ferret breeding facts
ferret breeding facts
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Breeding ferrets isn’t as straightforward as you might think. It is not only about pairing a male and a female and letting them have some privacy for their intimate moments. You need to know about the actual ferret breeding cycle to keep the breeding process healthy. We’ve shared some of the most important ferret breeding facts below.
The best breeding seasons for ferrets are summer and spring. Ferrets love to mate when there is more daylight or warmth. But there is a scientific reason behind it as well. In spring or summer, due to heat, the female ferret has a swollen and enlarged vulva; you can also observe pink and watery secretion coming out from her vaginal area. This is an indication that she is ready for breeding. On the other hand, the male ferret testicles drop and become larger in heat. This is a sign that they are ready for the breeding too.
There are some other signs also that are noticeable in the ferret breeding season.
-The male ferret marks his territory by urinating on the bed or other unexpected places and even spreads his urine by dragging his stomach through his urine. Very attractive.
-Male ferrets can become aggressive during their breeding cycle.
-Both male and female ferrets develop a pungent smell; you will notice it once a year. Their skin becomes extremely oily or greasy as well.
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What Age Do Ferrets Breed?
Ferrets are ready to breed between 4 and 8 months of age.
You can expect their first sexual maturity during the first spring after their birth. Once they go into their sexual maturity or heat, they stay in that heat until they breed.
Therefore, it is pertinent to provide them a partner.
This is immensely important especially for female ferrets. If you won’t provide them a partner for breeding, they will go into extended heat which is not good for their health at all. They can even die of aplastic anemia (their bodies stop growing new blood cells). While depressing to go through this, facts like these can make your ferret breeding experience much less difficult, so please do take it seriously!
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If you aren’t opting for spaying or neutering, expect many weird scenarios.
The ferret breeding season isn’t as romantic as humans. There are screams, bites, violence, and sometimes even blood. The brutality in the breeding season looks savage, however, it serves a very important purpose. When the male ferret chases the female ferret, bites her, or drags her around roughly, she is actually stimulated and starts egg production; a bit of violence in the breeding session releases hormones in the female ferret body and triggers ovulation.
The first breeding cycle of the ferrets always looks disturbing.
If you see your ferrets breeding, screaming, and running behind each other, don’t try to stop them. Particularly during the mating session, stopping them can actually cause harm.
Since they are locked during mating, shouting at them or trying to lift them up with your hands to separate them, can cause them harm. The penis of the male ferret is curved. Any forceful retreat will hurt both the male and the female ferret.
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What Happens After the Ferret Breeding Cycle?
This depends on the ferrets and how successful the breeding season was.
But after the breeding cycle, which will last for a day at the most, move the ferrets back to their respective cages. It is necessary for the Jill because if the breeding is successful, she needs space. You will notice that she starts pulling out fur from her body.
She gets ready for nesting.
After two weeks of the breeding cycle, the female ferret gets pregnant, and after 40-42 days, she gives birth. During the process of pregnancy, the female ferret gains weight and makes clucking noises, which are clear signs that she is pregnant and the breeding was successful.
In case the breeding cycle or the entire breeding season isn’t successful, and you don’t see any signs of pregnancy after 2-3 weeks, it is important to mate your female ferret again.
If you are unsure whether the breeding season/cycle was successful, take her to the vet and have them perform an ultrasound.
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