>I am looking for information on breeding Ferrets.  It would be appreciated
>if those who are knowledgable in this field please post more references,
>experiences and information regarding Ferret breeding.
 
I haven't bred ferrets, but know a few who have, and unfortunately we have
all heard many bad stories about those who have tried without much prior
preparation and understanding.
 
You should know that ferret breeding is REALLY HARD for a lot of reasons.
Quite a few people have been very surprised to find this out, often when it
was too late, and that many ferrets (as well as their owners) have suffered
needlessly because of it.
 
Not to discourage your enthusiasm, but to start with, if female ferrets stay
in heat too long they develop a condition known as 'aplastic anemia' which
will soon kill them unless they are either mated or spayed.  Male ferrets on
the other hand become quite shall we say 'frisky' and try to mate with most
everything, leaving their scent everywhere.  Some profess to like this
smell, it is not too objectionable in my opinion, but it is very hard to
miss.  Your neighbors probably won't complain, but you may find fewer people
visiting your home, especially if they aren't 'ferret people'.
 
Now it is also true that you may not have a suitable male ready when your
female(s) are, or that they may not get along etc.  Good ferret breeders go
to great lengths and will travel some distance (over seas) to develop strong
blood lines in their ferrets which results in much healthier and better
adjusted animals.  In my experience they seem to be smarter too, than those
from some of the very large breeding houses who seem (IMO) to be more
concerned with quantity (and low cost) rather than quality.  Unfortunately,
none of the quality breeders make much money at this and most subsidize it
from earnings at another full time job in addition to the ferrets.  It
really is a labor of love.
 
Ferrets are the best pet ever, but like children they don't get that way
without a lot of work on the part of their 'parents'.  Ferret babies are
truly helpless, but within several weeks they have also grown very sharp,
needle like teeth which they do practice using from time to time.  They have
to be handled often and with understanding to mellow them out and allow them
to learn that humans' hide is not nearly as tough as ferret skin.  Not that
this is not fun or enjoyable for ferret people, but it does take a lot of
time to do it well.  In the eyes of all too many people, a ferret that
'bites' (or scratches) even once automatically has rabies and must be killed
and tested in order to prove that it does not.  Partly as a result, some
states prohibit breeding entirely, or (as in Mass) require a very high fee
to discourage it.
 
If that were not enough, ferrets are naturally curious and especially young
ferrets can get into all sorts of trouble if not provided a safe environment
or properly supervised.  A few are lost every year to such accidents as
being locked in dishwashers, stepped on while under throw rugs, or having
gotten outside through clothes drier vents, or loose window screens.  We
have a new 'baby' boy, about five months old who a couple of weeks ago
climbed up on a table where no one had been before, and knocked a very heavy
antique lamp off on the floor.  The ferret was fine, but the lamp is in
rather grave condition.
 
For breeders there are also the 'additional' medical bills: first for the
mothers, and then for neutering each animal, and providing all of the
required shots before they are sold.  Babies are sometimes sick, and you
never know when someone is going to require care.
 
If you still want to breed ferrets (you are a much stronger person than all
but a very few of us), I'd strongly recommend that you first learn all that
you can about ferrets, and join together with the many ferret people who are
coming together to provide good treatment and educate the public about these
little guys.  It may change your mind.  If not, it can't help but make you a
better ferret breeder with much healthier and better animals.
 
        - Bill Williamson
[Posted in FML issue 1561]