1- Anticipate that a baby ferret, like other baby mammals, is quite defenseless and will need a lot of care. It is not uncommon for baby ferrets, known as kits, to be separated from their mother’s care at six weeks of age. Born pink, blind and almost hairless, the little boy comes into the world totally dependent on his mother. For the next few weeks, he does little more than eat, sleep, and grow. At around three weeks, he begins to darken and begins to see. At six weeks the kit is removed from his mother. At approximately seven weeks, the kit is vaccinated against canine distemper. Some breeders will castrate them at this time and possibly remove the scent. He learns several things about his team before taking it home:
– How old are you?
– What vaccinations have you had?
– Has the kit been neutralized?
– Has the kit been deodorized?
– What brand of food does the kit eat?
2- The kits are not equipped to eat dry food without some help. Dry food should be soaked in water for about 10 minutes before feeding to the kit. Ferrets imprint on what is food at a fairly young age, so they will not easily switch to another food without going through a gradual weaning process. Make sure the kit diet is adequate and sufficient to meet your dietary needs. A diet rich in protein and fat is very important for the growing ferret. Don’t skimp on quality for money’s sake. Your furry friend won’t want much, but he needs the right food to stay healthy.
3- When it comes to ferret real estate, the bigger the better. Your baby ferret will sleep between 15 and 20 hours a day, make sure he sleeps comfortably. Take a good look at the crate to make sure the wire bars are close enough together to prevent your pup from poking his head between them. Also, check the floor and ramps to make sure you don’t get your feet caught in the cables. Provide a variety of bedding options. A sleeping bag is good because it’s warm and cozy and your friend can stick his head out the other end. A hammock is nice for several reasons. First is climate control. Your ferret is able to handle low temperatures well, but is in danger if the temperature exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The hammock allows you to sleep cool instead of warm. The second is security. Hammocks can be strategically placed in the cage to help prevent falls from shelves or a second story. Third, the hammock provides a playing surface for the kit.
4- Security is always an issue with baby ferrets. Like other young people, they taste things with their mouths. It is vital to your puppy’s health that you keep his environment free of small objects that he could choke on or swallow. A common ferret emergency is a blockage in the intestines caused by swallowing a foreign object. This is scary, life-threatening, and expensive to remedy. Small objects like Legos and marbles should be kept out of their space, either inside or outside the crate. Objects that can be chewed can quickly turn into small objects to swallow. Check his cage every day for such items.
Baby ferrets require a fair amount of work and supervision, but they are worth every minute of the love you put into them.