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Post by lee on Apr 21, 2017 14:39:08 GMT -5
I have 2 Jill's that could be pregnant.
I gave my 2 Jill's that were in season to a mate so he could put them with his v hob and when he arrived home he had an emergency call out for work and asked his dad to put them with the hob but he put them in the wrong hutch with a full hob, they were in there with him for about 12 hours before my mate found them.
I was not going to breed them for a couple of years and I'm not really sure what ive gotten in to.
I need help and advice please
1-can they stay with my 3 hobs
2- can the 2 Jill's stay together as when they have been parted they have stressed
3- what do I need to know, do I need to do anything for then.
Im sure that I will be able to cope as I've had and bred animals all my live, just not ferrets and I've been told its hard work.
Altough I am looking forward to it
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Post by nancyl on Apr 21, 2017 16:02:37 GMT -5
They can't stay with the hobs. That's way too much stress. You can leave them together for most of the pregnancy but I'd separate a week or 10 days before due date.
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Post by LindaM on Apr 21, 2017 16:28:49 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Apr 21, 2017 22:33:46 GMT -5
Oh, wow....what a mess.
No, your jills cannot stay with a hob or any hob. They will have to have their own space away from hustle bustle where they can remain calm and quiet.
Some people Heather McNally, keeps her jills in pairs. Others have had not had success with pairing, so it really seems to depend on your set up and your jills.
What is your time line? When were the girls in with the hob, so you can do your count down? You are looking at 40 days +2 ....you won't have a lot of leeway before you have to react if they go over, so you've got to keep track of your time line
ciao
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Post by lorelei0922 on Apr 22, 2017 4:42:48 GMT -5
Hiya... I'm here in the UK too.
Here's what you do. First dont panic! Mark your calander for 42 days from the day they were with the hob
Your girls need to be in a jill only group. ( hobs who are castrated are ok but not whole hobs...)
You're gonna need 2 separate birthing areas. Yes I have my jills due at the same time deliver and tend their kits together but its not for first timers and could result in losing the kits. Your girls can stay together to provide support until 3-4 days before delivery. At that point they really need to settle into individual set ups.
They'll need a nest box ( draft free with good nesting material like fleece or paper or something else soft and warm) and hutch or cage each.. single level. You dont want them dragging babies up and down levels.
Keep their food and water as normal,but free feed now. Make sure they have it available at all times. While they could use a bit of extra calcium and protein to help grow kits and keep their condition, altering their diet now too much could cause diarrhoea and that is NOT at all helpful.
When it comes time for the kits to arrive, give your jills privacy, keep handling to a minimum, listen for little squeaks.
When the kits do come give her space and time to settle down with them. Some deliver in the litter box first time because they dont know what's going on.
If you dont see or hear kits by day 44.. a vet trip is needed to be sure she isn't in trouble!
Most of this is common advice that all will give and here's where things alter a bit from breeder to breeder.
Many say dont even look at the jill or kits for a week or more... feed and clean out the litter and ignore the rest. The theory is she can be very territorial, will likely bite at this time ( no she hasn't gone mean.. she's just protective of her babies) Or that the stress of you interfering may result in her killing the kits. ( I've personally not found this to be the case at all ) In this method a few kits may be lost if a first time mom doesn't figure out what.
Others say its ok to check on the kits but dont touch. ( though beyond counting noses at this point that wont do anything beyond satisfy your curiosity.
Others say if your jills trust you to be near, just take your cues from her in regards to being close to the kits or touching, counting, removing dead kits ( sadly this happens sometimes)
I dont think any of these are WRONG... they are just DIFFERENT ways people deal with kits.
If you decide to count noses and check the nest, you may find it less stressful for the jill if you remove her from the hutch for a nice treat in a carrier or something out of sight of her nest.
Do what you need to do quickly and calmly and then return her to the nest like you were never there.
Kits will require food from 3-4 weeks ish. She will let you know when she's ready for them to eat. Depending on what you feed, will determine what you offer and how.
My kits at 21 days can suck on and eat a saddle of rabbit, or mince watered down to a slurry. Do watch for any choking though!!!
handling should start as soon as the jill will allow you there without chewing your arm off. If this isn't happening by 4-5 weeks, try taking her out for short periods while you handle kits.
Feel free to message me if you have any questions.. always happy to help
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Post by lee on Apr 22, 2017 13:44:10 GMT -5
Thank you for the help and advice, I'm sure I will be crying out for help in the coming weeks.
Looks like I better get making a separate hutch for them, it's a good job I've got plenty of room.
Thank you again
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