188 FERRET FACTS AND FANCIES. 



In breeding, always nse strong, active, healthy 

 and hardy animals. Never breed from weak and 

 sickly parents or from bad workers. Always try 

 to have breeders that are good w^orkers and are 

 the true ferret type. Avoid inbreeding as much 

 as possible. They must be wintered well if you 

 expect to get a good, strong litter of young. 



The average litter is from six to ten, but they 

 have been known to have fifteen or eighteen, but 

 su.cli a large litter is only heard of once in a great 

 while. As a rule, they will breed and raise two 

 litters of young in a season. I had one female 

 that I bred the third time. In the breeding sea- 

 son each male should be kept in a pen by himself, 

 as they will fight if they get together. 



Watch each female for developments. When 

 you find her ready to mate, place her with the 

 male and leave for a day. You will have no 

 trouble in telling when she is ready to mate, as 

 she will remain in that condition for from one to 

 two weeks. Each female should have a pen to 

 herself for two weeks before she has her young. 

 Use wheat straw or fine grass for the nest boxes. 

 The female carries her young for forty-two days. 



The young are born with their eyes shut and 

 will remain that way for about four or five 

 weeks. When you look at the young, do it when 

 the old one is feeding. When the young are large 



