Ferret Breeders
Some Important Advice Regarding Ferret Breeders
There are several reasons for looking to ferret breeders as far as purchasing a pet ferret is concerned. The main reason is that you're much more apt to know what you're getting. Most breeders are very picky about what animals they will breed, in terms of bloodline. Many will only sell to other breeders, and few will sell to ferret farms (for fur), or to pet stores. Whether you talk to a breeder face to face or over the phone, you may have to give him or her a pretty solid feeling that you can provide a good home for the pet, if there's going to be any chance for a sale. That's OK. The breeder just wants to make certain that the ferret, an animal they truly are fond of, will have a good life in a good home. It will be to your advantage to educate yourself on how to care for a ferret if you haven't had one in the house before.
Many ferret breeders breed for show. They may specialize in one or several breeds or bloodlines. Some even focus on developing new bloodlines. Even when breeding for show, most of their ferrets have been bred first for health and temperament, then for conformation, color, and show appeal. Whether you purchase a kit (youngster) from the latest litter, or a retired adult show ferret (yes they sell those as well), you can be assured of getting a high quality ferret.
You can visit with ferret breeders at ferret and pet shows, perhaps picking up some valuable information in the process. Or, you can go on line and look at several breeders’ websites to get an idea as to how they conduct business, and what you might expect in dealing with them. The one common denominator is that they all love ferrets. In fact, there are breeders who will not sell a ferret to just anyone.
One of the most devastating diseases in the ferret world is ADV, Aleutian Disease Virus, which is highly contagious. Nearly all breeders have their ferrets tested for this disease before selling them, and many will require that you, the buyer, have any ferrets you may already own tested for ADV, before they will sell you one of their ferrets. The reason for this is not only to protect the ferret being sold, but to protect all the breeders ferrets should you for any reason wish to return the animal you purchased. ADV is a much- feared disease and testing for it is really a must.
Some ferret breeders sell ferrets they have taken in (rescued) in addition to those they breed, and prices can vary considerably. You can purchase a ferret from from $50 to $75 on up to several hundred dollars per animal. Sometimes you will get a discount if you purchase more than one. Bred ferrets usually come with a full health warranty. When a breeder sells a shelter ferret, you still may get a general health guarantee, based upon what the breeder knows about the animal's past history. You can ask for information on the bloodlines of a ferret you are considering purchasing. A competent breeder will be happy to comply. Most will not sell, or accept, ferrets that are the result of inbreeding or line breeding.
Most ferret breeders will not ship their animals. Those who do, usually do so with a number of conditions attached. Most breeders would prefer (or insist) you pick up the ferret at their location. Others have designated pick-up locations and times, such as at ferret shows or ferret club events. You may therefore want to confine your search to ferret breeders within a reasonable driving distance from your home. Some breeders who ship their animals only ship to other breeders, and even then under some stringent requirements. When purchasing a ferret, be happy to be dealing with someone who may seem to be a bit picky. It simply means that you're certain of getting your money's worth.