|
General Exotic Animal Facts |
|
Page 2 of 2
• The gestation period of ferrets is 42-44 days (average, 42 days). The average litter size is 8 (range, 2-17). Kits are born deaf, with their eyes closed. Their eyes open and they begin to hear between 3 and 5 weeks of age. Their deciduous ("temporary") teeth begin to erupt at 2 weeks of age, at which time they begin to eat solid food. Kits generally are weaned onto commercial kitten chow at 4-8 weeks of age. Kits reach their adult weight at 4 months of age. Males are typically twice the size of females, but both sexes undergo periodic weight fluctuations. it is not uncommon for the average ferret to add 30-40% of its body weight in fat deposited beneath the skin in the fall, and lose this fat the following spring. The average life span of ferrets is 9-10 years.
|
