|
Post by rm320 on May 8, 2012 20:01:19 GMT -5
Does anyone have a healthy pair of intact ferrets for sale? I've done my research and I want to breed a litter. Please don't comment to say how difficult it is to breed ferrets or tell me what to do. I've contacted local breeders but I wanted to ask here too. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by allie516 on May 8, 2012 20:06:57 GMT -5
I would say if you do breed get good ferrets from good lines from good breeders...that can cost you up to 300$ each or more.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 8, 2012 20:09:37 GMT -5
If you check reputable breeder websites, you'll see that breeding ferrets range from $300+ each. Some as much as $400
Most breeders will not sell intact ferrets for hobby breeding. Ferret genetics are very complex and it's an extremely expensive endeavor.
|
|
|
Post by rm320 on May 8, 2012 20:11:14 GMT -5
Okay, thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 8, 2012 20:46:35 GMT -5
If you are willing to take on a mentor for breeding from a reputable one, they may be willing to help you out. Write and ask them. Remember- breeding isn't taken on for the money factor. Simply doesn't happen. You have to be willing to research bloodlines, potential genetic abnormalities, etc. If you are willing to do all that, then by all means check out some of the breeders in our ferret breeders thread in this board! How many years have you had ferrets for?
|
|
|
Post by rm320 on May 9, 2012 9:04:45 GMT -5
I've always been interested in the genetics of mammals. The problem is, the closest active breeder to me is several hours away in MD. I realize that I'm not going to find a breeder next door to me, but going to MD every so often from northern NJ is not possible for me. I'll be attending Ferret Fandango this year though, so hopefully I'll be able to talk to some breeders there.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on May 9, 2012 12:21:37 GMT -5
A study of genetics can be easier to study in mice or rats than ferrets. Have you the funding and support of your parents? ciao
|
|
|
Post by rm320 on May 9, 2012 12:33:48 GMT -5
I've bred rats before. I work and I have quite a bit of money saved up.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on May 9, 2012 12:56:11 GMT -5
Do you have a possible market for wee ones if you were to have a large litter? We've just had a breeder on board have a litter of 10. That's a lot of little ones to find good homes for? If you're going to the Fandago, is there a breeder that you might have been speaking with, who will be willing to mentor you? I know that breeding ferrets are often not allowed to be placed to be bred without mentors, they're a very "tight" group. They have great care for their wee ones. Do you plan to show? I apologize if you think I'm prying, but in honesty, the questions that I'm asking are nothing to the drilling that you will get from the breeders you are planning to ask for breeding stock. I will give you a heads up on that ciao ciao
|
|
|
Post by allie516 on May 9, 2012 12:56:56 GMT -5
I've bred rats before. I work and I have quite a bit of money saved up. What she is saying ferrets can be more complicated then rats or mice. I work as well but I know if something were to happen and a ferret needs an emergency C section that could be a lot of money...even the lost of the mothers life. If you dont mind me asking how old are you?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2012 13:18:26 GMT -5
Just a disclaimer - What I'm about to say is meant with all due respect, I just want to give my opinion just in case you hadn't already considered all these points. Feel free to ignore my advice if you want. Although, I do have an intact ferret, and I have spent quite a lot of time talking with the breeder I got him from, hearing about how she runs things and how it is for her breeding and owning all those intact ferrets. So, I know a little, but not as much as one of the breeders on this forum. You REALLY should talk to one of the breeders on here who actually breeds, they would be the best resource! Also my advice is mostly specific to the U.S., in some countries it's not as hard to breed ferrets due to more availability, better genetic stock, and CHEAPER veterinarians! But not here in the U.S., ferrets are exotic here and EXPENSIVE to get medical care for, and most of the breeding stock here is polluted with genetic healthy problems. For example, ferrets in the rest of the world tend to live for 10 years. Here, they usually only live 5 years... half as long! Even the breeding stock of private breeders is often rife with genetic problems and even privately-bred ferrets are not living as long as they should. Our genetic stock is all messed up. Are you sure you REALLY want to breed ferrets? It's extremely expensive, very smelly, and quite honestly, the only way you would make money would probably be if you didn't give the ferrets the best kind of care they really should have. I saw some mention about parents? Oh boy... if you depend on your parents in any way, I wouldn't even consider breeding ferrets. It's so expensive. The first time one of your ferrets needs help from a vet (and it will be an exotics vet) you could be looking at thousands of dollars of vet bills. Then you will either have to come up with all that money, or else basically