Black-footed Ferret kits!

[dee517]

I was just checking on Tilly the black-footed ferret. Her belly has been shaved! I can't remember how many days until we see kits. Here is the link, in case you don't have it.

nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/default.cfm?cam=BFF

[greta]

THANK YOU, GF!! i just saw a kit climbing on her tummy! Tilly is sound asleep, but the kit was active. I had forgotten all about Tilly, as she wasn't even bred yet. She was supposed to be inseminated in February and it takes 42 days for the babies to be born. Thank you so much for the link. Hugs, Greta

[ferretzmom]

I've been checking a couple of times a day and haven't seen any kits.

It's up on my screen right now and all I see is Tilly sleeping and cleaning herself now and then.

[greta]

It may have been something else I saw. Tilly was moving around and what I saw may have been her paw or tail. I just checked again and Tilly is asleep. There's no sign of any kits. Hugs, Greta

[dee517]

I was reading an found that ferrets have about a 42 day gestation period. I hope that is right. If so that means that we should see kits about the third or forth week of June. I love babies! I know I won't see them for awhile, but I still check on Tilly everyday.

[huronna]

I can't remember exactly but wasn't it last years that the ferret there only had one baby?

They ought to take some lessons from lorelei and Bella LOL

[dee517]

You are right, last year there was only one kit. Maybe Tilly will do a little better.

[stitcher1947]

This came from MFF this morning.

This was on MFF this morning, update on Peanut and Tilly.

Does anyone remember Georgia & Peanut from last year? Well, Peanut is now Mr. Studly at the breeding facility at Ft. Collins, CO.

As of April 27, 27 BFF kits have been born at Ft. Collins CO.

Meanwhile, there's a new momma-to-be at the National Zoo. Her name is Tilly. According to Dr. JoGayle Howard, Tilly was given a hormone injection to induce ovulation on May 12, and artificially inseminated on May 13. They count the 42 days from the injection date, so her due date is June 23.

Here's the website:

http://nationalzoo. si.edu/Animals/ NorthAmerica/ default.cfm? cam=BFF

[greta]

Back when Peanut was still a kit with his mom on the cam, I read that with artificial insemination with frozen seman, the results often don't bring about a large litter of kits. I suppose if the insemination was repeated several times over a week or so, the litters might be larger. I do think it's great though, that Peanut is populating the eath with lots more little BFF's. hehehe Hugs, Greta

[suzie]

You might find this short film interesting. It is about the facility in Colorado where they have the BBF Release facility and their breeding program.

www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/realworld/the_blackfooted_ferret/

[wanderinweasels]

I just checked on Tilly and she seems to breathing awfully hard. Could she be in labor?!?! And it looked to me as if she might be having contractions, or maybe it the kits moving around. I'm going to check back this afternoon when I get home.

[lorelei0922]

if the dates they suggested are correct ..then no.. it wouldn't be any where near labor... couple more weeks maybe...

[res0a47]

I just checked on her she is sleeping upside down. I didn't see the babies.

[greta]

Thank you for posting the link to the breeding/rescue facility in Northern Colorado, Suzie. Watching it was most interesting. The topography reminds me so much of northern Minnesota ... miles and miles of flat, treeless land meeting a sky at the horizon. Hugs, Greta

[greta]

I've been checking the BFF cam every day and usually finding Tilly asleep, as she is today. A few times the nest was empty, so I supposed Tilly was eating or stretching her legs. At any rate, I'll keep checking until way after her kit(s) is/are born. Hugs, Greta

[suzie]

I am glad that you enjoyed it Greta. I thought it was quite interesting.

[greta]

I'll be checking on Tilly as soon as I've finished posting this. According to what has been written about Tilly's insemination and due date her delivery date should take place on Tuesday, June 23. I also learned from watching the video Suzie posted that 3 kits is an average size litter for a Black Footed Ferret. Hugs, Greta

[greta]

Three more days and we should be watching Tilly birth her kits (on June 23). Judging from the size of Tilly's tummy, I'd say there's more than one baby inside her. Our girl is asleep now and every now and then she twitches a bit or changes position. Hugs, Greta

[linkie2001]

Wow I didn't know that Tilly was about to get her kits now,
Thank you all for keeping that thread up to date !!!

Last year, you'll remember that Georgia has got little Peanut on June 20,
I can't forget it's on my Jack's Birthday ...

I just can't wait to see the babies too !!!

Linda XXX

[linkie2001]

Oh I just thought that I'd let you all know ...
You can watch again Georgia and her Peanut here :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkqQOiOvoUw&feature=channel_page


Linda XXX