Al, and those who may be considering breeding-- From all I have read and heard 18-20 weeks of age is far too early to consider breeding your female ferret. Your ferret should be about one year of age before breeding- at 18b - 20 weeks your ferret is still in the growth stage-- if it mad it through the term, the stress might cause her to cannibalize the kits--- There ae other multiple problems that could come up with breeding-- so please do some more homework you could be setting up a tragic ending for the mom and kits as well. Please rethink early breeding plans. [Posted in FML issue 1677]