PREGNANT FERRET

[floofnoodle]

Hi everyone, I have a Jill that  I do not know the age of. I found her on my road a few years ago. She was incredibly thin, was being attacked by crows and had a displaced shoulder. I have two other ferrets, so I was prepared for the teeth. I picked her up and she immediately sank her teeth into me - she was dangling from my hand. But, once she knew we were feeding her and giving her a warm place to sleep, she didn't anyone and she has never bitten anyone since. Despite this, however, she has eaten two litters of kits since being with us. When we got her at first, we didn't know she hadn't been fixed and by the time we noticed that my ferret was in season, it was too late to do anything at the vets. We rushed her over to a lady who owned a hob and then she got pregnant. However, she ate her litter. And, finding herself with all these new hormones and no kits, Vice went into season again. Because we hadn't been expecting this, it was again too late to take her to the vets. This time, however, we knew it was coming and my mum was adamant that Vice would get the injection to take her out of heat. However, lock down came and the vets didn't want her to come in just for that. So, we mated Vice again. This time, it was with a different hob. Her due date is the 4th June and I don't want anything to go wrong this time! I have a camera that can live stream  and I plan to watch the footage 24/7 until I see Vice give birth. And, if she starts to eat them, I am going to whisk the kits away and attempt to rear them - I mean, it can't go any worse than leaving them with her! However, I have scoured the internet and there is  not much information on raising young ferrets, let alone newborns! I have a heat pad, a box and shavings, but apart from that I am looking for all the information I can get on raising newborn ferret kits! Sorry for the long intro, any help would be GREATLY appreciated!


EDIT: Hi everyone, Vice is now overdue by just under a week. I don't think it was a phantom pregnancy, as she is still large and her nipples are prominent. She has been avidly nest-building for the past few days, but nothing has happened. I was wondering if anyone has any past experience with having a ferret induced, or what your thoughts and/or feedback is for this situation? Thanks

[abbeytheferret6]

However, lock down came and the vets didn't want her to come in just for that.

That is truly stupid---excuse me. I know vets were seeing animals here on an emergency basis--and that to me is truly an emergency knowing  if she was not mated while in heat what could happen(anemia).


I do not know anything about the care of pregnant ferrets as most people in USA purchase ferrets through pet stores and they are spayed and neutered. If I were you I would contact several breeders(reputable ones) and find out why this is occuring.

Does she have a totally quiet place, or is she stressed out after having them--- maybe people picking them up and stuff like that. Is she getting the protein that she needs? Heather Downie raises ferrets, and she is a raw food feeder--- Maybe you can find her on facebook. Sadly the breeders that were on the forum hardly come here anymore.

I don't think taking them away from here is a good idea. I tried to raise some ASF ratties whose mother just up and died after giving birth. I heard their cry and got on you tube and saw someone raise a mouse. I bought the kitten replacer milk, I got up different times of the night and fed them on a regular schedule---it was a total nightmare and devastating as they died off real quick. They probably got bloat---who knows milk may have went down their lungs by way of eyedropper(switched to a tiny artist brush). Milk would came out their little noses which i tried to not let happen. I Promise you that trying to raise tiny, tiny newborn creatures is almost impossible. You know if it was a calf or something big like that could suck a bottle, it would be a totally different story.

Personally, I would do everything to make the best situation for that mom. I would research her needs nutritionally. I know they need extra calcium---maybe some kitten replacer milk. I do not know how often tho to give, and have her a nice stress free hidey place. Maybe things will work out.

I definitely would get her fixed when it is recommended after the pregnancy.

All of course is my opinion
I would talk to breeders first before I would try to raise newborn ferrets.

[unclejoe]

Try contacting Pam at pvoferrets.com/ she is also on facebook. she has been breeding and showing ferrets in the US for quite some time.

[unclejoe]

I should add, that odds of hand-rearing a litter from birth are not good.