72 FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



only to a strong, healthy ferret having the best 

 of care. 



In breeding, according to one small but suc- 

 cessful raiser, you should have strong, healthy 

 ferrets; also good working ferrets and avoid in- 

 breeding as much as possible. As a rule, ferrets 

 breed twice a year but often only once, and they 

 generally have from five to seven in a litter, but 

 sometimes more. The breeding season is from 

 the last of March to the first of October. As 

 soon as this time arrives you should separate 

 your ferrets. Place each one in a box or hutch 

 which should be large and roomy and then watch 

 for the period of oestrum, and when that comes 

 upon her, put her in a hutch with the male and 

 let her remain two days and then take her out 

 and put her in her own hutch by herself, which 

 of course should be large and roomy, so she can 

 have plenty of exercise. Give her plenty of 

 clean, rich food, such as new milk, bread, oat- 

 meal, and fresh meat of any kind except pork. 



The habits of the ferret during breeding sea- 

 son are about the same as the dog. The female 

 carries her young about 42 days. About one 

 week before her litter arrives, her hutch should 

 have a good cleaning and then it should be dried 

 and a bed of fine hay or straw put in for a nest 

 and this should be all the nest she should have 



