Jill in season

[flying ferreter 0]

Hi all, Happy new year,

The larger of my two May 2008 sister poley's, has the first signs of coming into heat already today. Vulva starting to visably swell. I have decided to not breed this year, as I wan't to get through this season first and then perhaps introduce the daddy next year.

 

One simple question please.....At which point is generally accepted as the time I should take them to the vets for the jill jab. I understand the breed cycle normally starts at the longer daylight spring months (march ish) so if they come into season now or within these next few weeks is it too early or let them develop fully swelled genitals. No book seems to cover this point.

 

Please I'm only after a simple answer so don't go off on a tangent.

Many thanks for your time

[Kay 3,709]

If the jill is swollen up she is in season , i wouldnt leave it that long if she is in now, if the swelling goes down in the next week or so as it can sometimes do then just watch for the start of continual swelling then get her jabbed

[flying ferreter 0]

If the jill is swollen up she is in season , i wouldnt leave it that long if she is in now, if the swelling goes down in the next week or so as it can sometimes do then just watch for the start of continual swelling then get her jabbed

 

Thanks Kay, both get regular daily checkups anyway, just suprised to see it happening so soon in the year, although another lad has posted a similar thing the other day on here saying his jill is trying to 'sh.t an egg'.........great description, so must be starting for all of us soon.

Thanks for your response. FF

[para1 11]

What sh**ting an egg looks like mate if it don't look like that then wait till does before jill jab or trying to mate it.

[Tiercel 6,986]

One question comes to mind.

 

Why are these Jills coming into season before the natural cycle dictates they should?

 

In america they keep the ferrets on timed cycles to produce 3 litters a year. How they do it is fooling the ferret into thinking its spring by ajusting the amount of light that the ferret receives every day. Thus bringing on a season in the ferrret when they should be dormant.

 

Could it be that the ferrets that are coming into season early, are being subjected to an artificial light source that is triggering a season in the ferret when they should be dormant?

 

It would be intresting to know how these ferrets that are coming into season are kept? How much light they get over and above the natural light at this time of year?

 

Just a few thoughts.

 

Tiercel

Edited January 5, 2009 by tiercel

[Kay 3,709]

Well comanchie on here said summat last week about snow giving off light, theres been snow laying here for 2 days now & its a lot lighter than last week at this time, the birds were singing at 3am here this morning, so perhaps in areas where theres been a good laying of snow for a while there starting to come into season

 

I have noticed its muuch lighter here this last few days

[The one 8,511]

Wev'e never had snow and ive no artificail light and mine seen to be coming in now .Another sandies came in and shes at least eight or nine and shes come out in a rash .Christ its going to be a long summer

[sneeky sneeky! 4]

What sh**ting an egg looks like mate if it don't look like that then wait till does before jill jab or trying to mate it.

mmmmmmm! ferret

[scotty04 0]

what is the jab for

 

excuse my thickness guys im learning still

[The one 8,511]

The jill jab brings them out of season mate handy if you dont have a snipped hob

[JordKil 0]

Thats me got 3 out of 4 jills in season now! Two have been mated though so im likely to get some early kits this year

 

Atb

Jordan

Edited January 6, 2009 by JordKil

[flying ferreter 0]

Thanks for the replies guy's and gal's, the hutch is side on to my garden under a perspex shelter on back of house. They recieve no extra light as I don't have any.

Down in somerset here, it has been quite bright these few days and with frost whitening up the ground, so normal light environment.

 

I did notice the vulva had gone down in size very slightly today and is nowhere as big as Para1 's excellent picture but is still visable compared to her sister's, who is physically a smaller poley anyway.

I might be just jumping the gun a little as I've got this years season planned out, and just waiting for things to happen.

I will keep an eye on her anyway as normal, but their both lovely condition and not in anyway cause for concern.Your responses have been great, thanks