From:
"Ailigh"
Date: 2007-07-04 18:51:27 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Weaning
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
As a person who deals with animal behavior this is a hot topic in all
animal areas. It is a well known fact (of those who deal with
behavior problems) that early weaning causes problems later in life,
mainly in coping skills. I know there is research somewhere but I
would get lost trying to find it right now. Basically, the mother
initially feeds every time the baby cries and over time as the baby
grows the mother responds slower to the crying. This teaches a baby
that sometimes you have to wait. Eventually the mother is holding out
longer and longer and the baby has to learn to deal or cope through
frustration. This is very simplified! If the baby is separated too
young they never develop these coping skills which often present later
in life as behavioral issues. Admittedly the research and my
experience with this is specifically dogs and cats. Separation
anxiety, aggression etc are all often related to early weaning. My
advise is to let the mother decide. When she stops showing interest,
then it is ok to separate them. This obviously ranges in each animal
and it is recommended that for puppies and kittens at 8-10 weeks. I
would always aim for the latter is possible and see no reason it
should be different in kits.
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