Skinny nursing jill

[Winterwitch 15]

My Jill has had her first litter of eleven kits ten days ago. She’s caring for them like an absolute pro and they are happy with little fat tummy’s! 

I’ve been monitoring her weight carefully and ensuring extra food but she is looking so skinny. 

She is fed on a combination of kibble (science selective and James welbeloved) pigeons, rabbits and lamb. She is given egg yolks and malt paste as treats. 

My concern is that she is only ten days in and already very thin (she was fine pre-pregnancy) and eleven babies is a lot. 

Is she likely to be able to care for them until they are weaned? Is there anything extra I can do for her to help weight gain? Will I need to hand rear some of them? 

I don’t currently have access to any other nursing Jill’s so that isn’t an option. 

Any tips would be appreciated! 

[jiggy 3,209]

I think your doing fine and trying your best. You done well to get that many so far. Some will say feed the Jill meat and eggs etc and when the kits start taking solids then soft kitten food. This is the hunting life website though and if one guy says feed concrete then the other guy will say tarmac. Whatever works then it works. I'd ask a guy in private that has already reared 10 plus.

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

She looks very happy and lovely bright eyes.

Im sure she'll be ok.

11 kits will get through some rabbits also.

I start mine of on rabbit loin strips then the back of the rabbit with abit of bone then abit of fur later on

FF

[delswal 3,819]

OT will be along soon he will keep you right. She looks healthy enough, Like said above, once the kits are weaned she will soon turn the corner.

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

OT will say put some 'hurbs' in with her or its ok she small cos shes a 'greyhound ferret'

FF

[Lee farrington 211]

As said above just keep the food coming. I've got a 3 year old Jill with her first litter, 4 days old started with 10 but down to 8. I always sprinkle a little bit of bone meal powder on nursing Jill's food, it helps strengthen the kits.

as the others have said OT will comment soon and he will put you right, might even say she looks over weight 

[socks 32,253]

Keep piling the food in and keep it fresh also feed whole eggs and full fat goats milk every other day

[Winterwitch 15]

3 hours ago, jiggy said:

I think your doing fine and trying your best. You done well to get that many so far. Some will say feed the Jill meat and eggs etc and when the kits start taking solids then soft kitten food. This is the hunting life website though and if one guy says feed concrete then the other guy will say tarmac. Whatever works then it works. I'd ask a guy in private that has already reared 10 plus.

Thank you for the reassurance, much appreciated

[Winterwitch 15]

3 hours ago, W. Katchum said:

Iv had big litters a few times an the jills always come throo, look like shit but soon sort themselves out after the kitts are weaned, just keep the food coming, keep it regular so as not to let it spoil in this heat an soon as th me kitts start wandering out the box, encourage them to munch some meat, it won’t take much encouragement, but stop stressing so much an enjoy

She does look like crap. Very reassuring to know she will bounce back (hopefully) doesn’t help that she pulled a LOT of her fur out while nesting. 

[Winterwitch 15]

 

2 hours ago, Furrosious ferreter said:

OT will say put some 'hurbs' in with her or its ok she small cos shes a 'greyhound ferret'

FF

Hurbs??? 

 

[Winterwitch 15]

55 minutes ago, Lee farrington said:

As said above just keep the food coming. I've got a 3 year old Jill with her first litter, 4 days old started with 10 but down to 8. I always sprinkle a little bit of bone meal powder on nursing Jill's food, it helps strengthen the kits.

as the others have said OT will comment soon and he will put you right, might even say she looks over weight 

Why did you lose the two? Everyone seems surprised that my eleven are still alive? Now I’m paranoid haha! 

What bone meal powder? Where can I get that from? 

We never used to feed them kibble but we had a bit of a pigeon shortage recently. (Nice one Packham!)

[Winterwitch 15]

11 minutes ago, socks said:

Keep piling the food in and keep it fresh also feed whole eggs and full fat goats milk every other day

Never would have thought of goats milk! Thanks!

[SamR 178]

is she not a greyhound ferret?

[SamR 178]

Just now, SamR said:

is she not a greyhound ferret?

bollocks, didn't read the comments. Beaten to it

[vfr400boy 3,321]

As said keep feeding her she will be fine I use full fat natural goats yogurt for the kits and jills along with chicken / rabbit mince then move on to rabbits chicken wings etc had a few litters of 10 but never 11 !