Caught a domesticated ferret killing

[mlmanjoney]

If I see it again, and I can get it away from my dog, it will be delivered to Animal control and I will file with them that the animal is a danger to my property and has escaped before. And I will have video. Cameras are being installed Friday

 

[ssferret]

I'm truly sorry for what happened. I would have been a basket case if it happened to me.

I know ferrets like the back of my hand. I was seriously involved in the American Ferret Association (AFA). I bred them and also would take in unwanted ones. I was a senior judge at ferret shows but it wasn't just a show. It was one of the best ways to give out information. People needed to know if a ferret was truly the right pet for them.

Believe it or not, most of the ferrets I came in contact with were well behaved except for some of the give ups where most people got them on whims and treated them as throw away pets. I knew how to handle more aggressive ones because I was experienced but they became permanent residents. There was no way I could adopt them out with those temperaments.

In the 90's, we, in Maryland, got the state legislature to officially declare ferrets as domesticated and we're added in the same category with dogs and cats. That includes the laws associated with it such as a rabies shot being required. If it's a law in your state I doubt those people would have had it done. Then they could be reported for that too. It's not much but it's something.

The law was also changed on the minimum age ferrets needed to be to be sold so most pet stores stopped selling them. With this we hoped it would cut down on whims and a
anyone who really wanted a ferret would look us or another organization up. We never made money off selling ferrets. In fact it cost more keeping them. We mostly wanted to make as sure as possible that they were going to a good home with people that had a very good idea of what having a pet ferret would entail and realize they were very social and needed time out of their cage and enjoy playing with their human family. The one thing to know is that they have very tough skin so are used to biting down hard when playing with other ferrets. You may need to teach some of them to be more gentle so you scruff them by the neck and tunk them on the nose.

I've worked and had many types of animals and I've loved each and every one of them but ferret people have to face the facts. Ferrets have been known to kill other animals. In fact it pains me to say that one time one pof my ferrets got into my cockatiel's cage because I was careless. One thing to learn about ferrets is if they can get their head through an opening, they can get their whole body through. That's how Willow got out of her cage. She dragged Oliver out of his own cage while I wasn't home and killed him althougph she never tried to eat him. He was like a toy to her. I had to call a friend to look for him since Willow dragged him somewhere else. I didn't want to be the one to find him. I was so upset. Even talking about it now brings back some of the pain and that was almost 20 years ago. I hated Willow for what she did but I had to remind myself that she wasn't human so it wasn't malicious. The fault was mine, just like those people that owned the ferret that killed your chickens.

Those people should definitely pay for your losses but I know that that's not what was and is foremost in your mind. It angers me how people could care less of how what they do or don't do could effect others. The world revolves around them. Then they say that they're only animals. They can be replaced. (Yes. I've run into people like that.) I wish there was some way to really make them pay and I don't mean with money. Then maybe they would think twice about doing something like this again.

 

[mlmanjoney]

I found the owner. This is the second time the ferret has escaped in the past month. They keep it in the garage in a plastic bottom cage... I should have called animal control. Apparently it likes to kill their pet mice which is why it lives in the garage.

 

[Willow2253]

Wow they need to get a better hold on their pet. If I had a predator that was killing other people’s animals when it escaped, I would do better to ensure it couldn’t escape.

 

[Willow2253]

If it does show up again, give it to animal control or a shelter. If those people can’t safely take care of their animal they don’t deserve to have it.

 

[reddogmaster2]

I would skin the weasel, soak the carcass in bleach to mask the smell of dead decaying animal and at my property line, impale the weasel on a Pike to alert all the other predators that death lies ahead, move along.

But that's just little ol me!

 

[birdlover2]

I am just so scared about shipping chicks. I know it is done all the time

After a lot of searches I found a couple places that have pullets. Just need to make sure I can find friendly ones. 4 of my 6 were lap chickens and I miss my afternoon snuggle party already.

Thanks everyone.

Your welcome, glad you found some places to get new chickens Good luck with that, will pray that the ferret won't be back, but be prepared if they are. There's plenty of good ideas on this thread. As others have said, would not let your dog attack it cause the ferret could have rabbies. If you need to dispatch it quickly to prevent it from killing more of your flock, opt to shoot it instead. You could also trap it again, just don't bring it back to those same owners! If you can't get animal control to take it, could try and rehome it yourself, or kill it if need be, I don't think it's owners will miss it, and they shouldn't have it.

 

[mlmanjoney]

So I did get money from them. It won't bring my sweet chickens back, but hopefully make them think about ramifications. Begged them to get an appropriate cage and to 'Do Better'. Next time I catch it or hear about it escaping, Animal Control and a Police Report (if it makes it to my yard)

My husband spent 12 hours today making the run ferret proof. And honestly I don't even think a field mouse could get in now.

I am still sad, especially when we found feathers as we worked, but we have 2 young girls in the run with our survivor bantam, and 2 babies in the basement. The cameras are installed and I will hope the neighbors learned their lesson... but knowing their yappy dog is not well trained (has almost bit my nice neighbor many times on her jogs) I am not holding my breath.

My local chicken chatter forum was nasty to me when. I said it was a ferret, and you all have been sympathetic and helpful. I am grateful to everyone who has commented.

My 13year old with one of the new girls
Rest in Peace sweeties

 

[cmom]

Maybe someone decided they didn't want it anymore and let it go. You never know. We are rural on a dead end road and have been the recipients of other people relocations.

 

[birdlover2]

I am so sick guys. Caught a domesticated ferret that killed all my chickens. Saved one. Now I am being told that a ferret wouldn't do that and it had to have been a racoon or a weasel. What are the odds of me catching a ferret moments after finding my 6 juvenile pullets dead by a single bite.

Kids and I are devastated. My coop is predator proof but I guess my run has some gaps in the hardware cloth. Trying to find the ferrets owner even though I want to let my dog have it.

Let animal control take it. it's an unfortunate incident. When we had chikens and somebody's dogs came and killed half of them, we didn't shoot the dogs and called animal control. Those same dogs never came back, and their owner reclaimed them. Things happen, but two wrongs don't make a right. Now if the ferret was still actively attacking I would shoot it to prevent it from killing the rest of my flock, but it's not. And that is something a ferret can and will do, it's a predator. Make your coop more-predator proof, and learn from the experiance, it's hard, but you shouldn't give up on chickens entirely, tragedy strikes, but don't let it keep you down forever and ruin you, get back up. Maybe get an alarm system, or maybe a dog that will protect your chickens, (make sure it's the righ breed and gets along with chickens before you get one, but that helps scare away predators)