Raising baby ferrets, or kits, is an active job. It requires a solid knowledge base of ferret needs and a vigilant eye. You also want to have a plan laid out for how many ferrets you plan to keep and their genders for behavioral purposes.

Baby ferrets don’t differ on a wide scale from adult ferrets. There are, however, some procedures that need to be done on your kits that won’t go as well should you try them later. Some of these will put your ferrets’ lives in danger should you ignore them.

There is a series of distemper shots for baby ferrets that is arguably one of the most important things you can do for them. Distemper is a nasty virus that is very common if your ferret isn’t inoculated against it. It also tends to have close to a 100% fatality rate should your ferret contract it. Should you get your baby ferrets from a store, generally they will have the first in the series, but make sure to ask about it.

You also want to ask yourself if you’re going to be breeding your ferrets. If not, remember that the unneutered female ferret will stay in heat for months at a time if it doesn’t couple. The release of estrogen becomes toxic in the long term and may seriously harm or kill the ferret. In males, neutering reduces aggression and allows for a happier environment with other creatures, yourself included. Neutered ferrets tend to have smoother coats and also smell better due to a reduction of oil production.

If you plan on getting your ferrets descented, you have a window of only about two weeks, outside of which it may become quite traumatic to your ferret. This window is between six and eight weeks of age. Descenting is not a necessary process, but it is often done anyway. Most ferrets you can buy in stores have already been descented and neutered.

Baby ferrets may be weaned at six weeks of age, but no sooner. Most experts recommend that it’s longer, but six weeks is quite common for the pet stores.

In the first year, you may want to introduce your baby ferrets to a wide variety of foods. During this time they are undergoing the process of olfactory imprinting on their food. Basically, they eat things, and associate that smell to that food. Once this time has passed they decide that only things that smell like that are edible and it becomes a problem should you need to change you ferrets’ diet for any reason.

Aside from these points, you may treat your baby ferrets about like you would fragile adult ferrets with extra energy. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your new ferret family.