Kit deformaties.

[Aaron_butcher 17]

I've recenty bred one of my jills and she has had a litter of 8 kits. They are now about 6 weeks and I've noticed a few kits are deformed and a few others just don't look healthy. Out of the 8 there are I think 3 kits that have thier eyes open and look like they are doing well but 2 have deformed back legs and 3 just look very very skinny and still don't have opened eyes. I'm going to cull the deformed ones which I think is the best thing for them ( they are just dragging themselves around and one has one too many bends in his leg ). But should I should wait and see how the skinnier ones come on or cull them as well? They have raw mince fed in the evenings and fresh water available so it couldn't be malnutrition. I will try to get pics up tommorrow.

Thanks, Aaron.

[Ideation 8,216]

Out of interest mate, what were the jill and hob?

[Aaron_butcher 17]

It wasn't silver to silver if thats what your thinking, it was polecat hob to albino jill, the deformed kits are both silvers but the under weight ones are white and brown.

[Guest alcapone]

Ive seen this before,i too was feeding mince! Spoke to a few lads and come to the conclusion that the mince was the problem! Cant remember the reason now,but im sure someone on here will tell you. I also had to cull,same age roughly too. Edited to say mine were also silvers!

Edited May 10, 2011 by alcapone

[Aaron_butcher 17]

its only the last week or so they've had mince, before that it was chicken wings but I thought I should give them some diversity in their diets. I just thought it odd that there are so many that aren't right but a handful that seem to be fit and healthy.

[Ideation 8,216]

Silver gene?

[Aaron_butcher 17]

Would that account for the ones that aren't silver though? and I thought that it was only silver to silver that caused problems.

[Guest alcapone]

Im far from someone to give much advise im no expert myself but i remember it was something to do with mince meat. I had 3 kits and one faded at 4wks old and the other 2 just dragged their back legs within the space of a couple of days they were good for nothing,would of been 6-7 wk old if i remember. I dont use mince anymore,thats all i can tell you im afraid. Some folk on here with loads of experience,im sure they will put you straight fella.

[Aaron_butcher 17]

Thanks for the advice mate but I'm pretty sure they would have been born with deformaties and feeding mince for a weed wouldn't cause their legs to kink in the wrong places, silvers have problems anyway. Its just the under weight ones I'm concerned about, I don't want to cull anymore than nessasery but they aren't looking good.

[Jamie m 668]

I had two silver kits In a litter last year and before there eyes had opens they both developed eye infections , but they were the bigest strongest kits in the litter? and the jill I kept back is a powerhouse she dwarfes my sniped hob and far from deaf and a demon at work ?

[Ideation 8,216]

All i was saying about the silver gene is that is its a weak gene, a mutation, and whilst most common to cause problems silver x silver, it can be found in none silver ferrets, and when expressed in the litter can (not always) be expressed in other forms of mutation and deformity. Just life mate, not much you could have done. I'd cull whats needed and then not repeat that mating.

[The one 8,477]

Had this years ago its the mince it contains only protein no bones or muscle so the kits couldn't build a healthy bone structure .

 

You could try a search but it's a fair age that post now

[f mac 40]

prob a bit late but if u can pick up an old hand mincer ideal for chick wings whole pigeons ,scraps ect rabbit legs ...perfect for mushing up for kits

[Guest alcapone]

Had this years ago its the mince it contains only protein no bones or muscle so the kits couldn't build a healthy bone structure .

 

You could try a search but it's a fair age that post now

My money was on the mince also.

[DottyDoo 500]

try an get dog fod mince rather than human consumption mince as the stuff minced for dogs has grizzle, bone, an even feather an fur in it.............

 

why cant they get fed whole carcass????