just neglect the animal, and have that on your conscience Do you even own any ferrets right now? A lot of people can't even handle the costs AND trouble of just owning ferrets... And I'm talking about the neutered / spayed, descented ferrets from a pet store! Intact ferrets are a whole different ballgame. They are on a whole different level of trouble and stink. Most people wouldn't even want an intact ferret, much less breed them ;D I would venture to guess, based on what you've told us so far, that most breeders probably won't be willing to sell to you, unless you have more ferret experience you haven't told us about. No offense intended, just so far you haven't mentioned your experience level. Anyway, there are several breeders here on the forum, maybe you could work with one of them on getting an intact breeding pair, but just be warned that any respected breeder is going to be EXTREMELY picky about allowing someone to even buy an intact ferret, even if they say they aren't going to breed them. When I bought my intact male there was a whole screening process I had to go through with the breeder. But, assuming you are going to be honest with the breeder and tell them you intend to use the ferret to breed, then they are going to be even more picky about whether they let you buy from them or not. The only alternative I can think of would be if you can find a local backyard breeder who just doesn't really care that much about whether their ferrets are treated, they might have no problem selling you some ferrets to breed even without screening you first. But you probably don't want to do business with someone like that anyway, their ferrets are likely to not have clean / healthy genetic stock anyway if they don't practice the best breeding practices. Ferrets are a LAND MINE of genetic problems. Be prepared for kits born dead or deformed, or things like momma eating one or more of the kits, or biting off their ears, momma developing serious mammary infections that may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to treat or else they kill the momma, mommas who might be nervous and refuse to nurse, the list goes on and on. Breeding ferrets is kind of a nightmare until you get really experienced, unless you have a GOOD breeder helping you learn every step of the way
|
|
|
Post by miamiferret2 on May 9, 2012 13:20:58 GMT -5
I have been watching this thread. i notice that you did not answer sherry's question. so i will ask the question for her again:
how long have you owned ferrets for?
you said that you have already asked "local breeders." but you are now looking for a "pair" of intact ferrets to breed? I guess your "local breeders" won't sell you an intact ferret bc they don't want you to breed them? most breeders put in their contract that you cannot breed the animal. they do that for a reason. and it is not bc of their wallet.
you want a "pair" of ferrets from a breeder so that you can mate them..... but you have never bred ferrets before... so then you don't care that you will most likely be breeding brothers & sisters, uncles and nieces?
there are alot of good breeders on this board. people with hands on experience. you may learn something from them. instead, you just came on here with this statement to the tune of: "i wanna do this, don't try to talk me out of it and don't try to tell me what to do. but help me find someone who i can buy these ferrets from." I think that is a complete lack of respect and a lack of deference to the experienced breeders that we have on this forum.
my only concern is for the ferrets, not to assist you with your new hobby. I would not recommend a breeder to you. I know nothing about you.
|
|
|
Post by allie516 on May 9, 2012 13:48:06 GMT -5
I just want to chime in and say no one is being rude. I agree with all the points here made. Breeding is really not a "hobby" It is a life style. Because if you want to stop breeding it is not that easy. Or if there is a mistake made it is not just a matter of redoing it. Because it is lives that will be in your hands...My concern is for the ferrets as well. No one here knows anything about you but you want to start breeding ferrets for a hobby...
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2012 13:57:33 GMT -5
Every breeder I have ever heard of is pretty strict about not just letting anyone have a pair to breed. There are long applications sometimes backround checks and experience all required. If you only have pet store experience then this should not be considered by you. I know a couple people who got just 1 breeder ferret and even after being altered was too much for them to handle and they had to return them. Now consider going from no ferrets to to TWO (you would need more than 2 by the way or they would all be related) INTACT ferrets. Breeders have a contract you spay/neuter or implant your pet within a certain time. Why? So people don't decide to breed them willy nilly and try to make a profit. Breeding is not a business it is a hobby and there really is no money to be made it all goes back into the proper care these expensive exotic animals require. So think hard about this.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 9, 2012 13:58:20 GMT -5
Okay. I've asked two of our resident breeders to chime in here. Let's all just hold off until Joan and Lorelei have had a chance to talk with rm330.
|
|