Jill killing kits (help please)

[Kay 3,709]

Your going to have to offer flesh to the kits when there around 3 weeks old anyway even if the jill wont eat it they will

[nym 0]

Yes I will put rabbit in for the kits & Jill if she wants it, Shes a brilliant hunter but just dont eat meat.

Suppose its a good thing rearly as if she kills underground I know she will not stay there and eat it.

 

fingers crossed ive still got 2 kits still in the nest today

[stubby 175]

if you was to remove all dry food, and only leave rabbit, I could gurantee she'd start eating meat,

[j davies 8]

Yes I will put rabbit in for the kits & Jill if she wants it, Shes a brilliant hunter but just dont eat meat.

Suppose its a good thing rearly as if she kills underground I know she will not stay there and eat it.

 

fingers crossed ive still got 2 kits still in the nest today

 

 

have you ever thought that there might be some thing wrong with the young ones mate and thats why she is killing them. your ferret will no more than we do. unless the ypung are 100% she will not rear them kill them or let them die

[ellir0305 9]

if you was to remove all dry food, and only leave rabbit, I could gurantee she'd start eating meat,

 

would that be a wise move when there are still kits? i know it works normally but is there not a possibility she would eat more kits?

[nym 0]

if you was to remove all dry food, and only leave rabbit, I could gurantee she'd start eating meat,

 

would that be a wise move when there are still kits? i know it works normally but is there not a possibility she would eat more kits?

 

 

Thats what I was thinking,

Ive still got 2 left I think it was too much for her,Im very sure that there was nothing wrong with the newborn kits they were wriggling about full of life.

Whatever the cause its too late now.

Thanks for all your advice everyone

[stubby 175]

if you was to remove all dry food, and only leave rabbit, I could gurantee she'd start eating meat,

 

would that be a wise move when there are still kits? i know it works normally but is there not a possibility she would eat more kits?

 

 

have you ever thought that she's eating the kitts because they are "flesh" as all that is available is dry food, nursing jills need fresh meat, your going to get those that say they have reared young on dry alone, if the kitts are still young, then they are suckling milk, and once older, even with eyes still shut they will "sniff out" meat

[Kay 3,709]

The other thing as well could be human intervention , if people are going to keep opening the door of the nest box every 20 mins to look that in its self is stressfull to the jill regardless of how good tempered she normally is, i say when you hear the squeeks of new borns leave well alone for the first 24 hrs or so , only going to feed & water

[angoraferret 0]

I have 2 questions for you.

1 How do you know the jill is killing them and not that the kits are dying and she is eating them which is perfectly normal.

2 How much have you been in the nest a lot to know exactly how many there was when she gave birth and how many was left at stages, i leave my jills alone until i have to change the nest at 2 weeks-ish depending on thr mother and then they arev ledt alone until they start getting meat at 3 and half weeks.

[reddog70 236]

you prob wont want to take a look at them again with the kitts going so fast, i dont blame you... but if you do and theres only one left i would say its a safer bet to remove the remaining one and place in with the other mother after rubbing it in her soiled shavings to disguise the sent then leave well alone.. good ferret mothers usually are ok at fostering other young if its done right.. all the best

[The one 8,504]

Get your jill and gently squeeze a nipple see if she's got any milk if she's not that would explain why there dying so quickly

[j davies 8]

Get your jill and gently squeeze a nipple see if she's got any milk if she's not that would explain why there dying so quickly

 

 

thats one good reson that she might not have milk for them nice one mate

[masmiffy 82]

Cant say I have ever had a jill eat her litter.

Always used to feed fresh meat fur and feather and plently of water.

This year is the first time I have given dry food as well mine has 9 and all seem OK so far!

Could be as has been suggested that she isnt producing milk but then why have 2 - 3 lasted two weeks as this is all they eat for a bit anyway!

As for intruding into the nest again not had a problem with this either my jill is OK for me to put a finger or two in with the kits and has even mouthed me as if to try to pick up my finger!

[shotgunandy 2]

i have 4 jills, all of whom i breed from. my oldest was in a litter of 3 and she will only ever raise 3 kits (i have had 4 litters from her). my other 3 jills are all her offspring and they too will only raise 3 kits.

i dont know if this is common or not but they seem pretty consistent.

hope this helps.

would be interested to see if anyone else has had similar experiences

[nym 0]

Well Ive still 2 kits left there 27 days old today

I been giving the mother fresh meat and she seems to be eating it well, however shes been taking the meat out of the bowl and hideing it it the corner of the nest.

I dont want the meat to go off and the kitts eating it so what age for kits to be before cleaning the nest area out ?

 

cheers