Hi Jan, I never spay my jills, always hormone jab them if they are not
going to be used for breeding in March or April depending on how early the
spring has arrived in Southern UK.  One jill I never got round to breeding
was jabbed 10 years in a row with no health problems.  The hobs are only
castrated if they are not up to standard or too old for good breeding, it
was around 6 with my bloodline.  Some whole hobs will live quite happily
with a whole jills as long they are not in season but some randy buggers
will try and mate any thing all summer.  You can have whole ferrets and not
breed but if you want to keep them living together a lot depends on the
temperament of the ferrets.  Up to 3 years ago I had kept whole 5 jills
and 3 hobs together with on problems until the old Alfa male died at 12 as
the second oldest was 10 he was promptly badly beaten up by the 6 hob year
old and was p.t.s. a sort time later.  I had to then have the 6 year old
castrated as after 5 years of not being alowed to touch the jills he went
sex mad and started to damage some of the jills even though they were not
receptive.  He ended a bloodline that I had had for over 20 years.  Small
time breeding can be great fun but also a great worry and a lot depends
on the temperament of the ferret used.  Best of luck.
 
Chris Lloyd  ICQ no.    44575318
Wessex Ferret Club  Southampton. UK.   www.wfc.cwc.net
[Posted in FML issue 3391]