Here we go again! Hello there. This is regarding the same shelter owner/breeder as in the "tubal ligation" message. While discussing tubal ligation, he mentioned that he sometimes brought in a rutting hob for a second mating to an impregnated jill, sometime in the week following her mating. His reason was to "relieve sexual tension" in the second hob. I said that if the jill were out of heat this would be very painful to her, or/and violent. He said this wasn't the case as the jills are still very moist during the week following impregnation. I said that I had heard that mating a jill more than three days could impair the gestation period, leading to premature kits (by, I guess, incurring another or other impregnation(s), though I'm over my head here). He agreed this was possible, but seemed neither surprised nor alarmed nor gave any indication he should perhaps not do this. I said I didn't know facts about the actual fertilization process in ferrets, but thought that, if each sperm fertilyzed one egg, and more than one father were possible, then the theory of impaired gestation held weight, as the gestation period for jills is usually 42 days, though I've also heard it is 40-42, and also heard it's 42-44. In any case, a couple days could make a difference, I would think, is such a short gestation period. Since opinions differ, I'm asking for replies from personally experienced breeders, or others with knowledge. What is the fertilization process in ferrets? What is the gestation period? How might breeding a second time to a second hob in the week following impregnation affect the pregnancy. As before, I would like to forward replies to this shelter owner/breeder, in hopes of ending this practice, if it is warranted as I suspect it is. If posted on the FML, please cc: my personal e-mail address. Try to be clear, specific, diplomatic, factual and educative rather than assaultive. All opinions will be respected. By the way, he also said he'd noticed lately that if he kept his hobs and jills together, the hob didn't notice the jill was in heat, sort of like the "frog in the frying pan," he said, whereby the frog in water boils before noticing the water's heating up. sigh... What happens if the hob realizes she's in heat, but she's not ready? Poor jills. Thank you, Lynn Mc. [Posted in FML issue 1458]