Kit Hurting Older Jill

[happyferret123 13]

I have read the post about Older ferrets hurting the kits, and have had that in the past where I have separated. But this time I have the Opposite problem. I bought a hob kit at 8 weeks, he is now 17 weeks old. He has turned into a real bully.

 

I had a Jill who had cancer lump and vet couldn't do anything for her and I found her dead this week. She didn't have any marks on her and I found her in the bed box, so could have been a coincidence but I didn't think she had become that ill yet.

But i'm now worrying my hob kit might have caused her to die, he's being a real bully to my other Jill, I keep hearing her screaming and he keeps biting jumping on her back continuously and I think her skin is looking pretty pink.

I have now separated them. The hob kit I reckon will be a great worker he has so much energy and prey drive but I'm worried he will cause my Jill damage.

They are in a big 11 ft double story hutch with a ferret wheel. They get meat every day- either chicken thigh, wing, turkey or beef mince or Rabbit if they have caught any. plus there is ferret biscuits in the hutch permanently.

 

What do you think would be best?

 

I am thinking about making a giant run on the side of my giant hutch and keep him in it until hes older, once his balls have dropped I would then get him castrated and hope he calms with age. Then get another Jill to keep mine company.

 

Buy another Jill and put her in with both of them and hope it will take the pressure off the one jill

 

or get another hob, have him separate for a bit then when he's bigger let them play together and hope they don't fight too much?

 

or any other suggestions? I am open to ideas as i'm really at a loss what would be best for them. Thanks in advance.

Edited September 4, 2017 by happyferret123

[tsteve9999 456]

If the jills neck is just red he means no real harm, I tried to put 2 adult hobs together last year and within a day or so one was nearly dead. He's starting to mature and ferrets are rough by nature, they'll settle down in time.

My advice would be get another jill, especially because in the spring he will be even worse when breeding season starts, and put a couple more sleeping boxes in, that way the jill can be on her own if he's getting too much. Don't separate them if you can help it because they are way easier to introduce when young than when adults, and dont get another hob because at breeding time you'll be having real fights and one hob or the other will end up dead.

[The one 8,411]

If the jills a adult she should put him in his place even if there in season they will turn and have a go at the hob

[happyferret123 13]

My Jill is a tiny Jill, and my hob kit is huge! prob about 4 times her size and he keeps jumping on her. She tells him off but he just keeps jumping on her and biting her. My Jill has been spayed and the kit is only 17 weeks and balls haven't dropped yet- so not in season.

I was just worrying as she is constantly running away and he just follows.

I'm going to get another Jill.

There are already two bed boxes- I might make an area only she can fit into so she can escape him if shes had enough.

Thanks for the advice guys!