Ferret Eaten Kits

[tomburras 2,729]

Iv ferreted for 4 seasons now and had 2 hobs called blade and lubert. Iv always taken pride in my ferrets and looked after them the best i can and between them they have been a great couple of ferrets but in march this year lubert suddenly died aged around 7 (i understand he was was around 3 when I got him) so I wanted to have a go at breeding my own so I got a polecat Jill i named pippa and after i put them in together and all went very well and when she came into season they tied and after a week or so I put her into her own hutch and watched ready in anticipation and she was perfectly happy. I watched the dates she should be due around and she was looking positively in kit. In the nesting box I put in a some fresh bedding and didn't disturb it in case I upset her and kept her fed with rabbit, alpha, pigeons and chicken Brest. One day I saw she looked a lot slimmer and thought she had had her kits. I fed her on the bottom tier of the cage and left her in peace as much as i could but the nesting box was very quiet so after 8 days I had a quick look and there was no kits in there so I put it downto my iimagination and a phantom pregnancy.

 

She came into season again so I put her back in with blade and she looked in kit again and after following the dates and repeating what I did last time she looked like she gave birth again. I kept feeding her on the bottom tier again with all sorts of food again and I could hear kits it the bedding compartment! I was very pleased but 2 days ago the noises from the kits stopped. After having a quick look this morning while she was eating the nesting box was empty! So she must have earthen them! My suspicions are she must have done this last time also.

 

She wasn't young when I got her so I don't think I'm trying to breed from her too young so what could cause this? I did everything I thought was right and left her in peace apart from feeding her on the tier below the hutch is big so I didn't even disturb her cleaning her out as the hutch was clean and dry.

 

What could cause this and is there anything I can do to stop this next year? I'm new to breeding them but thought I did all I could. Its a bit gutting so have this happen!

 

Any info or advice on this would be great!

 

Cheers

 

Tom.

[The one 8,467]

The fact that you think shes done it twice shows theres something bothering her

[tomburras 2,729]

Hi the one that's the thing I can't work out if that's what it is or what it could be bothering her. I moved her early to make sure she wasn't unsettled before having her kits and she has a big cage, pipes and plenty of good food and looks in great condition and seems very happy even today she is bouncing about playing. I wonder if it could be the heat? Or the bit of thunder we had? The cage is behind a building completely in the shade from the sun so I'm sure she not getting too hot.

[muddy210 34]

some just do it mate, usually coz somethings bothering them but some just do it

[leegreen 2,153]

Just like ickle jelly babies.

 

Animal behaviour eh? and they say we humans are wicked, eating babies

 

 

 

Edited to say; some dogs do it as well.

Edited July 25, 2014 by leegreen

[armdog 196]

had a ferret do this once ,i staked out the hutch and found a cat sitting on top tormenting her, im guessing she felt threatened by the cat and ate her kits to prevent the cat getting them, the cat mysteriously vanished !!!!!! and she had a litter the next year fine

[tomburras 2,729]

Thanks, I never thaught about that. my dogs often bark through the night when cats come into the garden. I dunno wether to try again next year or have her Jill jabbed. Has anyone had this problem but was fine the following year?

[blackmaggie 3,376]

tom if it was me i would get her jabbed and get a kit might save any more grief and theres always plenty of kits to choose from and i once had a jill eat her kits never did work out what went wrong just put it down to natures way so dont beat yourself up over it it does happen

[tomburras 2,729]

tom if it was me i would get her jabbed and get a kit might save any more grief and theres always plenty of kits to choose from and i once had a jill eat her kits never did work out what went wrong just put it down to natures way so dont beat yourself up over it it does happen

 

Thanks for that blackmaggie I think that sounds the best plan, ill have a look for about for a kit. She was a good worker for the old owner so ill just keep her for that and have her jabbed from now.

[The one 8,467]

More likely to be the thunder it can do strange things to animals but if shes a mature jill ?.maybe thats why her last owner got rid ?.

[mhopton 807]

Maybe she was not made out to be a mother mate it happens all the time and never here about it ,it's nothing you done wrong at all but 9 / 10 times it's thunder or cats that cause it,it's just natures way all be it cruel some times . Just as long as she is still happy and healthy that's all that matters so don't beat your self up over it and next time try her living with another Jill as sometimes it's the company they crave the most ATB mark

[tomburras 2,729]

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys much appriciated, thaught it had only happened to me. Maybe have another go next year with a different Jill.

 

Atb tom.

[The one 8,467]

Being honest mate unless you have a really cracking working jill and your looking for a few replacements its no worth the effort breeding . dont get me wrong i enjoy seeing kits developing ect but they eat as much as a small African nation and the smell and fly's at this time of year and the majority of the litter seem to be hobs which no one wants and folk asking a tenner or fifteen quid a kit although they maybe worth it and cost that much to raise have little chance of making money from them as there will be loads of free kits on offer , i prefer to travel and pick up a couple of jill kits off members on her and there really cracking stock and ive never walked away empty handed or been disappointing