64 FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



to breed the first on March 17th, St. Patrick's 

 Day. 



As the females are pregnant 42 days, the man 

 who makes a business of raising ferrets watches 

 closely when they are born and evens up the 

 young. The number produced in a litter varies 

 from 1 to 15, seven, eight or nine being common, 

 with now and then one producing ten, eleven, or 

 more. Others vary from two to six. A female, 

 having only one, two, three or four, if strong 

 and healthy, is given one, two or more from 

 another litter. This should be done within 24 

 hours after she litters for best results. The 

 female usuall}^ has only six or at most seven 

 teats. Any not sucked will soon dry. Therefore 

 it is best to place all young intended with her 

 soon. The object in distributing the young is 

 that each little fellow may have a teat ©f his 

 own. 



When a second litter is desired, wean as soon 

 as the young are old enough to eat. The female 

 will come in heat again anywhere from ten days 

 to two weeks. The young are grown at three 

 months and can generally be weaned at about 

 two months or as soon as they eat. Before wean- 

 ing " straw up/' when the mother will make a 

 nice nest for her young. The only straw that 

 had been given was in the nest box but before 



