RECOMMENDED READING
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Ferrets Magazine I don't know why I haven't put this in before, but this magazine is excellent. I've been buying it for about 4 years now and it is without doubt the BEST ferret magazine out there. It is in full colour and details so many different topics from ferret care, enrichment, toys, food to illnesses and treatments - it's at the forefront of letting ferret owners know what's happening with ferret care and treatment. There's also fun articles and lots of lovely photos. It is a US magazine so some of the treatments and illnesses are not available or current here in the UK. FEB '08 - JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS EXCELLENT MAGAZINE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED |
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Ferrets and Ferreting: Pub. Exchange & Mart An old book published from articles taken from Exhange & Mart, probably during the 1960's by the look of the book, there's no date unfortunately in the book. Overall an interesting short book that doesn't tell the reader anything new, if you've read a couple of old style ferret keeping books. There's also is a chapter on working ferrets and a rather unsavory section on muzzling ferrets. |
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5-minute Veterinary Consult: Ferret and Rabbit: Barbara Oblesbee (pub. Sept. 2005) This is a veterinary reference book. I find these books to be essential - I've learnt so much from reading vet books. It also means that you can go equipped to discuss possible illnesses and treatments with your vet and understand what's being talked about. Also if you see odd behaviour from your ferrets you might from having read these books have an idea what's going on. It is a very clear and concise alphabetical listing and reference pertaining to illnesses and treatments. The only other book, which I haven't seen yet, that is anywhere close to the detail and information here is the 2nd Edition of John Lewington's Veterinary manual on Ferrets. See below for 1st edition review which is still good. |
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RECOMMENDED READING The Essential Ferret editored by Betsy Sikora Siino For a book that was published in 1999 I am quite impressed. It's another good beginners book but is also useful as a quick reference. It is stacked with lovely colour photos of ferrets which makes it lovely to browse. It covers all the major sections of ferret care well and informatively. |
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The Wit and Wisdom of the Modern Ferret by Mary Shefferman I had been wanting to get this book for some time, as one of the first books I got was by Shefferman and I thought it was quite good. This I thought promised to be amusing and possibly anecdotal. I bought this from the States, and I have to say I was quite disappointed. It's a collection of articles which appeared in their magazine over a period of time and unfortunately, it read exactly like that. Some of the information is interesting and could be helpful to a person new to ferrets, but as a book with any new or deep insights or humour - it's not. There are many new books out there now that contain far more indepth information. Give it a miss. |
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Ferrets and Ferreting by Iain Brodie I've had this book a while, but seem to have forgotton to review it. I bought it off Ebay so I don't know if it's still published and the version I've got is a hard back from 1978. This is a nice little book of how it was done before ferrets got really popular and before the glut of ferret keeping books from the US. It's similar to the David Plummer book in that a countryman has written it. It has some lovely black and white photos and a woodcut print of a ferret in preface. It has sections about their background, their natural history and care and feeding before biscuits were available and then theres the section about ferreting. | |
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Peach Fuzz by Cibos and Hodges A manga style comic book about a little girl who wants a pet and buys a ferret. All about her getting to learn about ferrets and their interactions seen from a ferrets eye-view as well as a girls. Some of the ferret observations are lovely and shows that the writers have their own ferrets. An interesting, cute but brief read more suitable for children. |
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RECOMMENDED ESSENTIAL READING Your Outta Control Ferret by Bobbye Land A friend brought this over from the States to say thanks for looking after her pet rats. It's a nicely laid out books with lots of endearing colour photos on each page. It's a good book if your new or inexperienced with ferret keeping and you wonder why your new pet isn't as well behaved as you thought he might be. A good book to get you over the idea that ferrets will behave how you want them to! Also an excellent book if you have rescue ferrets as it helps you understand why they may be behaving oddly and how to turn that behaviour around. |
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RECOMMENDED BEGINNERS READING The Pet Ferret Handbook by Sean Frain This is a new book for the UK market only being published in 2002. I think he covers the changing trends in keeping pet ferrets in the UK well using his obvious experience and adding the odd anecdote. This is one of the better books for beginners and more experienced ferret owners to learn about ferret husbandry. However, British books seem to always be let down by layout and design...ie. complete lack of it!! It's mostly text with a few really badly taken black and white photos. It's a shame because had it been laid out really nicely it could have been a really good book. Maybe for the next print run..... |
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The Complete Book of Ferrets by Porter and Brown I first saw this book as a young teenager in the local library. Not knowing quite what ferrets were, but interested in small furry creatures, curious, I took it home to read. Lo and behold, twenty odd years later, I'm actually keeping ferrets. I'd been after this book ever since I started keeping ferrets, but as it's out-of-print had no luck until I saw it on Ebay recently. A wait of about 3 years!!! |
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Modern Ferreting by David Plummer I really enjoyed this book which I got as a bargain on Ebay! This book was originally written in the mid-seventies and updated later in the early eighties. It gives a general all-round care and understanding of ferrets and ferreting by an old countryman. Ferrets and Ferreting the old way! Not just facts and information, but wonderful anecdotal stories. Recommended for a good read of how it was done in the old days! |
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RECOMMENDED ESSENTIAL READING Ferrets for Dummies by Kim Shilling The ferret keepers almanak! Detailed information on all aspects of ferret keeping, all written with humour and never gets too serious. Tackles even the negatives of ferrets. Written from a US viewpoint, so ignore many of the illnesses chronicled here as many do not occur in the UK or are rare. An essential ferret book. |
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RECOMMENDED BEGINNERS INTRODUCTION Pet Owners Guide to the Ferret by Dennis Kelsey-Wood ISBN 1-86054-135-6 My favourite introduction to ferrets book. A lovely introduction into ferret keeping from a UK background, but with an International flavour. Good tips on feeding, handling and training with lovely photos throughout. |
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Ferrets - A Complete Owners Guide by James McKay A very UK based book to ferret keeping with a strong bias to working ferrets. It's an interesting read, but I feel it lacks enough information about ferret courts and seems to emphasise keeping ferrets in tiny hutches. It seems to have a purely husbandry slant, and very little about the ferrets mental well-being ie. items to furnish a cage, ways of stimulating your ferret and games would be a welcome addition. Also better photos are a must. Also don't take McKay's advice on taming biting ferrets!! |
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Ferrets - A complete Pet Owners Manual by Morton and Morton ISBN 0-8120-9021-7 A good all round introduction to ferret keeping from a cross UK/US bias. Good insights into health and behaviour. Lovely colour photos and line drawings. Not enough on housing. |
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An Owners Guide to a Happy Healthy Ferret by Mary R Shefferman ISBN 0-87605-498-X A good introduction to ferrets from a very US perspective. The focus is on the positive side of ferret keeping. Brief information on a range of topics. Lovely colour photos. |
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Ferret Husbandary, Health and Surgery by John Lewington: 1st Edition (2000) A good indepth analysis of the many ways of keeping and feeding ferrets with an International feel written by an Aussie vet. Contains information on ferret illness and treatment. The first part of the book is an interesting read for those wanting to learn more about ferret husbandry and the second half is purely for veterinary reference only. July 2007 - there is now a 2nd edition available. |
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RECOMMENDED ESSENTIAL READING Training your Pet Ferret Again another essential ferret book. Indepth tips on how to litter train your ferret, plus all the other things you would like to train your ferret to do for a well behaved little fuzzball. However, I feel some of the methods are little impractical. |
Angela & Tony at furkids@guidingstar.org.uk