What Ed Cook looks for in a ferret
Ed Cook talks about breeding ferrets and what characteristics make a good worker
“A ferret should be strong enough to deal with a stubborn bolter and have stamina aplenty”
I’ve kept ferrets for most of my life. As a kid I had them as pets but often worked them like any other country lad. If I am honest, I think polecats have a touch more grit but I still keep ferrets, about 20, most of which are related to those from my younger days.
I mainly keep hobs (males) for working as they possess more power and stamina than that of a jill (female), though I do own two jills for the purpose of breeding and keeping my line going.
Colours
Ferrets with pretty colours have seldom excited my preference when it comes to picking those I use to create the next litter and these days I favour white or albino ferrets. This is simply because they are easier to see, which is hugely beneficial when ferreting awkward spots, summertime jobs or when I work in tandem with the hawks, as they know white fur isn’t a food source.
I was not aware of angora ferrets until very recently, nor did I realise a ferret could be sold for such a price (£250 or higher in some adverts). Needless to say, this is probably in line with the other prices of many animals, which have soared since the COVID lockdowns began last year. I don’t think I have ever paid for ferrets; in fact, all have been given to me or bred by the union of my ferrets. I have also given some of the ferrets I have bred to friends.
Pretty ferrets don’t necessarily make good workers. Mind you, neither does an ugly ferret. A good worker is produced by allowing an animal to blossom through consistent work; and that also goes for dogs, horses and birds of prey. Sometimes breeding good workers to good workers will help aid the process but I’ve also worked ferrets from pet homes that also grafted well. We all have different ideas about what makes a good worker. To my mind a ferret should be strong enough to deal with a stubborn bolter and have enough stamina to graft all day long without me needing to take six or more ferrets as back-up to each job.
Tenacity
My ferrets must have a special spark that shows tenacity and keenness to hunt and scent below and above ground without me having to pick them up and keep putting them in holes. If I own a hob that has shined during a winter then I will put it to a jill that has similar attributes. The size and build can be passed down to the next generation, and then with careful handling and work the next generation will flourish – things that no money can buy.
Different colours can be passed down but the genetics won’t always work how you want them to and a union of two white ferrets will not necessarily produce all-white offspring. That said, with careful planning and selective matings over a period of time the chances of a favourable outcome are enhanced. However, someone who wants pretty ferrets may be more interested in bagging rosettes than rabbits.