From:
"Simon Bishop"
Date: 2002-12-23 10:43:27 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] RE: Fancy lines
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <001201c2aa70$21663280$02000003@oneview.net>
Danee, I totally agree with you about the young age that ferrets are now
sold. Up until recently ferrets( as far as I am aware) were sold at 9 to 12
weeks here in the UK. When we sell a kit(privately), it is at the point that
mom is trying to get away and solid food intake is the norm(then it is to
someone we have "vetted".). This is usually 10 to 12 weeks.But we have
customers who have brought kits at 5,6 and 7 weeks old and I believe that is
far too young. This is only a recent thing and I believe it to be new
breeders jumping on the bandwagon of pet ferrets in the UK and pet shops not
knowing the animal.We do NOT sell ferrets commercially in the UK because we
believe there are enough rescues out there looking for a home without
irresponsible breeding. But it happens. And because they are so young I
believe that it leads to illness at an early age and undergrowth. Moms milk
is best! We also recommend speying and castration in the first season after
the year they were born, so most ferrets are 12 months old( or
thereabouts).
Happy holidays, Simon
www.ferretworld.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: <DaneeDV@aol.com>
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 12:32 AM
> As to what has caused the more recent incidence of adrenal disease at an
> earlier age - my personal theory is the earlier spay and neutering of the
> ferrets sold in pet stores. When I first got ferrets (over 15 years ago)
the
> ferrets were usually about 12 weeks old when they arrived at the pet
shops.
> As a result, they were probably allowed to stay with their mothers longer,
> and were not altered until 8 or 9 weeks of age. Nowadays, it is very
common
> for kits that are only 8 weeks old or younger to already be in the pet
> stores. That means that they are being taken from their mothers and
> spayed/neutered at 5 or so weeks of age. Perhaps that 3 weeks is what is
> making the big difference. I don't know - as I said, that is just my
theory.
> But, I do think that 5 weeks is way to early for a kit to be taken from
the
> mother, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
>
> Danee
> ADV - If your ferret hasn't been tested, you don't know!
> For more information visit: <A
HREF="http://www.geocities.com/russiansmom">http://www.geocities.com/russian
smom</A>
>
>
>
>
> --
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