The Ferret Hotel
boarding and advice Given
If you dont know what sex to have then have a read, might help
There is little difference in temperament between the sexes. Hobs tend to be twice as large as Jill’s. Hobs do seem to be a lot more placid compared to Jill’s who always seem to be on the go. There may be more variation between individual ferrets than there is between the sexes.
Both Hobs & Jills can be neutered from 6 months of age. The Jill must be out of season before being spayed.
Prolonged Oestrus in Jills is Something You Need To Think About!
There are still people who believe that their ferret must have a litter every time she comes in season or she will die. There is a certain amount of truth that if you do leave your ferret in season for a long period of time that she may die, but you DO NOT NEED TO BREED as there are methods that can bring your Jill out of season with out having to find homes for 6 - 8 kits. Jill’s come into season between March and September. Ferrets are induced ovulators and need the stimulation of mating to ovulate. If they are not mated they will remain in season. Remaining in season results in high levels of oestradiol, which leads to bone marrow suppression, pancytopenia and eventual death. There are methods of bringing your ferret out of season which include; the Jill jab which will need to be administered by your veterinary surgeon (there is a chance that your Jill may come back into season that same year and may require a second injection), use of vasectomised hob who will bring your Jill out of season with no kits produced (but there is a chance she may have a false pregnancy) or you may decide to have your jill spayed which will rule out the health problems related to the season. |
Biological Data for Ferrets
Life expectancy: 8-10 years. Average body weight Hob: 1200g. Average body weight Jill: 600g. Sexual maturity: First spring after birth. Breeding season: March – September. Gestation period: 41 - 42 days. Average litter size: 6-8. Eyes open: 4 – 5 weeks. Permanent teeth: 7 – 10 weeks. Weaning age: 6 – 8 weeks. Heart rate: 200 – 250 beats per min Respiratory rate: 33 – 36 breathers p.m Body temperature: 37.8 – 40oc . Entire Male: Hob. Female: jill. Hobble: Castrated hob. Hoblet: Vasectomised hob. Baby under 16 weeks: Kit. A group of ferrets: Business |
A hob
Hobs tend to be bigger than jills, but you can get some small hobs, this is Screwball(left) the albino he is smaller then Guinness(right). Guinness is one of my bigger hobs.
