Post by canni on Mar 30, 2006 20:53:35 GMT -5
Finding a good ferret breeder:
There are benefits to getting a ferret from a breeder, for example some are breeding to improve the health of our fuzzies, they can provide extra support if you are new to ferrets, you may want to show, want to have a ferret where you know its genetic history and what environment it was brought up in or want to start breeding yourself.
1. Educate Yourself
Know about ferrets, their care and health problems, bad breeders don’t like educated buyers! Research prices of bred ferrets and check out ferret shows if there are any near you.
2.Communication
Talk to breeders, find out what are their aims are in breeding, what were they aiming to improve when they mated your kits parents? Have they been breeding for long? Are they knowledgeable about ferret care and diet? How many ferrets do they have? What health problems have they seen in their line of bred ferrets? (If they say none buyer beware!) Do they show? Do they offer a written health guarantee? Are they happy for you to have a look around their home/ferretry and meet some of their ferrets? Will they give you references from a vet and customers?
3. Inspection
A good breeder should be happy for you to come and visit and meet their ferrets (though some may not allow you to meet young kits due to risk of passing diseases). Are the breeding areas clean? Is there access to food and water? Do their ferrets look healthy and happy? For kits watch them play and watch for any signs of hind leg weakness or deformities in the legs (malnutrition/genetic faults), stumpy tails. Kits should have bright clear eyes, no discharge from eyes or nose, clean ears with no signs of ear mites, full unbroken whiskers, no lumps on body, soft full coat, large full bellies, clean genital areas (no signs of diarrhea, secretions around vulva or penis are signs of infection), good temperament, and be curious!
4. Buying!
Some breeders may have a waiting list for kits, but if they are a good breeder it's well worth the wait! Your breeder should be easily contactable should you have any problems with your kit, provide a health guarantee, ensure that you have the kit desexed at 6 months of age if not being used for breeding (most will advise against descenting). Some will provide care sheets, and should give you some food so that your kit won’t get an upset stomach settling into its new home and possibly new diet!
A good breeder will not-[/u]
* Appear eager to get rid of a kit
* Sell a kit under 8 weeks of age
* Breed a jill whenever she is in season
* Claim all kits are ‘show/breeding quality’
* Charge extra for papers or sell without papers
* Claim they have never had any problems
* Advertise kits as ‘champion kits/rare’
A good breeder does-[/u]
* Belong to a club, national organization
* Follow the clubs code of ethics
* Breed to improve ferrets
* Ask you questions
* Show that for at least 2-3 years they have been seriously interested in ferrets (memberships, showing)
* Breed ferrets only matching the standard
* Provide referrals to other breeders
* Give written terms/guarantee that is clear
* Ensure you desex your pet ferret
* Will take any ferret back
* One litter per jill per year
* Discuss and problems and requirements of ferrets
* Offer free assistance for the lifetime of the ferret
~ Canni.
There are benefits to getting a ferret from a breeder, for example some are breeding to improve the health of our fuzzies, they can provide extra support if you are new to ferrets, you may want to show, want to have a ferret where you know its genetic history and what environment it was brought up in or want to start breeding yourself.
1. Educate Yourself
Know about ferrets, their care and health problems, bad breeders don’t like educated buyers! Research prices of bred ferrets and check out ferret shows if there are any near you.
2.Communication
Talk to breeders, find out what are their aims are in breeding, what were they aiming to improve when they mated your kits parents? Have they been breeding for long? Are they knowledgeable about ferret care and diet? How many ferrets do they have? What health problems have they seen in their line of bred ferrets? (If they say none buyer beware!) Do they show? Do they offer a written health guarantee? Are they happy for you to have a look around their home/ferretry and meet some of their ferrets? Will they give you references from a vet and customers?
3. Inspection
A good breeder should be happy for you to come and visit and meet their ferrets (though some may not allow you to meet young kits due to risk of passing diseases). Are the breeding areas clean? Is there access to food and water? Do their ferrets look healthy and happy? For kits watch them play and watch for any signs of hind leg weakness or deformities in the legs (malnutrition/genetic faults), stumpy tails. Kits should have bright clear eyes, no discharge from eyes or nose, clean ears with no signs of ear mites, full unbroken whiskers, no lumps on body, soft full coat, large full bellies, clean genital areas (no signs of diarrhea, secretions around vulva or penis are signs of infection), good temperament, and be curious!
4. Buying!
Some breeders may have a waiting list for kits, but if they are a good breeder it's well worth the wait! Your breeder should be easily contactable should you have any problems with your kit, provide a health guarantee, ensure that you have the kit desexed at 6 months of age if not being used for breeding (most will advise against descenting). Some will provide care sheets, and should give you some food so that your kit won’t get an upset stomach settling into its new home and possibly new diet!
A good breeder will not-[/u]
* Appear eager to get rid of a kit
* Sell a kit under 8 weeks of age
* Breed a jill whenever she is in season
* Claim all kits are ‘show/breeding quality’
* Charge extra for papers or sell without papers
* Claim they have never had any problems
* Advertise kits as ‘champion kits/rare’
A good breeder does-[/u]
* Belong to a club, national organization
* Follow the clubs code of ethics
* Breed to improve ferrets
* Ask you questions
* Show that for at least 2-3 years they have been seriously interested in ferrets (memberships, showing)
* Breed ferrets only matching the standard
* Provide referrals to other breeders
* Give written terms/guarantee that is clear
* Ensure you desex your pet ferret
* Will take any ferret back
* One litter per jill per year
* Discuss and problems and requirements of ferrets
* Offer free assistance for the lifetime of the ferret
~ Canni.
all my kids are doing well otter is getting real beefy feeling <winter weight?> and his coat is getting real soft not many noticeable changes overall,, new guy is getting big
Daxy is SO happy the weather is cooling off! He doesn't like the AC - it limits him to one room but when I let him go other places, he just flat ferrets cause it's too hote