I have had several experiences concerning birds and my ferrets. We were
walking our first ferret, Ferris, on a harness and leash in the park
when a "catbird" or mocking bird decided to dive down on him. Swooping
close several times, the bird was ignored. On about the fourth dive,
Ferris did a sudden twist and grabbed the bird out of the air. We were
shocked that the F-Man was so QUICK and had that instinct. We retrieved
the bird from the ferret jaws and he flew away with a severely bruised
ego. Several years later, we got chickens. I thought I would introduce
BART! to our little chickens. Brad held BART! in his arms and I had the
chicken in my arms. BART! lunged out of Brad's arms, through the air
and latched onto our chick's head. The chicken was bitten but OK. BART!
had NEVER been around a bird of any type and didn't even need to sniff
the bird to KNOW where he was on the food chain...the TOP. Loki has
gotten out of our house and went next door to take on a full grown
fighting cock. Both were jumping in the air at each other when we found
him! Remember, ferrets are TOP predators in the food chain and they are
well aware of what a bird is: food.

Lesley

[Posted in FML 7189]