question

[hotdog 8]

i have kept ferrets for many years but have never bred my own jills, so iv decided to give it a go! my jill is due to have her litter in the next two weeks and im asking for advice on which bedding to use with the kits. they are on shredded paper at the mo is this ok to continue with?

[tote 870]

Yeah shredded paper will be fine hotdog.

[Kay 3,709]

paper beddings fine mine had her kit in the stuff

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Plentiful, mate. What ever ye use, provide her with plenty of it

 

I've bedded ferrets on wood shavings, while housed inside. But I wouldn't recommend that for birthing into as the jill can't make a fully domed nest in them, see? But shredded paper, hay, the odd feather or rabbits skull thrown in - by the jill - for 'taste' is just fine.

 

Craic is; Don't go digging around in it as soon as ye hear squeaking. Leave her and them alone till they start crawling round the pen in search of blood. Then never leave them alone. Handle them as many hours of the day as ye can manage

[Kay 3,709]

I think the beauty of hay or shredded paper is the jill can scratch it about & shove what she dont need to one side, blankets are ok but would get damp in an outdoor hutch set up quickly, the paper is light & airy & i find it has to be really cold & wet to make it damp, i also think kits find it easier to move round in the stuff as well

[Guest foxtrack]

im suprised.

you seem to find paper a good bedding for kits.

in my own oppinion it gets damp and holds moisture easy

ive seen kits tangled in the shreaded stuf,

and i cant see the ink it contains any good to the kits coat.

i would think you are better off with dust free fluffy shavings.

mind you its my oppinion only whitch dont count for mutch

[Kay 3,709]

im suprised.

you seem to find paper a good bedding for kits.

in my own oppinion it gets damp and holds moisture easy

ive seen kits tangled in the shreaded stuf,

and i cant see the ink it contains any good to the kits coat.

i would think you are better off with dust free fluffy shavings.

mind you its my oppinion only whitch dont count for mutch

 

Why shouldnt your opinion count for much your as entitled to it as the next person its what makes the forum differing views etc, anyone offering advice can only do so from experience and your findings are valuable

[skycat 6,174]

I learned long ago not to use hay when a first time jill had her kits in hay: never seen it before or since, but she obviously didn't chew the umbilical cords off close enough and 4 kits were sort of entangled together in hay and cords: managed to save 3 of them but one had had the circulation completely cut off in one leg. Straw every time for me, providing its clean, dry and not musty. Paper's sort of OK, but does get flattened and matted into a sort of papier mache rather easily. Just my experience on the matter.

 

Edited to add: hay can be very hot as well if the weather is warm. Straw allows more air to circulate.

Edited July 4, 2007 by skycat

[gibby 0]

I use a combination of hay and old jumpers/tops in each nest box. The ferts then fashion them how they like. My hob just ignores the hay and wraps himself up in the jumper.