Just to set the context for this inquiry - I am a shelter, I do not
breed, I do not personally have babies - I am seeking information in
an attempt to help someone else who has a momma ferret with babies.
 
Babies are healthy, Momma ferret has been absolutely wonderful.  Babies
are 6 weeks old and eating food now.  Vet wants babies taken from Momma
soon so that milk can begin to dry up & she can be spayed.
 
In an attempt to make this as easy as possible on the mother, if there is
such a thing, the male kits were separated into their own cage as they
are the largest and doing a great job of eating on their own.
 
The owner is extremely concerned for Momma ferret as she has been frantic
for 2 days now about her boys being gone.
 
Everything that we read and that breeders have told us seems to indicate
that Mom should be ready for a break from babies and want to get away.
This is not the case with this momma - she is miserable without the boys.
As a result, she will not let the girls go to the food dish, she drags
them out of the litter pan and it trying to hide them way in the bedding.
 
What's the best way to do this, do they just take all the babies out and
be done with it, give her a couple more days with the girls or what?
Once you take them, does she ever see them again, or does that make it
worse for her?
 
I don't know - maybe breeders don't pay attention to these things or they
figure it goes with the territory?  It's proving to be very difficult on
these ferret owners so I'm looking for suggestions based on actual
experience.
 
A sharing of your experience directly to my e-mail address would be
appreciated.
 
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[Posted in FML issue 4866]