FERRETING 85 



If there is sufficient groilnd at disposal, a good 

 method of keeping ferrets is to make an enclosure with 

 planks set edgewise one above another, and held in 

 proper position with stakes. The sides should be 

 high enough to keep the ferrets in, and low enough to 

 be stepped over when necessary for the purpose of 

 cleaning out the hutches. The latter should be off 

 the damp ground, and have small openings for the 

 animals to go in and out, so that they may be comfort- 

 able and warm at night. They are thus enabled 

 during the fine weather to gallop about the enclosure, 

 bask in the sun, and breathe pure air, the result being 

 that they remain lively and vigorous, and free from 

 disease. 



The most suitable food is bread and milk, or 

 porridge (not too wet, and by no means allowed to 

 become sour), varied occasionally with fresh meat in 

 the shape of small birds, mice, young rats, or a piece 

 of freshly killed and warm rabbit. This should be 

 tied to a staple with a bit of string to prevent the 

 ferrets from dragging it into their sleeping place and 

 thus soiling the bedding. They should never be fed 

 in the morning of the day on which they are to be 

 used, but on being brought home should have a good 

 supper as soon as possible, and should then be allowed 

 to go to sleep. 



