Ferret Facts
- Typical Life Span
- 5 – 8 years (over 10 years is sadly very rare)
- Gestation
- 42 days
- Average Litter Size
- 8 (1- 18 possible range)
- Hearing
- Born deaf to hear at around 34 days
- Sight
- Eyes begin to open at around 34 days
- Weaning
- at 6 – 8 weeks
- Baby Teeth
- erupt at 14 days
- Adult Teeth
- erupt at 47 days… full size at 70 days
- Ferret Color At Birth
- All kits are born white, approximate adult color at 3 weeks of age.
- Sexual Maturity
- reached at 5 to 6 months of age
- Breeding Season
- December to August (assuming normal lighting conditions) Abnormal lighting conditions which can change the ferrets breeding season. Note: This is how we get Christmas weasels!
- Normal Heart Rate
- 200 – 250 range
- Temperature
- (rectal) Fahrenheit 100 – 103, Centigrade: 37.8 – 39.4
- Respiration
- 33-36/min
- Weight (Female)
- .75 – 2.25lbs
- Weight (Male)
- 1.75 – 6 lbs
- Total Length (including tail)
- Female: 18 inches, Male: 24 inches
- Scientific Classification
-
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Mustelidae
- Genus: Mustela
- Species: Mustela putorius furo
- Misc
-
- Considered geriatric at around 4 years of age.
- Seasonal weight fluctuation up to 30 – 40% not uncommon.
