All-right..here is a great topic of discussion for all you breeders out there.... As many of you know, I have one of the Magnificent 7 from New Zealand. She is a little girl that just turned 5 months and is a very whole ferret. When can I reasonably expect her to have her first heat? (I haven't decided yet whether or not to have her fixed or let her enjoy life as a real girl!) I have been told that summer weather (heat?) is a trigger for a female fert to come into heat..This little girl has had her season clock completely turned around....two summers in a row! Heh..She has grown her very beautiful winter coat in anticipation of winter down-under! Anywho...Then, when she does come into heat, I have been told that the vet can give her a hormone shot to bring her out of heat...or, as I have read here, I can find someone with a vasectomied male. My question is: Are there any objections from the rank and file here to the hormone shots? What are they, if any. Are there any known problems with the hormone injection method of bringing a ferret out of heat? I am happy to say, that this little girl has completely stopped her poofing.. even when she is having a 'discussion' with Snorkle. He will beat the tar outa her if she gets uppity with him..otherwise, he ignores her. He never did care for the unnecessary and vicious attacks on him by her initially...he has never forgiven her. What is funny is that if she even begins to look like she is gonna badger Garret, the old timer, Snork comes over and runs interference. Never seen a protective fert before! Oh yes...Tuzigoot (her name, although she now answers to Little Girl) is a first class tail wagger. I mean, she wags it at anything she is happy about. And let me tell you, her tail is looonnnngggg! She also recognizes the Ferretone bottle...she sees it in my hand and she starts licking madly! In anticipation of the treat. Heh...Ever seen a fert with a 3 foot tonque? <GRIN> Welp...(No play on words intended)..I will await the answers. Please, respond here to the FML..this is a good topic and posting private responses to me will not do anyone any good in the future! Least I forget...THANKS to everyone who responded to my questions on carry bags and harnesses. I received over 30 private e-mails on them... MC (The Rude One) [Posted in FML issue 2339]