging for a jill from another breeder or have one already. They don't know. I don't know if you wait until you get a contact from a breeder, before stating you're looking for a hob that you're going to keep intact would be a better or not. I know that Nancy is a breeder that's on here occasionally she might be able to give you better insight how to deal with this or how to go about this or even if anyone will talk to you considering what you're looking for. Please keep us updated. I'm interested in seeing where this goes, if you don't mind. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 21:46:44 GMT -5
Wait, Nancy, as in... Nancy Park? Ferrettown USA?
An I do completely understand which is one of the reasons I'm waiting for at least three years to acquire my new boy. I want to not only know the breeder, the ferrets, and the kits produced by the pairings... I want them to know me. I'd ideally like to meet them face to face and introduce them to Puck, so they can personality match for him at least a year before finding the Kit I'll eventually choose. I'll troll Facebook a bit, and I'll keep up my internet research. If I was a breeder I'm sure I'd be leery of me too. When I bred horses I know we were very picky on who got our foals, and in the contract it stated they could not rehome or sell our foals. Any horse unwanted or that was not the right match we took back. So I do very much understand why they'd be so leery if me..
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Post by crazylady on Oct 9, 2014 11:42:22 GMT -5
Hi can I just ask if puck is male and fixed ? or female the reason I am asking is this is something else you will have to bear in mind if you get a male who is whole as a kit he will be fine but if puck is male once a whole hob develops and ages ( from six months on wards ) they can change and can become aggressive to other ferrets if you have fixed females there mind will be set on mating they dont know a female has been done and they can see some fixed males as a threat and beat the h*ll out of them ( and believe me they can do some serious damage ) dont get me wrong you can get some pairings who live together no problem ( I have some whole hobs who are brothers who live together pretty well ) but each spring they do bite on each other a little playing the mating game so the sudocreme bucket comes out lol good luck with your search take care bye for now Bev
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2014 12:51:54 GMT -5
Puck is a fixed boy haha I'm talking to a breeder now, I like her a lot and she's really helping educate me on DES implants. She told me if I wait for even one rut to pass (she recommends DES at six months) that most likely my whole boy will be too aggressive towards Puck to let them around eachother. She also feeds her kits a raw diet! YAY! If aggression towards Puck becomes a problem I will definitely need to implant. I want a healthy fuzz, but I can't risk Puck's safety. I'm already investing in two cages so I can separate. Puck is completely free roam, so I want to get him used to a cage at nights so when the new boy does come Puck won't be shocked at the sudden caging during quarantine and such.
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Post by crazylady on Oct 10, 2014 11:56:14 GMT -5
Hi I am pleased you have found a breeder to talk things through with aggression in males can be a big problem I have even known some when fixed still think they have there bits lol and act like a whole ferret for up to a year later as long as puck gets used to a separate cage you should have no problems hopefully they will get on and not turn your house into a battle ground of poofing lol good luck take care bye for now bev
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 1:58:50 GMT -5
Been forever since I said anything here, but that's because I gave up. It seems that no one can really have an intact ferret in this area of the US and not be seen as a potential BYB. I cried to my husband a few times about it, but it just looks like I'll stick with rescues and maybe just maybe find a breeder willing to work with me one day haha
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Post by crazylady on Apr 26, 2016 12:24:41 GMT -5
Hi don't give up it will happen speak to breeders for advice may I ask would you consider vasectomising a hob ? if you explain to breeders you don't want to totally fix him for health reasons but would be willing to have him vasectomised ( this proves to them you wont turn him into a baby making machine ) I cant see how they could have a problem with that ( even offer his services to them should the need arise ! lol saves them jabs when they don't want to breed ) its also healthier for there jills and because his body clock turns on and off with the seasons it reduces the risk of adrenal as for him living alone a lot of my hobs live alone and they are just fine as the old saying goes what you never had you never miss ! my vas hobs on the other hand look at me mid season as if to say no no more women please give me a break lol good luck take care bye for now Bev
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Post by Heather on Apr 26, 2016 12:38:48 GMT -5
I'm sorry that you've given up. What happened with the possible kit that you were going to get earlier? There are a lot of kits on the ground this spring. Perhaps, if you go to a show or something like that to make contacts? ciao
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