At what age can a ferret be weaned?

Question

We have dairy goats so fresh nutritious milk will not be any problem.

Answer 1

No dairy products for a ferret please!  Dairy products invariably cause loose stool in ferrets. Most ferrets love milk but when a ferret is given a food that causes diarrhea which lasts for several consecutive days, dehydration might result, and the stress can induce a secondary infectious diarrheal disease.  Unless the mother can no longer feed them, stick with the meats.

Most babies sold as pets are weaned and sold by 6 weeks.  Most private breeders will tell you that the soonest a baby should be weaned is 6 weeks and the longer you leave them with their mothers, the better it is developementally for the babies.  I think at 6 weeks, you should start the weaning process with meat and softened foods and work from there.  

At 3 weeks of age, healthy kits weigh about 100 grams, and start to eat solid food, but they still depend on milk for survival. Jills peak in their lactation at this time, and begin to look very lean if they have a large litter.

The natural weaning age for ferrets is 5 to 6 weeks when the jill's milk supply begins to dry up, and the kits begin to share their mother's food

Ferrets are "obligate carnivores" which means their digestive systems are made to digest MEAT ONLY (or meat-based kibble) when weaned.  If you do feed kibbled food (store bought), it should be a *minimum* of 34% protein. Food also needs to have Taurine in it, or you can add Taurine if you feed raw or cooked meats. This will help your ferret stay healthier and live longer.

Many folks who breed and hand raise ferrets feed meat instead of kibbled ferret food. When they are first weaned, baby ferrets are usually fed ground chicken, turkey or even 'pinky' mice; or they start on wet kibble - a premium kibble such as Totally Ferret, Innova, Zupreem, Mazuri, Path Valley, etc.

Wet (softened with water) kibble or ground meat should be given from the beginning of weaning (as an adjunct to nursing) until 2 to 3 weeks after the ferrets are completely weaned, then they can go onto dry kibble and/or ground (raw OR cooked) chicken or turkey. When feeding wet kibble, be sure to clean the bowl completely after they eat, as it spoils quickly after wet....the same with meat - cooked or raw. Be sure to keep the bowl clean between feedings so food does not spoil.  

Feed four times a day (or every 4 hours max). If ferrets are not given raw meats when they are young, they will almost never take to it later.  Ferrets imprint on their food as babies and don't like to have their food changed; often will not even recognize  food they haven't been introduced to early in life, so variety is great for kits.  

Answer 2

ok first off i have a ferret and i would wait 6-8 weeks.and i really do not think that milk is such a good idea. do you know anything about ferrets? i think you should read a book or something