MINK RAISING 



5 



The food of minks in captivity consists chiefly of meat and fish, 

 and these elements should form CO to 70 per cent of the ration. Beef, 



beef livers and hearts, horse meat, and pig livers and 

 Feeding hearts are relished by minks, as also are fresh fish, 



such as perch, suckers, and minnows. Grinding the 

 meat and fish -will prevent the animals from carrying quantities of 

 food to the nest box and contaminating it. The meat and fish can be 

 mixed together before feeding. For young minks some cooked cereals 

 mixed with milk make an excellent feed. 

 Each animal will consume 3 to 5 ounces at 

 one meal, depending upon its appetite and 

 condition. It is best to feed a little twice 

 daily and at regular intervals. As a rule 

 young minks will consume more than old 

 ones. Minks in captivity are very active 

 and do not take on fat readily. 



After the j 7 oung are born the female 

 should be given a liberal portion of well- 

 cooked oatmeal and milk for the morning 

 feed and the meat ration in the evening. 

 When the young are about 3 weeks old 

 they will eat what the mother takes to 

 them in the nest. When 4 weeks old 

 they will begin to seek food for them- 

 selves. 



Minks are usually weaned when 10 

 weeks of age by removing the mother from 

 their pen. When there is a large litter, 

 and some of the young have developed 

 much faster than their mates, it is advis- 

 able to separate the larger animals when 

 7 or 8 weeks old. The young grow very 

 fast, and as they consume food readily 

 they must be fed liberally. The female 

 generally eats very little a day or two 

 before and after the young are born. 

 After she is separated from the young she 

 should also be given liberal rations so that 

 she can rebuild to normal condition. Ex- 

 ceptionally thin females should be supplied FlG g ._ Cased lllink m „ B '™ 



With plenty of milk in addition to the ing on board stretcher 



regular diet. 



A litter of young minks will live peaceably together and may re- 

 main in one pen until fall or early winter. They should not be allowed 

 to run together at all seasons of the year, but instead 

 Management each animal should be confined in a separate pen. 



Pens can be placed so that the one containing the 

 male will have one for a female on each side of it. The females 

 placed in these pens should be the ones with which the adjacent male 

 is to mate. 



The dens and nest boxes of minks should be kept clean at all times 

 and should be given a thorough overhauling about the middle of 



