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. Begin to hear at around 34 days.
- Sight
- Born with eyes closed. Eyes begin to open at around 34 days.
- Weaning
- 6 – 8 weeks
- Teeth
- Baby teeth erupt at 14 days. Adult teeth appear at 47 days… those
choppers are full size at 70 days!
- 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 Beats Per Minute
- Body Temperature
- Fahrenheit 100 – 103, Centigrade: 37.8 – 39.4
- Respiration
- 33-36/min
- Weight (Female)
- 1.5 – 2.25lbs {.75 – 2.5lbs}
- Weight (Male)
- 1.75 – 6 lbs {2 – 5 lbs}
- Total Length
- Female: 18 inches, Male: 24 inches (including tail)
- Scientific Classification
-
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Mustelidae
- Genus: Mustela
- Species: Mustela putorius furo
