Hi,everyone,
I've just recently subscribed to the FML, via the INTERNET.  I wouldn't
have belived that there were so many people intrested in ferrets world
wide, however down to business.  I've noticed that there are quiet a few
queries on ferrets and biting,as a owner here in Britain of some 16 odd
years, I may be able to help.  I keep ferrets as pets and as working
animals,mainly for rabbits(I don't use them for rats anymore.) I've found
that a ferret that bites is a ferret that hasn't been handled properly or
has been mistreated as a kit, once the habit of biting sets in it's very
hard to cure.  Step 1.  Wait till you get your ferret home and introuduce
them to there new cub(hutch/kennel/run/court.) Wait 2 to 3 hours and then
feed them.
Once they have been fed most ferrets like to sleep, now is the best timeto
handle them as they are now dozy.  Step 2.  Make a tight fist of your hand
and drop a spot of milk onto your foremost knuckles(this is known as
offering up the hand.) Now is the time to be brave,because ferrets react to
sharp jerky movements and if you snatch your hand away you'll end up with
the ferret on the end of your hand (The reason you make a fist is because
the ferret will try to bite the nearest thing to its head eg your
knuckles.But because the fist is tight the only damage you'll get is broken
skin on said knuckles.) Expect to be bitten the first few times,a ferret
biting your knuckles is much more preferable than a ferret hanging on to
your digits (Because the knuckles are hard and bony the ferret can't get a
proper grip and it doesn't really hurt that much.) Ferrets love milk, once
the ferret tastes the milk on your knuckles more often or not it will lose
interest in your hand.  Step 3.  Once the ferret is regularly drinking from
your knuckles you can be fairly certain that she is begining to trust you,
keep feeding her milk as often as as you feel secure(In the old days old rat
catchers used to use spit instead of milk, because ferrets love human spit
even more than milk.) Only when you feel ready try to feed the ferret from
the palm of your hand, above all keep your hand movements slow and
deliberate.  You can now try a little mince meat instead of milk/spit,after
that it's up to you to make friends with her.  Stroke her, be gentle and
play with her.With luck you should be rewarded with affectionate little
ferret,but expect the odd bite or two when she gets frightened.
I must mention that there is one last drastic measure to be taken against
a ferret that bites,it's known as knuckling (ONLY USE IT AS A LAST RESORT.)
Once the persistent biter latches on to your knuckle force them down her
throat, she'll soon try to remove her mouth from your hand (The object of
knuckling is to make biting your hand as unpleasent as possible to the
ferret.) soon she'll really struggle, remove the knuckles and give her a drop
of milk on knuckles again. It rarely takes more than a couple of sessions to
cure the ferret of biting,but please be warned knuckling can alienate your
animal.once again make a big fuss of her and play with her,this is the most
important part,the handling of a ferret.
My advice to all owners old or new is to get a ferret kit once they have
been weaned off mum/mom,handle the ferrets as often as possible give the
ferrets pleasent thoughts about your hands(Hands = food = tickling = nice =
happy ferret=happy ferrets don't bite.) Avoid adult ferrets like the plague,
if someone offers you a adult ferret don't buy it(unless it's from a friend
and you know the ferret.) Because nine time out of ten there's something
wrong with it,anyway a good working (pet) ferret is worth a gold mine and
nobody in his right mind would won't sell it.  The only way to be sure is to
breed your own, I haven't downloaded the ferret FAQ yet so I don't know the
the situation on ferret breeding in the states or the rest of the world,here
in England ferrets normaly retail for between 2 to 10 about $4 to $13.
On a finale note bald spots can becaused by scarcoptic mange (I think that's
how you spell it) the ferrets scratch at the area,or chicken eggs to many
hens eggs will make a ferret break out in bald spots,don't ask me why but
it's been known in Britain for a long time(also the heads of cobs can make
your ferret sterile.) I hope this may help all you ferret lovers out there,
i've been bitten badly three times in my life, all jills, there's a message
there somewhere.
               dave.dwgould.demon.co.uk
                        Dave.
[Posted in FML issue 1232]