Baby Ferrets and the Special Care They Need

As with any pet it is an exciting event to help newborns along their path to maturity. Ferrets are no exception and provide lots of rewards when a few simple rules are followed. The jill or female ferret should not be handled during the delivery process. They are endowed by nature with the capability to handle the process, in fact touching the mother during birthing could cause the jill to harm the newborns. The new ferret litter will contain seven to eight baby ferrets known as kits and they are born blind, bald pink in color. At about twenty days the kit's eyes will begin to open and their complexion will begin to darken. They can be weaned away from their mothers at the age of six weeks but they will still need lots of care an attention to insure they reach maturity in a healthy and happy state.

In the beginning during those first six weeks the new kits will devote their time to growing, sleeping and eating and they will be inseparable from their mother. At the age of six weeks they will begin their own lives and it is time for them to make a visit to the veterinarian where they will receive their first vaccinations. This is also the time for them to be de-scented and neutered if they are not slated to be in a breeding program.

Feeding the rookie ferrets requires care. Their diet is very important to them in maintaining a happy and healthy life. In the event you bought a baby ferret it is imperative to learn what the kit had been fed in the past because if changes are to made in the diet it must be done gradually. If you plan to use the same brand of ferret food it should be warmed up in water and softened prior to feeding the kit. If you plan to change brands of food, do it a little at the time. In the beginning mix the two types going heavy on the old brand and then slowly taper off with the old and in with the new.

Where do you find ferret food? There are several sources with the most preferable being your local pet supply store. Not only are the foods available but usually you can get good advice on the care and feeding of ferrets at the same time and place. If you do not have suitable pet stores nearby the internet offers a plethora of choices and selections. The overriding factor to take in to consideration when selecting feed for baby ferrets is that it should be meat based with a minimum of 20% fat and 35% protein. Foods with poultry fats is good for them because it contains the essential fatty acids.

Ferrets of all ages including baby ferrets need large cages with lots of play space that allow them to scurry about as they are engineered to do by mother nature. The cage should be kept as clean as possible. A smooth plastic floor will assist in this effort. Ironically, despite the fact that they are very active while awake they tend to sleep up to twenty hours per day so sleeping arrangements are also something to thing about. Their sleeping space should be a cozy little corner with lots of soft padding that can be easily shaded from lots of light. Since they also like to chew on things the cage should be free of these hazards.

Thanks To : Born Blind Tooth Enamel