| Caring for baby ferrets requires a certain amount | | | | choose to change brands you must do it slowly |
| of knowledge and skill. The more you know about | | | | over a period of time by adding a little more of |
| them the better equipped you are to give them | | | | the new brand each day until you have made the |
| the care and attention they require. | | | | change completely. There are a number of high |
| The mother ferret, known as a jill, carries her | | | | quality ferret foods now available to choose from |
| litter for about 42 days. During this time she | | | | so you should not be feeding your kit cat food. |
| requires extra sleep and more. A dark and | | | | Cat food does not contain all the nutrients your |
| secluded den is her home for the final two weeks | | | | ferret needs so steer clear of this choice. |
| leading up to the birth of her litter. She will | | | | Ferret food is expensive, but the cost is balanced |
| prepare her nest and requires solace and plenty | | | | by the fact that ferrets do not each a large |
| of food and water. It is important not to handle | | | | quantity of food per day. Foods based on poultry |
| the jill during this time. | | | | fat have the added benefit for kits in having a |
| Mother ferret will typically give birth to a litter of | | | | good blend of essential fatty acids that are |
| 6-8 babies, known as kits. She may eat the | | | | important for their growth and health. |
| placenta after the birth as the hormones in the | | | | Water is absolutely necessary for your young |
| placenta stimulate the production of milk. It is | | | | ferret. The water needs to be clean and plentiful. |
| important to provide the new mother with plenty | | | | A dish is preferred but a water bottle can be |
| of food and water as she cares for her | | | | used. If using a bowl make sure it is weighted so |
| newborns. | | | | the ferret cannot overturn it. Make sure if you |
| The newborns are quite helpless: small, hairless, | | | | are using a bottle that the kit understands how to |
| pink and blind. Their early days are absorbed in | | | | get water from it. |
| suckling, sleeping and growing. At twenty days or | | | | Providing a proper home for the baby ferret is |
| so the kits will finally open their eyes. By 120 | | | | important. Make sure the cage is large enough. |
| days, the young kit will be, for all intents and | | | | You will probably want one with a plastic floor to |
| purposes, fully developed. | | | | facilitate cleaning. |
| By six weeks the kits are ready to leave their | | | | Bedding consists of a sleep sack or hammock. |
| mother. The kit receives his first vaccination and | | | | Make sure it is machine washable. The most |
| is ready to be purchased by his new family. He | | | | important aspect to the cage is how safe it is. |
| may also have already been de-scented and | | | | Ferret feet are small and can be easily hurt by |
| neutered. | | | | improper flooring in the cage. Inquisitive heads can |
| After being weaned at 6 weeks of age, the kit | | | | poke in small places and get stuck. A large |
| grows at a tremendous rate. There is no need | | | | doorway will make your ferret's access to his |
| for special kit food at this point if you feed your | | | | cage friendlier. |
| kit a good quality ferret diet. The diet of the | | | | The last consideration is toys. They need to be |
| young kit is the same as the adult ferret as the | | | | sturdy and supervised. Don't leave them in the |
| young ferret's needs are the same. | | | | cage. |
| When you bring your new ferret home, it is | | | | The helpless baby ferret, given abundant love and |
| important to know what brand of food he has | | | | care, will soon blossom into a wonderful family |
| been fed at the breeder's or pet store. If you | | | | friend. |