Pigeon_decoyer Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 Does anyone know anything about ferrets if so would you be kind enough to share your expertise with me please? I have 7 ferrets 1 is pregnaunt and nearly due to have her babies soon, the dog ferret is still in there with her and she keeps biting the dog on the neck and head and looks like she is hurting him, She is trying to drag him into the nest she has built! Do you know why? Hearing from oher people that once the femal ferret is pregnaunt she kills the dog if the are left together! Is this true? I have seperated them! Have I dont the right thing? Many thanks PD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 Once the dog and jill have mated (the jill comes out of season), I always seperate them. I have never heard of anyone leaving them together. I would think that the kits would be at risk and/or the jill would get very stressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berthaboo Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 yes you have done the right thing dont worry and get ready to have your hands full i breed mine and i had 11 kits from mine and when there eyes open and there walking its like a wave when you open the cage but it was worth it would do it again but i cant as she has been spade now good look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 I have seen this behaviour when I housed a vasectomised hob with jills. Essentially the jill is treating the hob as a kit, she thinks the 'kit' should be in the nest and is dragging it back there. It is definitely the right thing to house the hob separately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon_decoyer Posted May 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 Thanks I thought I had done the wrong thing! Can I put the dog back with the femal ferret after the litter has gone or they are older? Cheers PD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 Probably safest to leave it until the kits have gone, no point in taking chances! You may like to re-introduce the hob slowly, just in case there are any "issues". The old timers would always house the hob separately, but I think the ferrets enjoy the company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 You have done the right thing. I have in the past left a hob and jill together, with mixed results. first time i done it the hob ate the young, second time same pair no problem. I think that if the hob and jill have been housed together for some time it can work. One thing to remember regarding putting the hob back in with the jill is that he will still be in season, till august at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon_decoyer Posted May 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 I heard that you have to pair up the babies in the first year or they will not be any good for ferreting Is this true? How much is a young ferret worth? PD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcatcherreed Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 most of my mates who have got ferrets bourght them for a fiver. 2 of my mates are pregnant now.. but how long does it take for them to have the kits? my good friend has 2 jills one is going to be pregnant shall we keep them together ? or will they fight and kill the kits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon_decoyer Posted May 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 I think Its around a month for the jill to give birth to her young! Im not certain. I would personaly seperate the 2 jills your mate has because if one has a litter it would cause them to fight and it would kill the litter! PD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted May 6, 2004 Report Share Posted May 6, 2004 2 of my mates are pregnant now.. Theres no excuse for that in this day and age with all the birth control available to you youngsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcatcherreed Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 there is actually 2 15 yr olds up duff in my year at school tutut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aim small miss small Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 seperation is allways a good thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAPERCALIE Posted July 9, 2004 Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 the gestation period for ferrets is roughly 6 weeks (42-44 days) although it can be a few days either way. i kept 2 jills together this year while havingkits and lost the lot of the kits. luckily i'v still got a jill in kit, and she's on her own. shouldn't have a problem now, hopefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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