Baby Ferrets
Baby Ferrets - Cute Little Terrors
Newborn baby ferrets are about the smallest little animals imaginable. They grow quickly, but for a few magic weeks, they are just about as cute as any animal you're likely to come across. The nice thing about that is, cute baby ferrets almost always grow up to be cute adult ferrets. Someone once remarked about having children, that having one child was like having a pet dog in the house, having more than one was like having a zoo. As far as ferrets are concerned, having one is equivalent to having a zoo. All the more so if you already have a dog or cat.
Ready In 6 To 7 Weeks - Normally we don't see baby ferrets at their tiniest unless we have a breeding pair. Ferrets are generally weaned at about 6 weeks. A breeder usually won't let one go before that time, and baby ferrets in pet stores are usually, or should be, a little older than that. If you do happen to see a litter of baby ferrets, they're called kits, expect to see around a half dozen of them, maybe a couple more, 6 to 8 kits making up a typical litter. Most kits are spayed and neutered at between 6 and 7 weeks, and most of them also have their scent glands removed at the same time, something that it is good to consider having done before you take one home as a pet.
When picking your pet from a little, you'll see that at 6 weeks their personalities are beginning to develop. This isn't too surprising as the ferret is more or less fully mature in 4 to 5 months. By watching the baby ferrets carefully before you choose one, you may find one who likes to cuddle or one who is going to be a ball-of-fire. Of course the one you pick may surprise you later, and most ferrets lean towards the ball-of-fire personality. In any event, once you take the ferret home, there may be several months of competition in front of you to see who is actually going to run the household.
Train Not To Nip Or Dig - Ferrets love to play, explore, and dig. Baby ferrets are no exception. Baby ferrets also like to nip. Nipping is their idea of play. They have tough skins - we don't, so nip training is going to have to be a top priority. One of the best way to train a ferret not to nip is to blow in its face. That is a form of punishment that doesn't harm the ferret at all. Never hit the ferret for punishment, and if it nips while you're holding it, don't put it down. The ferret will think that anytime it wants you to put it down, a nip sends the right signal. Dig training is another priority. Lacking a supply of dirt, unless of course you have house plants, a ferret will dig in its food bowl, its litter box, under seat cushions, and in your bed. Ferrets often dig when they are bored, so spending time with your little friend may keep digging episodes to a minimum.
Ten Ferret-Filled Years - As adorable as baby ferrets are, they do grow up, and quickly. A female can weigh up to 3 pounds, a male half that amount, and they will typically live 9 to 10 years. That means 10 years of solid entertainment, 10 years of spending at least half and hour a day of quality time with your ferret, and 10 years of monitoring their whereabouts during the 3 to 4 hours a day they need to be let out of their cage. Your house or apartment definitely needs to be ferret-proofed. They'll go into small places, sometimes getting stuck, and they love to take things and hide them where you may never find them again. So it also means 10 years of making certain you know where your car keys are at. In short, if you survive the first few weeks, you'll come to love your ferret, even though a change in your lifestyle is likely to be part of the price you'll pay.