Breeding regulations

  1. Female ferret (jill) has to be at least 8 month old for mating. If having their first litter jill must be  under 4 years old. Jill can be used for breeding up to age of  5 years (included). Jill isn’t allowed to have more than one litter within one year.
  2. Male ferret (hob) has to be at least 8 month old  and with two testicles descended, if wanted to use for mating. It is not allowed to use hobs with one testicle (undescended testicle). Hob can be used for breeding up to age of 7 years (included). Hob is allowed to have 10 litters in a lifetime. If wanted to use for more, it is possible to apply for special permission.
  3. Only ferrets that are physically healthy and with normally developed body are allowed to use for breeding. Ferrets with malformations, chronically ill or affected with hereditary disease are not allowed.
  4. Both parents (jill and hob) must be up to date vaccinated at least against canine distemper, have a microchip and a pet passport (does not apply for polecat).
  5. Linebreeding within the next three generations is prohibited. For planning inbreeding, breeding permission from Estonian Ferret Union, is required. Breeding permission must be granted before starting mating.
  6. For planning polecat-ferret hybrid litter there are the following requirements:
    Breeder can plan hybrid litter only if having hybrid keeping experience for at least a year. It is not allowed for the breeder to plan superior hybrid percentage litter than breeder’s own hybrid ferret (for example, if breeder has (or have had) at home 50% of the hybrid, then it’s not allowed to have litter with higher hybrid percentage than 50%). It is allowed to plan higher hybrid litter, if breeder plans litter for personal use (no kits are sold out of the ferretry). If planning hybrid litter 25% or higher, it is required to inform the Union about it.
  7. Breeding permissions are authorized by breeding committee, which is assembled from Estonian Ferret Union registered breeders (for each breeder involvement is optional). Before granting breeding permission joint discussion and voting takes place. It is possible to invite third parties (board members, experts)  to the process, if there are any problems with voting.

Valid from 01.09.2017