Complete Guide to Ferrets

by James McKay

Book Overview

Covers all aspects of ferrets and their life as family pets, as well as giving details of the ferret's origins and its domesticated history. There is advice on housing and equipment, feeding, handling, training, breeding, showing, ferret racing, working and ailments.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1853104337
• ISBN13: 9781853104336
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Swan Hill Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.9" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Great book to read if you want a different view on ferrets

I like to read many books on the same subject, because different authors may provide different information depending on when the books were written and where; finding this book, which was written more from a European perspective in ferret keeping, was a real gem! This is the main thing you must keep in mind when reading this book - do not critisize or discount it when comparing techniques and advice to American ferret keeping. As long as you are aware of this, you'll enjoy the book, as if provides a brief history of ferrets, housing, taming, first-aid, breeding, showing/racing and even genetics. I compare the way the author writes with passion to the well-known Green Tree Python breeder, Greg Maxwell. This isn't your typical ferret book in that it shows pictures of ferrets wearing sweaters, playing with toys, etc, but there are plenty of those to go around (I have quite a few of those on my shelf, too!) I really liked the sectons on 'working and hunting' since they certainly offer some insight to the subjects in America, where most people (myself included), were ignorant of much of the domestic ferret's first use as a small game hunter. Overall this book is very insightful and informative of ferrets; it should be a definite read for anyone who is open-minded and interested in ferrets, especially on a more international perspective.

James McKay , the man in the know.

I purchased both James McKay's books and two ferrets from Mr. McKay when I lived in England and know first hand he is the man in the know! This book is better than any other book out there (US or UK). It details proper husbandry techniques and practices. I find the UK method of modern ferret keeping superior to US, in most US homes the ferrets are kept by themselves in crampt cages; in this magnificent book it informs you of their gregarious nature and need for a somewhat large cage. GOOD WORK JAMES!

A UK & European perspective

As the author of this book, I tried to leave the "ratings" field free, as I am obviously biased, but the system will not allow me to. However, the real reason for this "review" from myself is to correct the review from "A reader from central California", who obviously has never read my book! Firstly, this reader obviously believes that he knows a lot about ferrets, and yet cannot even get the specific name correct. He gives the name "Mustela furo", when, in fact, it is Mustela putorius furo. As he/she cannot get this proven scientific fact correct, readers would do well to give little or no credence to any of his remarks. He/she states that, in my book, I refer to ferrets as "vicious wild animals". Having written the book, and then re-read it looking specifically for this phrase, all I can find is my comment that "some would have us believe that ferrets are vicious, but those of us who really know this animal will know otherwise". Clearly, the Californian critic is misquoting me. In the book, I give much space to factual information on genetics, breeding, exhibiting/showing, racing and pet ferrets, and yet your correspondent states that I merely dismiss them as having no real value! As to my mixing up the species, I suggest that your correspondent remember the old saying that Brits and Yanks are "two nations separated by the same language". While to Americans a "turtle" is any chelonian, we Brits use three terms to separate them, viz (marine) turtles, (terrestrial) tortoises and (semi-aquatic) terrapins. Here in England (where we invented the English language) we NEVER use the term "ermine" for any animal, merely for the fur of the European stoat. True, many ferret owners (and I do not count myself among them), erroneously and confusingly do refer to polecat-coloured ferrets as "polecats", which the American fanciers refer to as "sable", a word which is actually the name of an arctic relative of the ferret - VERY confusing for those of us who speak English and have a zoological training. Here in the UK, pet ferret keepers DO keep their animals (ie ferrets) indoors, giving them free run of the human home. I am also informed by several US ferret keepers that the practice is fairly common in the US, too. My book was written specifically for the UK and European markets, in the same way as US books are written for the US market. Very few Brits would want to spend time, effort and money abusing their ferrets by dressing them in human style clothing, even though a US compnay is now trying to persuade us to do so. Ferret keeping in the US and in the UK are different. Consequently, our books are different. My book represents the best practices of this country, while one has to assume that US books do the same for the US market. I have always purchased and read every book on ferrets and ferreting that I can find, including American books. I read these foreign books not to learn about the UK ferret, but

A real Ferreting guide for the British at last!

James McKay's book is a refreshing change to the largely irrelevant fare from the US that we serious UK Ferreters have had to endure over recent years. Having searched high and low for a decent work of reference that answered the questions that I needed to resolve I was delighted to read Mr.McKay's book and felt that a fair assesment of it in the proper context was due.The guide itself is comprehensive and fascinating covering the following points within its pages:Origins of the Ferret, Selection of stock, Housing, Handling, Taming and Training, Feeding, Breeding, Working, Showing, Racing and Ferrest as Pets, Ailments and First Aid, Genetics.For me the book has been useful in helping me look after my Ferrets from the perspective of the individual who appreciates and respects the Ferret for not only its qualities as a companion but also their tenacious hunting skills.But the guide goes far beyond the basic use for which I have it, every time I refer to it I happen across more nuggets of information that are both fascinating and useful.It must be born in mind that the Ferret itself and the culture surrounding the Ferret in the UK are vastly different from that in the US. In the UK the Ferret has largely been associated with the working class and as a way of obtaining food, not as a play thing or merely a pet. Having stated this, Ferrets in the UK are enjoying something of a rise in popularity as pets and recent articles in the Media (Independent on Sunday, October, 98') estimate Ferret owners numbering 1.5 to 2 million in England alone.Mr.McKay's work deals with the husbandry of the Ferret to a degree the like of which I have never seen in any "pet guide book". Even going to the extent of covering the musculature and genetics of the animal, vital details for the serious breeder.As an owner of Ferrets who uses them to hunt both Rabbits and Rats, this work has proven invaluable. It must be born in mind that with the extremely tight controls over the use of firearms in the UK, the Ferret offers an extremely ecologically sound and effective way of controlling both Rabbits and Rats, pests which cause so much damage to British Farming. McKay's guide will take you comprehensivley through all that you need to know to work your Ferrets, for both your and their enjoyment.In the final analysis, if you are looking for a book covering the keeping of Ferrets as pets in the US, then this book is most likely not for you in my opinion. However if you're a British Ferret keeper, having them either as pets or working them, then I thouroughly commend this book to you.