Out & About September 2017

OA feature

“People don’t realise that Jills need to mate every year – or they will die. There are various ways of combatting this, apart from neutering. You can give them an injection, which makes them think they have mated or pair them with a vasectomised Hob (male ferret). “We get calls all the time from people asking us to take litters. Kits do bite, they’re babies and they’re looking for food, then people won’t hold them and then they become nervier.” This is the club’s 17th visit to the Berkshire Show and there is always a lot of interest in the ferrets. “Children love to watch the races, older children can hold them and they all love to stroke them.” In addition to visiting schools, fetes and county shows, the Hants & Berks Ferret Club holds two shows of its own each year – one in April in Grazeley village hall, when other clubs join in and various rosettes are hotly-contested. In mid October, the club’s own show is held in Headley Village Hall – the public are welcome to both of these shows, but only club members

are allowed to enter their ferrets in the second show. “All the club members are volunteers and the club show is our opportunity to show off our ferrets to each other. “When we attend other events we do so for a fee, which along with the money we raise from racing and the generous contributions we receive from the public, enables us to make donations to a number of ferret rescue and rehoming centres across the south of England. “We’ve even been asked to set up ferret races at a wedding, and once took part in an event in the City of London. The club and our ferrets have made several TV appearances, including The Alan Titchmarsh Show . They love being around people and will happily take part in any event.” www.hbferretclub.co.uk

Nick Walklet

“They can be litter trained so we let them run around the house to have a bit of an explore – and the dogs have a healthy respect for them. On average, ferrets live to around 8 years and the Jills (female ferrets) can have litters of anything from a couple to 12 or 13 kits. One of the club’s aims is to teach people about irresponsible breeding.

The Royal County of Berkshire Show, Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17

Newbury Showground, Priors Court, Hermitage, Thatcham, Berks, RG18 9QZ Gate prices: Adult £20, Concession £17, Children £7 Family £50. Children under 5 free when accompanied by full paying adult. www.berkshireshow.co.uk For a chance to win tickets see over the page

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