Ron, If you want a happy ferret family - adopt - don't breed! Breeding ferrets is very difficult, time consuming, and not easy. There are several breeders on this list who will, I'm sure, agree with me. If you have a whole male, you will need to keep him separated from the others. Separate cage, separate play time, etc. And there is nothing stinkier than a male ferret 'in season.' Male ferrets need to be in season as well as the female, so timing must be considered. If you female is ready and your male isn't, then hopefully you've contacted another breeder in your area so that you have an alternative plan. And you can't wait until your female is in before you start planning. Also, do you realize that litters can be as big as 12 - 15 kits? And that many first-time mothers may need help with the delivery - you may need to clean the babies, cut the cords, keep the kits warm until mom is finished delivering. New born kits are no bigger than your baby finger. The last two years when my jill delivered, it was a 24 hour marathon with no sleep for me. I plan my vacations around due dates so I can be home with her. And then I take an additional 2 weeks when the kits are around 4 or 5 weeks old when I start weaning them. They need socialization, they need to learn not to bite, etc. You should have all those babies vaccinated at least once before they are adopted, and that can be expensive. Back to the jill.....there are sooooo many things that can happen - mastitis, uterine infections, no milk, etc. Meg Carpenter wrote an article on breeding a few months ago and this is how it started: "Don't breed. Don't breed. Don't breed. Don't breed." I think that Pam Grant and Bill and Diane Killian will also agree - unless you are serious about it, don't even start. If you're thinking "one litter and then I'll spay her" just have her spayed now and save yourself - and your jill - from unnecessary disappointment. Debbie Riccio WNYFLFA Rochester, NY [Posted in FML issue 1257]