To Sheila in the UK:
 
You have raised some really good questions - although I don't have any
answers for you.  However, I would like to touch on one thing you mentioned -
early release of kits for sale and trauma to the mother.
 
No one seems to think about this part of it - a couple of weeks of ago, Rudy
talked about 2 new kits he bought, how enjoyable it is to have such little
ones around the house, and that breeders shouldn't feel compelled to keep
this joyous time of a young kit's life all to themselves.
 
There are many reasons I don't let my kits go before 11 weeks - and one of
them is because it IS traumatic for the jill to have her babies taken away.
I think it's selfish of new owners to want a 5 or 6 wk old, and I think it's
irresponsible of breeders to let them go at that age.
 
Weaning is a very important part of a kit's well-being.  To push the weaning
process so a new owner can bond and enjoy a tiny baby can cause health
problems - prolapsed rectums, gassy tummies, poor weight gain - all so a new
owner can enjoy 2 or 3 weeks of babyhood????
 
And what about the mother?????  To have an entire litter pulled away is
traumatic!  I read somewhere that when selling kits, puppies, or baby
anything, let them go 1 or 2 at a time - not the whole entire litter the
same day.  For most breeders, this isn't a problem - I don't know of anyone
who has 8 - 11 people knocking on their door the same day ready to take a
new baby ferret home, but for places like Path Valley and Marshall Farms -
or those breeders who sell to pet stores, this is not fair to the jill, get
no one seems to think about her and what she's going through - even though
she's the one who makes all these babies possible.
 
Many of you out there may not agree with me, these are my opinions, but
until you've raised a litter of kits and watched the jill with them, you
really have no idea.  And to breeders who ignore this aspect and continue
selling kits so young, shame on you.  Just look at what Kelleen is going
through right now.
 
Debbie Riccio
WNYFLFA/DJR Ferrets
Rochester, NY
[Posted in FML issue 1604]