Killer Mother

[smudgersmith 2]

My Jill "Sharon" who I found when out bushing with my dogs last year had a litter of approx 8 kits four weeks ago. I tend to leave the Jill and kits alone for the first month, just the very briefest of looks to make sure the jill is ok. I just make sure they have plenty of fresh water and food, I tend to wait until the kits are happy to leave themselves before I have a real good check. On Thursday the first of the litter began to search their new surroundings, in all I could only see 5, all appeared healthy. Yesterday on cleaning out the court I found nothing, not one kit, only the pitiful remains of one eatern to the bone.

 

This is the first time this as happen to the entire litter, is there a reason. I called a few lads who keep ferrets and the general opinion is that this is happening alot this year. Anyone out there had a similar experience. ?

 

Smudge

[Kay 3,709]

Is it the same jill you had problems with last summer ?

[The one 8,592]

Sound's like theres something major wrong for the jill to lose a 4 week old liter mate .

[smudgersmith 2]

Sound's like theres something major wrong for the jill to lose a 4 week old liter mate .

 

 

This is the first litter I have had with her, she is abit of a handful, not a biter but does not like too much handling. She is not a sociable fert like the rest, she keeps herself to herself. A real strange one. Did not show any signs of this sort of aggression. A couple of my other Jills have in the past killed a few of their kits, but not to the extent of the entire litter.

[Kay 3,709]

Sound's like theres something major wrong for the jill to lose a 4 week old liter mate .

 

 

This is the first litter I have had with her, she is abit of a handful, not a biter but does not like too much handling. She is not a sociable fert like the rest, she keeps herself to herself. A real strange one. Did not show any signs of this sort of aggression. A couple of my other Jills have in the past killed a few of their kits, but not to the extent of the entire litter.

 

I have no idea why they do it, theres been a lot of therys thrown in as to why , but i think no one really knows the answer , if there is one

[The one 8,592]

I always look on first litters as a learning curve for the jill sometimes it works out other times they lose the lot .Sounds if your jills a tad strange though unless she's a really cracking worker i dont think id be tempted to breed from her

[smudgersmith 2]

I always look on first litters as a learning curve for the jill sometimes it works out other times they lose the lot .Sounds if your jills a tad strange though unless she's a really cracking worker i dont think id be tempted to breed from her

 

 

She is a real worker, fast, efficent and in the dozens of times I have taken her out she has not to my knowledge killed below. The only problem is that she likes working alone. When used with my other jills she not interested, tends to sulk. !

 

I will not breed from her again, a real shame.

[Kay 3,709]

I always look on first litters as a learning curve for the jill sometimes it works out other times they lose the lot .Sounds if your jills a tad strange though unless she's a really cracking worker i dont think id be tempted to breed from her

 

 

She is a real worker, fast, efficent and in the dozens of times I have taken her out she has not to my knowledge killed below. The only problem is that she likes working alone. When used with my other jills she not interested, tends to sulk. !

 

I will not breed from her again, a real shame.

 

sometimes they dont make good mothers sadly

[will.f11 24]

My Jill "Sharon" who I found when out bushing with my dogs last year had a litter of approx 8 kits four weeks ago. I tend to leave the Jill and kits alone for the first month, just the very briefest of looks to make sure the jill is ok. I just make sure they have plenty of fresh water and food, I tend to wait until the kits are happy to leave themselves before I have a real good check. On Thursday the first of the litter began to search their new surroundings, in all I could only see 5, all appeared healthy. Yesterday on cleaning out the court I found nothing, not one kit, only the pitiful remains of one eatern to the bone.

 

This is the first time this as happen to the entire litter, is there a reason. I called a few lads who keep ferrets and the general opinion is that this is happening alot this year. Anyone out there had a similar experience. ?

 

Smudge

I lost a whole litter this year and i think it was down to the mother. There is also someone local to me who lost a litter aswell

[The one 8,592]

Normally they make great mothers but you get the odd one that shouldn't be bred bit like women shame really

[will.f11 24]

I know but my jill has had 3 very succesful litters in her life