>From: Kylie Preisig <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Breeding ferrets >A big black hole I have noticed in the otherwise excellent information >available on the internet about ferrets is anything to do with breeding >ferrets. Yup. Thats why Pam Greene and we are working on a ferret breeding FAQ to go along with the other portions. We are wor king with folks who've been breeding ferrets for more than ten years to get it right. Your list will help us. If anyone else has particular questions they'd want answered please send them to us. In the FAQ under construction we'll have sections on choosing good breeding animals. Genetics (very simplified unless the local genetics experts offer help - please). Self control on breeding only the best jills - a common problem is to breed all available jills with out planning enough. Preventing problems like mastitis - simple soap and warm water can prevent nearly all cases. We keep all the old FMLs and will try to include questions from them. In the mean time we are more than willing to help anyone interested in breeding. Another very good resource is "The Breeder's Digest", a quarterly newsletter published by Vickie McKimmey. Subscriptions are I believe still $10 a year - for more information call Vickie at (703)777-2112. I have no idea what she'll have to do about international subscriptions. You also will have a 6 month lag/lead on breeding season South of the Equator. I'll answer quickly - not thouroughly the questions as listed. - care of whole males eg I know that whole males can't live together but what about putting them with a neutered male or female? Whole males need to be housed alone while in rut (season) but most tlerate female roomates and some tolerate male roomm ates the rest of the year. - care of whole females eg how to tell if they are on heat, jab vs vasectomised male When the vulva swells they're in season. They'll need a male within a week or so after fully going in. If they take t o long to go in a hormone shot might be required. Much more information on that is required. - care of pregnant females eg nutrition, housing, gestation period We use Totally Ferret. Sprinkle on KMR or Esbilar (milk replacer powders) the last week of the 42 day gestation period. We seperate them from their room-mates for the last week or two - hormonal behavior changes determine how quickly. If you have pregnant jills you'll know - they nest just like human pregnant females. - false pregnancies Well two kinds. Intended and un-intended. Intended is from vasectomized hobs or hormone injections. Un-intended is those times it just didn't happen. This will be a long section on the unintended. Intended false pregnancies are treated rather like intended pregnancies. The same hormonal changes occur. - birth eg common birth complications and what to do about them. - care of newborn kits - and probably lots more that I haven't even thought about.... These we'll answer in the FAQ or in private email so as to not fill way too much of the FML space. The extreme long distance from the US to Australia will mean email is the best approach but feel free to ask us anything you want. That goes for others as well. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets http://www.zenferret.com/ mailto:[log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1738]