JordKil 0 Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 Well recently the majority of my jills (3/4) have come and to season and the first one ,that was ravaged by my hob, her swelling has gone. I was wondering how you would tell if she had kits? I read that her teets stiffen and lactate etc. but had none of that so im a little confused The same should happen to my other jill soon as she was got when they were playing in the garden One last thing i take it that I definantly give her her own hutch and a wee nest box? If so how big should the nest box be as i'll just knock it together? Any ideas? Cheers Jordan Quote Link to post
Corky(amateur) 0 Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 to be honest matey, it would probably be a couple more weeks before you see any difference but the safest option is not to work her untill you know she is not. as for splitting them, to be honest its not always neccesary. i kept my two jills together and they just nursed each others kits. atb corky Quote Link to post
JordKil 0 Posted January 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 (edited) Well I have 4 jills in a 2 tier hutch and Im very sure that the biggest one will not tolerate any shite like kits in her house lol. Also she was mated at start of december and the swelling went down near a month ago (forgot to add lol) Jordan Edited January 14, 2009 by JordKil Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 There pregnant for 6 weeks give or take a day Quote Link to post
sue 1 Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 as you are unsure of the knowledge of breeding ferrets ,you really dont want to let them breed until you have more information ,separate the hob from the jills ,if he mated with all four ferrets you could have up to 40 kits that is some looking after and finding homes for the all kits,if you want a litter pick just one jill ,the average litter is between 7 and 9 but a friend of mine his jill had 15 .could you imagine if they all had 15 Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 as you are unsure of the knowledge of breeding ferrets ,you really dont want to let them breed until you have more information ,separate the hob from the jills ,if he mated with all four ferrets you could have up to 40 kits that is some looking after and finding homes for the all kits,if you want a litter pick just one jill ,the average litter is between 7 and 9 but a friend of mine his jill had 15 .could you imagine if they all had 15 Totally agree Sue lets hope that there not all pregnant Quote Link to post
The one 8,594 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 You probably wont see a belly on your jill till4/5 weeks and you would still have time to move her and let her settle down then. Quote Link to post
JordKil 0 Posted January 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 The hob only mated two both were accidental I have no intention on breeding all four as im looking into getting one of my hobs snipped. As sue said 40 odd kits christ 6 is enough of a nightmare never mind that many... Jordan Quote Link to post
whin 463 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 why do you keep hobs and jills together i usaly split them up unless real cold then kep them coseyd up together and how have they managed to come on heat at this time of year have you had them in false lite etc Quote Link to post
JordKil 0 Posted January 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 i seperated the two hobs as they werent getting enough food so I put them in with jills. They dont have false lighting at all they are kept in a shed with a window Jordan Quote Link to post
whin 463 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 werent getting enough food what were you starving them mines are like bears at moment and solid muscle , gott here winter coats and are doing fine u up to much with the ferrets working them etc,worked up at stonehaven saw some god bits forr abbs up there , do you net them or just shoot or dogs Quote Link to post
JordKil 0 Posted January 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Yeah I work them around the Portlethen and Newtonhill areas. A good bit of common land on newtonhill packed with them but not alot of holes to get to easier to get a dog in to flush them to another dog (small one flush collie catch). I net mainly but I usually take the mutt along too he aint as fast as a lurcher but he can still catch them and has a great nose. The problem with the food is that one hob is a greedy fat b*****d and the other doesnt get any and if i put in extra the fat one gets it all. Where'd you go ferreting I thought you were in England? Cheers Jordan Quote Link to post
Ginette 0 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 It might be an idea to seperate the two (maybe) pregnant jills. I've never had two take at once but have heard that if they're kept together then when the first one gives birth, the other may miscarry in order to help raise the first ones kits. Plus if you've never bred them before you'll have to keep special eye on how they take to motherhood. Oh and I know this sounds funny but are they both of sound hearing? If they can't hear the kits then they'll just let them die! Quote Link to post
JordKil 0 Posted January 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 They can both hear alright lol. Christ I'll need to splash the cash to get a few more hutches Does anyone know any cheap (but good) websites that sell hutches etc. just to save me buying from pets at home. Turns out Im getting a new hob as well now (last seasons rescue)...god its going to be a long year lol Cheers Jordan Quote Link to post
Ginette 0 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 If you've two hutches it may be enough. The pregnant jills will probably tolerate other ferrets, and they could help her out. It's just the two pregnant ones who should probably be kept apart until birthing. Oh and another bit about the miscarriage bit, it can happen if they smell or hear newborn kits (supposedly) so maybe keep their hutches well apart. But I'm no expert, I've only had two litters (not personally). Quote Link to post
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