Phantom Pregnancy

[nessie122 0]

Hi,

 

My little year old poley jill came in2 season quite early (mid February to be precise). She is a great little worker, easily handled & seems to be able2 bolt rabbits better than any ferret iv ever seen, so I decided to breed her, I had planned to keep one for myself, and would give the rest to shooting friends & also give one to my mate whose poley hob I used to mate her with.

 

Well I bred her 2 weeks after I first noticed the swelling at the end of Feb, I left the hob with her for about 6 days as they seemed to get on ok. By the way the hob is about 7 years old now, but he is a v.good worker-hence why I used him to breed with my Jill.

 

Well my Jill seemed to put on a bit of weight & her nipples became far more prominent & the swelling of the vulva went down, happy days (or so I thought). I was expecting young kitts at around 6 weeks. However 6 weeks came & went & no sign of any young. It appears my Jill has had a "phantom pregnancy".

 

What I want to know is has this happened to anyone else before as I am quite dissapointed, what could have been the reasons for this happening? Maybe the hob ferret is too old (though he has successfully bred before). Maybe the Jill was too young? Any advise would be appreciated. Finally what are the chances of my Jill ferret coming into season again this year & are there any ways of helping to bring her into season as I really want another ferret for next season & also to keep her company.

 

Cheers

Nessie

Edited April 7, 2010 by nessie122

[Kay 3,709]

Sometimes it happens ... she could have given birth & eaten the kits ... i would expect a jill thats losta litter to come back into season rapidly ........ if its been weeks & weeks since the eta then i would go with the phantom pregnancy

 

Was the hob in with her while she was pregnant & up to the expected delivery

[nessie122 0]

 

Was the hob in with her while she was pregnant & up to the expected delivery

 

Thanks Kay

 

I put the hob in with her 2 weeks after I noticed her coming into season, I left him in with her for 6 days then removed him, she should have given birth around April 2nd. But nothing has happened.

 

Cheers

Nessie

[The one 8,482]

At seven maybe the hobs not up to the job?? did you notice any blood under her tail a sure sign she had them and ate them ,Is she any thinner the can and often do go under or over there time

[nessie122 0]

At seven maybe the hobs not up to the job?? did you notice any blood under her tail a sure sign she had them and ate them ,Is she any thinner the can and often do go under or over there time

I never noticed any blood under her tail...She seemed to put on a little weight a few weeks into the "pregnancy". But never really got any bigger after that. If anything shes lost a little weight now.

 

Cheers

Nessie

[The one 8,482]

Sounds like a phantom them . half of mine have been in with the snipped hob for a month and the other six are still with my complete hob showing no sign of coming into season I'm thinking the cold and snow screw up there biological clocks

[nessie122 0]

Sounds like a phantom them . half of mine have been in with the snipped hob for a month and the other six are still with my complete hob showing no sign of coming into season I'm thinking the cold and snow screw up there biological clocks

Do you think she'll come into heat again this year then? I was thinking of bringing the hob back for a while to see if it would bring her on, does this method work though?

[Kay 3,709]

Does she still look podgy .. if he didn't mate properly until the last day he was in there you may still have kits to arrive ...

[The one 8,482]

Sounds like a phantom them . half of mine have been in with the snipped hob for a month and the other six are still with my complete hob showing no sign of coming into season I'm thinking the cold and snow screw up there biological clocks

 

Do you think she'll come into heat again this year then? I was thinking of bringing the hob back for a while to see if it would bring her on, does this method work though?

 

Guarenteed she will come back in mate running mine with a snipped hob they came in three and four times each last year

[ferret lady 73]

Since she was in heat so early in the year, I'd wonder if the hob had been in rut long enough to be fertile. Breeding her to him when she comes back in heat should tell whether or not he is still fertile. I would not recommend leaving her in with him for more than 24 hours, so that you know exactly when she is due to whelp.