As I have just obtained a book "Ferrets and Ferreting" by W Carnegie, and others, dated 1904 I thought it would be interesting to post extracts on keeping ferrets 100+ years ago. (copyright has expired) GENERAL. The ferret is the name given at this time to the albino only, and is known to be a domesticated variety of the wild polecat, a cross between the ferret (albino) and the wild polecat is called a polecat ferret (now a sable). Despite the above sentence it does not seem to be recognised that ferrets (albinos) are merely a genetic color variation from the wild polecat that has been bred for centuries to produce a pure albino strain. (indicating that this selective breeding was done so long ago that there are no written records). NOTE: this really makes no sense but curiously I have never read of an albino wild polecat ever having been seen. (Tony) No color variations mentioned , or I suppose, imagined. just albinos and polecat ferrets(sables), oh for the good old days of common sense!. BREEDING. It is recommended that albinos and polecat ferrets always be bred separately, and gives advice on breeding from good stock and avoiding hobs and jills known to have produced weak or sickly kits, Only outcross if litters deteriorate in quality (with the same type only, albino or polecat ferret) To crossbreed between albino and polecat ferret use hob polecat ferret to jill albino only. If using a wild polecat then only breed to albino. RAISING YOUNG. No observation or handling of the young is allowed before five weeks. At six weeks the kits will start to be given the same food as the mother (diet discussed later), and can start being handled At 12 weeks the ferrets should be being handled every day and trained to come to voice commands at feeding time. The next sentence is a direct quote. "Finally it may be noted that ferrets live five or six years, but it is well known among breeders that that they will not live long if not allowed to breed. This applies to both sexes. A doe ferret will sometimes die the first time she is refused access to the buck." NOTE: We now know why entire jill ferrets die if not bred but it may be true that entire hobs die from a lifetime (shortened) by hightened sexual frustration and raised hormones. (Tony) More next time on diet, health and housing. Tony Ferrets rule OK. (Well, mine rule me) [Posted in FML 6391]