|
Post by gan on Jun 16, 2009 13:16:42 GMT -5
Last night I bought Killer a small rat, hoping she would be able to take it down. Unfortunately She failed miserably, whenever it screamed it frightened her and she let go. The poor thing was paralyzed with fear, but she couldn't kill it herself.
I was heartbroken, I forgot how emotive rats are compared to your average mouse or even hamster. When I reached in to pick it up, it clung to my hand and cuddled close or safety. I was moments from trying to keep it as a pet, maybe a breeder. (I could feed fuzzie mice without much problems as Killer -can- take them down humanely.) But I was worried she had internal damage, nd couldn't let her die slowly in a cage, So I dispatched her myself and fed her last night.
Killer loved the treat! But I felt so guilty for putting that poor baby through all that on a whim.
Needless to say My Ferret will not be getting any more big prey live, not unless I get another more aggressive/efficient ferret at least!
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jun 16, 2009 13:52:07 GMT -5
You have my sympathies....my guys no longer get large prey either. Unlike your little girl my guys were up for the game, the problem was the prey was too large for them to make a clean kill. Even Attila, who runs just under 5lbs couldn't get his teeth around the base of the rat's skull to sever the spinal column to make a clean kill (this is his normal method of disposing of prey, he had done it before but I guess the rats that I had were smaller before this one). As I had allowed them the ferret room to make the kill, I was powerless to prevent the horrible massacre to happen. It was the first time I've ever seen the business work together to bring down a kill (they usually bicker and steal each others mice ) and I really don't have any desire to see it again. I now let them kill mice and I buy pre-killed rats. I'm sorry that you found yourself in distress over your rat kill but it's all a learning experience as to what our little fur and teeth gang can handle ciao
|
|
|
Post by weloveourweasels on Jun 16, 2009 19:57:08 GMT -5
normally when people try live whole prey they don't go any bigger than an adult mouse because rats put up too much of a fight and can hurt the ferret and it is sometimes difficult for ferrets to quickly dispatch them.
You have my sympathies as well.
|
|
|
Post by josiesmom on Jul 19, 2009 22:23:21 GMT -5
your experience is one reason why I always encourage ne to live prey ferret owners tio NOT over match their ferrets. Its imperative that the ferrets work up to large prey - they may have the instincts, but they don't have the skills yet and over matching them can ruin them for any live prey ventures afterward. When venturing into the live prey you have to work as a Jill ferret might teach her young kits to hunt - first introduce pre-chewed food, then still live, but wounded pups, then slightlyl older fuzzies, then hoppers, then weanlings, then juveniles, then adults and if you switch from mice to rats do NOT jump from adult mice to adult rats, go from adult mice to fuzzy rats, then up the ages as for mice. ANy prey change, you ned to do this so the ferret can develop the necessary skills to dispatch that prey.
Screaming is a defensive move that WILL cause a ferret to release its grip - they do it among themselves! Its not surprising that a new hunter would release its grip when the prey screamed. Maybe thats one reason why my deaf ferret Josie, and Crystal have exhibited superb hunting skills? They don't hear the prey cry out!
But the other advantage to allowing the ferret to develop the needed skills is that an efficient hunter will be so quick the prey doesn't get a chance to emit a cry!
The hardest ones for me to hear were the guinea pigs and the older chicks, too, they were the most difficult for Josie to bring down because they were new to her.
Some ferrets get down right mad at the prey when the prey resists -Roman, Crystal and Josie fall into that category. Fizzle likes to hunt but when the mouse nips back, it perplexes her and she has to start over she is my most uncoordinated hunter. Windy never gives up but sometimes her over exuberance allows the mouse to get away but she will employ her nose when relocating prey. Bugsy is a brute and if his first grab doesn't dispatch the mouse directly , he has a hard time figuring out here it went!
Good luck on your next ventures!
|
|