Ok someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I'd throw in my two
cents.
 
>I must just clear this up.  The jill in question will not 'bleed to death'
>if left in heat for too long.
 
I agree...a jill left in heat will not 'bleed' to death.  They do not
bleed like a dog does, instead their vulva swells up and they have a light
discharge [clear, not blood].  THIS is what can cause the problem, because
their vulva is so much bigger, it is left open for infection.  The last I
knew, ferrets could get anemic any season-it's best not to risk it any
time.
 
>A jill can go for 1 season without being bred from.  She will suffer no
>ill effects.  However, the next year she must be covered[bred with] a hob.
 
I wouldn't chance this myself, but that's my personal opinion.  Nothing
more.
 
>In your case, Matan, i would look at the mating prosess.  It is the act
>of biting, quite hard and agressively, on the back of the neck, that puts
>the jill out of season, not the penetration of her.
 
This is true, but that's not the only thing that brings her out.  The hob
has a hook at the end of his penis that hooks up into the jill putting
pressure on the cervix.  This, plus the biting on the neck brings the jill
out of heat.
 
>I would try another hob first, if your are really <keen to breed a litter.
 
Personally, and not to sound harsh or cruel.....but to the origanal poster-
if you have to ask questions like this, then you shouldn't be breeding now.
You really skipped the step of learning what breeding involves.  You should
of researched it and talked to other breeders before just taking her to be
bred.  The breeder you went to should be ashamed of themselfs for not
explaining this all to you.
 
Please take some time to research the subject.  Meanwhile, consider getting
her a hcg shot or a v hob to take her out of heat-you both will be much
happier if one of you knows what you're doing.
 
I apologize if any of this seems harsh or is taken wrong-this is meant to
be very non-aggressive.
 
[DF]
[Posted in FML issue 3350]