Point 2. Socialization of Kits can be start much earlier then the "8 week" adoption date, ( and should take longer) quote>>> Kits are weaned and ready to go at 6 weeks.<<endquote Kit's may be "weaned" by that time but that are still being socialized by their mother, and the human carers, As we all know , kits who are not handled young can make bad or difficult ferrets, but, leaving them alone with their mother for 6 weeks then suddenly transporting them, or releasing them to new owners is bizarre, as there is no intervening period of human interaction.. I agree that if you can transfer the kit "directly" to it's new owner, it will receive some of the socialization it needs and possibly bond closer to it's adopted parents. However there needs to be some consideration as to what the sudden shift from a caring mother ferret, to a total human stranger, and the effect that will have on the ferrets mental state. If the mothers are handled correctly when they are young and very well socialized, then a mother ferret will be more likely to allow the "breeder" to handle her kits much younger.. therefore, those kits can be handled way before 8 weeks of age, and will then already be socialized and familiar with humans. Handing a young Kit over at that point would be a much less dramatic event to the kit, because while the kit may feel the loss of the parent, they are already familiar with humans holding them, feeding them etc. (and I believe are more likely to bond to a new human, then they would be if suddenly transferred from a mother to a stranger) So, in my humble opinion, if the ferret is correctly socialized with humans and other ferrets at a young age, (during or just after weaning) and if it then remains with it group for more then the "8 weeks", and is then later introduced to a new owner, it is just as likely to be a "good and loving" ferret, if not more so, then one that was "not" socialized when it was young, then separated from its mother at "too" young an age, and passed onto a total stranger. OR Worse, then thrown into a pet store situation, ( where it may reside for months, and months, on its own.), and then suddenly be bought by a new owner whom it knows nothing about, it may not even be familiar with humans (pet store "touching" aside), and it has no social skills, because it may have been kept alone with no other ferrets, and it was separated from its mother and other ferrets way too early.. The reason pet store have a "no touch" policy, is not for the safety of the ferrets, but simply to avoid law suits should someone be bitten. quote >If any of you frequent a "hands off" store always ask to hold each and >every kit there, if they will let you. Spend as much time as you can >handling and petting each one. They need it! I Agree totally, if ANY ferret lover sees a poor ferret in a pet store they should spend time with the kits if possible ( and if allowed) but once again , why should any responsible "breeder" depend on a pet store to socialize kits.. ? That is the breeders job. ( we constantly monitor our local petstores and when kits are brought in, we spend as much time as we can with them. but not all petstores allow that) Lastly, I will say one thing.. early separation from the mother, or group (be it a ferret group or ferrets/human group) "MAY" allow the young ferrets to more closely bond with it's new human owner, as it will need new companionship, but it still may have some problems as it's rearing and learning processes have been cut short. Why deny those learning processes to a young baby ? All animals (mammals) get weaned at some point, but most still then continue to grow and learn from their parents. just because they are weaned, does not mean they are ready to be separated. In summary, my thoughts are, if you breed ferrets , allow them to socialize and learn as long as they can, then allow them to know their new owners. Separating them early, sending them to pet stores, or simply breeding them until old enough to go to new owners (without handling them while young) , will all result in independent, stubborn, unsociable, an frankly "unloving" ferrets... Some that have been alone in petstores for months during this crucial period will NEVER fully trust a human. however, if they had been well handled and loved before going to the store, they will have already developed that trust with humans and simply be "lonely" while waiting for a new companion. Socialize them before going to a pet store so that they know the strange hands being poked in the cage at them are friends and not something to be wary of or worse something they will develop a fear of. Also, Those not socialized ferrets will also tend to result in difficult and stubborn parents, who will not allow you access to their kits as they don't trust you. enough, and therefore you wont be able to socialize with the kits early enough and..thus continuing the circle. my opinions only Darrin [Posted in FML issue 4662]