Jill eating young

[Gaz_Lurcherlad 382]

For past two season now 1 of my Jill’s keeps eating young other 2 have been fine with good litter contact is always kept to a minimum food dropped through top always been and angry little f****r is there anything I can do I guess not 

[Furrosious ferreter 499]

If you have other jills with kits you could try taking kits off angry jill and put them with new jill...

FF

[Gaz_Lurcherlad 382]

2 hours ago, Furrosious ferreter said:

If you have other jills with kits you could try taking kits off angry jill and put them with new jill...

FF

She more or less eats them straight away went away for a couple hour came back and she’s had them and all but one eaten 

[ferret lady 73]

Since this can run in families, I'd suggest you check with owners of her sisters, her dam and dam's sisters to see if any of them are the same.  Regardless, I would certainly never breed this jill again.

 

[micky 3,325]

When I was young  it was the Golden rule that you NEVER EVER touched the Kits until they were several  Weeks old ! I do not know if it was the right thing to do  but all Ferret breeders  abided by that rule  now days though  most people who breed a litter cannot wait to take pictures , handle , and Sex the litter , well to me this cannot be right and I think that you should just let them get on with it ! after Mum knows best and you should let Her do Her thing in peace .

[Daniel cain 45,803]

I've had Jill's that have let me break the sacks and handle them at birth, never had a problem, could it be dogs,kids, cats or something close buy stressing the Jill out??? I've seen dog bitches kill half a litter, won't entertain 8/10 pus but would look after 4/5 no problem  

[terryd 8,525]

Not bred a litter for few decades but back in the day you were all ways warned not to disturbed them for a week or two and never had an issue. I guess some jills will be and others not. Nothing to gain really by having a look so no harm in  waiting till they well settled in. That would be the route I would I take if i bred a litter now

[Gaz_Lurcherlad 382]

Never have contact with them literally fill water up and put half a rabbit in and that’s it it’s the only Jill I’ve had a problem with and tbh it’s the best ferret I have had for a long time that’s why Im really pissed off love a few kits off it 

[terryd 8,525]

How old is the jill?

[Gaz_Lurcherlad 382]

1 hour ago, terryd said:

How old is the jill?

4 ish pal 

[ferret lady 73]

I've been breeding since 1999 and breeding hybrids since 2005...I check and weigh the kits daily, starting about 12 hours after birth.  I have never had a jill eat any of her kits as a result.

 

[Bobtheferret 1,248]

I don’t think you have done anything wrong at all mate, just got a jill who clearly has no maternal instinct and seems to no recognise her own offspring. Regarding wider breeding I completely understand people like ferret lady that say they have no issues with early contact but I agree with Terryd and Micky I won’t touch them until there eyes are open and they are leaving the nest as I just don’t see what you gain except the potential to upset the mum and cause her to eat or abandon the kits. My ferrets are very friendly but they are working animals not pets, it’s not like a dog who lives in the house and is part of the family. 

[ferret lady 73]

My hybrids live in the house and are handled multiple times daily, so trust me when they have kits.

  

[micky 3,325]

2 hours ago, ferret lady said:

I've been breeding since 1999 and breeding hybrids since 2005...I check and weigh the kits daily, starting about 12 hours after birth.  I have never had a jill eat any of her kits as a result.

 

WHY 

[micky 3,325]

2 hours ago, ferret lady said:

I've been breeding since 1999 and breeding hybrids since 2005...I check and weigh the kits daily, starting about 12 hours after birth.  I have never had a jill eat any of her kits as a result.

 

WHY ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????