Hello all - Sort of broke off on the millennium kits' saga in mid-thought
last post because I received an urgent call on a sick ferret.  Afterwards,
there was just barely time to get the post off to Bill.
 
I find myself worrying more about this litter than I generally do.  I think
this is because I am superstitious and usually don't say much about litters
until they are say....one or two years old (kidding).  I fear I tempt the
God's of fate.  So please say a little prayer for these babies for all to
be well
 
The kits first pinked up nicely after birth and most developed a thin
coat of short white fur.  By the time they turned a week of age, most had
developed a dark gray color and most of the kits already had black noses.
Their little faces were plump and becoming slightly more defined and bodies
like round little dumplings.
 
At this stage and for weeks to come, their rate of growth is so rapid that
all of their energy is spent in eating and sleep time.  Once their bellies
are full, they literally roll off the pile of siblings into a curl and
sleep.  If they are disturbed for any reason, they awake, start crying and
head back to the "milk bar."
 
Mama Lark spends most of her time nursing her children.  Where at first she
could hold the litter between front and back legs, now she extends out and
rolls a bit to the back with her rear leg raised to accommodate the rapidly
growing kits.  She frequently adjusts the nest bedding to suit her and
cleaning her children takes longer then at first.  Just like children, they
put up quite a fuss when they are getting a good wash-up.  Until about 3
weeks or so, mama needs to wash their little bums very well because this
stimulates them to eliminate.  If mama doesn't do a good job - their human
caretaker must give a hand.  No need to worry about Lady Lark though - she
is an efficient little German lady.
 
Well, thought I had lost this little story because our power was lost for a
number of hours due to high winds!  Understand power has been restored in
60,000 homes, but more are still out.  Large trees are down all over our
area.  Didn't realize how bad it was and was operating my computer on power
instead of battery (really should remember to charge it now and then).
Anyway, when the lights came back on - found computer had gone into "sleep"
mode.  Thank you little "puter.
 
The kits will reach two weeks of age as this millennium greets the same two
weeks of time.  I wish all here could have the privilege of watching these
marvelous little babies grow and develop.  It is a very special thing.
 
Today half way across the house, I heard a kit's distressed crying
"Wah-uh!" When I checked, I found mama fast asleep while babies either
nursed or slept near her middle.  One had somehow gotten herself to the
other side of the nest and on top of the cover.  I picked her up and she
wailed her head off.  "Shush," I told her, stroking the top of her soft
wee head.  She quieted with the stroking and I had a chance to look at her.
Stretching her out, she is the length of my hand already!  Her color is a
soft gray, her nose is black and her little belly is fat and pink and
white.  Her face is very beautiful.  All of these babies have pretty faces.
 
I returned her to mama and she started wailing again on finding her mother,
who was lost, reaching a higher pitch as she expressed how upset she was.
Once she found her nipple, she quieted but still nursed for a bit making
little throat cries.  Too cute.  To be continued).
 
Molly has been upset with me for not mentioning that she is raising her
last litter.  Her babies are 7 weeks old and I will write their story too.
The father is the same black sable German and Moll is an American black
sable.  Her children are very, very black!  As I write these words, the
runt of the litter, a little hob, is standing in a dish of chicken and
barking at his siblings!  It is all his, you see :-)
 
Cheers, Meg
[Posted in FML issue 2928]