Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2011 20:57:15 GMT -5
ITs extremely important to not over match your ferret when itnroducing them to live prey. Predators have to develop their skills - that's why wild carnivores start out with meaty hunks(ABC-all ready been chewed), then progress to killed small prey, then to wounded still live prey, then practice hunts where mom usually ends up dispatching the prey.
If you over match your new hunter and they get hurt, it will turn them off from hunting ( usually) - some ferrets a bite from prey just pi$$es them off and they go at it even more determined.
Start with thawed prekilled pinkies, then whole live pinkies, then fuzzies, then hoppers, then juveniles, then adult mice. Hone their skills with crickets. Then you can progress up to medium sized rats, chicks, pullets, guinea pigs etc- I haven't done live prey rabbits- only because I know they scream horribly and I have people that live above me. Guinea pigs are bad enough. IF you offer chicks and pullets, I highly suggest leaving them in a box or container without food for the day in order to purge their innards- otherwise you'll have a wicked mess of chicken poop to clean up after the hunt!
I firmly believe that allowing ferrets to develop their hunting skills offers them a proper outlet for their inner needs. Biting ferrets quickly realize where and when to use their teeth in a proper manner. The added benefit of supreme nutrients (provided your prey items are well fed and healthy too) is just icing on the cake!
Even my now blind elderly ferret, Fizzle, is still an effective happy hunter - those whiskers are amazing tools and that nose is infallible!
Cheers,
Kim
If you over match your new hunter and they get hurt, it will turn them off from hunting ( usually) - some ferrets a bite from prey just pi$$es them off and they go at it even more determined.
Start with thawed prekilled pinkies, then whole live pinkies, then fuzzies, then hoppers, then juveniles, then adult mice. Hone their skills with crickets. Then you can progress up to medium sized rats, chicks, pullets, guinea pigs etc- I haven't done live prey rabbits- only because I know they scream horribly and I have people that live above me. Guinea pigs are bad enough. IF you offer chicks and pullets, I highly suggest leaving them in a box or container without food for the day in order to purge their innards- otherwise you'll have a wicked mess of chicken poop to clean up after the hunt!
I firmly believe that allowing ferrets to develop their hunting skills offers them a proper outlet for their inner needs. Biting ferrets quickly realize where and when to use their teeth in a proper manner. The added benefit of supreme nutrients (provided your prey items are well fed and healthy too) is just icing on the cake!
Even my now blind elderly ferret, Fizzle, is still an effective happy hunter - those whiskers are amazing tools and that nose is infallible!
Cheers,
Kim