Desexing your ferret is a must, especially for females. A female (Jill) will come into season generally between the ages of 6 and 9 months of age but more so during July and September. She will remain in season until one of the following occurs:
Unless your jill is brought out of season there is a HUGE danger of her dying from aplastic anemia, in most cases they will get very sick and die a slow painful death. Ensure you spay your female ferret before she comes in season to avoid causing her any pain and possible death. There is no need for you to breed your ferret, she does not need to experience motherhood to be a better pet, there are already enough backyard breeders who have the mentality that they HAVE to breed a ferret or she dies so please don't add to this problem and safely spay your ferrets.
A male (Hob) also comes into season (rut) around the age of 6 months which is generally June and they will generally stay in season for 6-10 of the 12 months of every year. They can lose up to 40% of their body weight, there will be a HUGE colour change (yellowing) and you will also notice that his odour becomes very strong, unpleasant and overpowering. No amount of bathing will eradicate the smell, in fact if you bath them, they will replace the oils from their skin 10 fold, making them even more unpleasant to smell. They will pee/scent on just about everything and he may also become quite aggressive and try very hard to escape his cage in search of a mate.
DO NOT spay/castrate your ferret before 6 months of age, early spaying or castrating has been linked with serious health problems later in life with ferrets so ensuring you wait till the minimum age of 6 months is imperative for their health and allows them to physically grow correctly.
I own many spayed females (Sprites) and castrated males (Gibs) and I have done their spaying/castrating surgically rather than chemically as I feel they were sexually, mentally and physically mature to do so.
- She is safely spayed by a ferret knowledgeable Vet
- Receives an injection to bring her out of season called a "Jill Jab" (Fertagyl)
- She is mated by a Vasectomised Hob (Giblet) who can bring her out of season whilst not causing a pregnancy
Unless your jill is brought out of season there is a HUGE danger of her dying from aplastic anemia, in most cases they will get very sick and die a slow painful death. Ensure you spay your female ferret before she comes in season to avoid causing her any pain and possible death. There is no need for you to breed your ferret, she does not need to experience motherhood to be a better pet, there are already enough backyard breeders who have the mentality that they HAVE to breed a ferret or she dies so please don't add to this problem and safely spay your ferrets.
A male (Hob) also comes into season (rut) around the age of 6 months which is generally June and they will generally stay in season for 6-10 of the 12 months of every year. They can lose up to 40% of their body weight, there will be a HUGE colour change (yellowing) and you will also notice that his odour becomes very strong, unpleasant and overpowering. No amount of bathing will eradicate the smell, in fact if you bath them, they will replace the oils from their skin 10 fold, making them even more unpleasant to smell. They will pee/scent on just about everything and he may also become quite aggressive and try very hard to escape his cage in search of a mate.
DO NOT spay/castrate your ferret before 6 months of age, early spaying or castrating has been linked with serious health problems later in life with ferrets so ensuring you wait till the minimum age of 6 months is imperative for their health and allows them to physically grow correctly.
I own many spayed females (Sprites) and castrated males (Gibs) and I have done their spaying/castrating surgically rather than chemically as I feel they were sexually, mentally and physically mature to do so.
What does a Hob look like in Rut and a Jill look like in Season?
Spaying/Castration: To remove part or all of the reproductive organs.
Chemical Spaying/Castration: (6-12months (4.7mg) or 18-24 months (9.4mg) Suprelorin® Implant). Suprelorin® is a sustained release bio-compatible implant that contains the active ingredient deslorelin. The implant is placed subcutaneously between the shoulder blades – no anesthetic required. Deslorelin effects contraception by temporarily suppressing the reproductive endocrine system, preventing production of pituitary and gonadal hormones (oestradiol and progesterone in females and testosterone in males) Suprelorin is made by an Australian company called Peptech: http://www.peptech.com/index.html
When you adopt your kits from me they will be accompanied by a Legally Binding Adoption Contract. This contract states that you must spay and or castrate your ferret between 6 & 12 months of age and provide me a copy of the Certificate prior to their 1st Birthday.
I do this so I have piece of mind that your ferret is safely spayed/castrated and that my hard work, time, research, effort and money put into my lineage and breeding program is not ruined with any kind of backyard breeding. Please be aware that if you do not agree to these terms and conditions laid out by SJ Ferrets then I will not allow you to adopt from me. I am not a backyard breeder and I will not allow my kits to be bred by unknowing owners who think it will be fun or a good experience. Breeding should be left to the professionals who are aware of lineage information, the health history, how to do it and they are aware of the HUGE costs involved with breeding.
