Ferret breeders with ferrets for sale

Ferret Breeders Near You with Ferrets for Sale (2023)

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The ferret is a very popular pet, and for good reason! They’re energetic, adorable, and are sure to bring a smile to your face. Although they’re quite common and there’s many different types of ferrets, it can be hard to find a good ferret breeder. Fortunately, we’ve made the process of finding a reputable breeder easier for you.

There are very few ferret breeders within the United States. For many states we’re unable to find a breeder. In this case, we’ve highlighted a reputable ferret shelter where you can adopt a healthy ferret.

In many cases this is a better option, as ferrets in shelters are in desperate need of a loving home. Some states don’t even have a dedicated ferret shelter.

To make them easier for you to identify, we’ve underlined the names of ferret breeders.

If you’re a breeder/rescue and would like to get listed, please contact us!

American Ferret Breeders

Below we’ve highlighted some very passionate and credible ferret breeders, as well as shelters in states that don’t have breeders. We strive to keep this directory current and accurate. Please note that we do not know all of these breeders/shelters and cannot personally endorse them.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

  • Circle B Ferretry

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

  • Oxford Ferret Rescue

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

None

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

  • Ferrets in Paradise Ferret R & S

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

  • Ferret Haven of Spokane/Wannabe Wild Weasels Ferretry

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Identifying A Good Ferret Breeder

Ferrets can be susceptible to certain diseases, especially if they come from a bad breeder. Good breeders should take excellent care of their ferrets and keep detailed records of their lineage and genetics.

If you decide to purchase a ferret from a breeder, you need to do your research. Backyard breeders are much more likely to neglect their ferrets’ needs.

When you find a ferret breeder/rescue, you’ll need to do a little bit of vetting. There are a few questions that you should ask them to verify that you’re supporting a good business and getting a healthy ferret:

  • May I see your ferrets’ living conditions?
  • Do you have references for previous buyers?
  • Can you provide me with your ferrets’ genetic histories?
  • Do you provide birth certificates with details about the parents?
  • What food do you feed to the ferrets as kits and adults?
  • Am I allowed to interact with the kit in person first?
  • Do you keep sick/nursing ferrets separate?
  • Will you be able to answer any other questions I may have about ferret care?

Additionally, you should take a mental note of the living conditions of the ferrets. The ferrets should be kept in an environment that meets all of the following:

  • Cleanliness (clean cages, food bowls, litter boxes, water bottles, etc.)
  • Generally calm ferrets that don’t become nervous/aggressive when held
  • Soft and clean fur without fleas
  • Clean ears
  • Hard, well-kept nails
  • Clear eyes

Buying Ferrets Online

There are not many ways to purchase ferrets online, as most breeders and shelters don’t ship their ferrets and don’t provide ways to purchase them directly from their website. You must make the purchase in person. However, there are some ways to make purchases online.

Essentially all websites that sell their ferrets online have images of the ferrets in addition to their name and their age. Really good sources will mention the genetic history of the ferret (or will provide it to you when asked).

While it may be convenient to buy a ferret online, it’s definitely not cheaper. You’ll still incur all the costs of a ferret, but you’ll also likely have to pay shipping (if the seller offers shipping). Airlines do offer live animal shipping, but it’s often quite expensive as it requires a lot of care and expedited shipping.

You’ll also want to make sure that you still ask all of the questions highlighted above. Just because you’re buying online doesn’t mean that you can neglect the background check that you must carry out. Several emails and phone calls should provide you all of the information that you require.

Where To Buy Ferrets Online

As stated, there are a few places to purchase ferrets online. While most sellers won’t ship ferrets, some allow you to easily do your “shopping” online before picking up your new ferret.

Ferret Breeder/Shelter Website

This is an obvious source for finding ferrets online, as these are the sources listed above! Essentially every ferret breeder and shelter will list their ferrets online for easy shopping. Some websites will list prices, too, so you don’t have to call or email to figure out their price points.

Craigslist

There are quite a few ferrets for sale on Craigslist at all times, so it’s a nice way to find one to purchase. Do note that Craigslist doesn’t have the best reputation, so you should do your due diligence when purchasing a ferret from there.

Still ask the owner about the previous living conditions of the ferret, why they’re selling it, and if the ferret has any health problems. If the owner is close, meet up with them to look at the ferret in person before making a decision.

Local Classifieds

There are a bunch of different websites that are essentially classified ad listings for a particular area. An example of this could be KSL, which is a classified website for Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

There are also some more generic classified sites along the lines of Craigslist, such as Hoobly.

Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are a phenomenal way to find ferrets that are either for sale or that desperately need a new home. You’re able to find either a local ferret group or find a more generic country-wide group. This particular ferret and accessory buy/sell group has over 5,000 buying and selling ferrets and ferret supplies.

6 thoughts on “Ferret Breeders Near You with Ferrets for Sale (2023)”

    • Hey Lisa! That’s correct. There’s a surprising lack of independent ferret breeders in the United States.

      This post includes every single legitimate, licensed breeder that’s still in business that we could find in the United States.

      We included ferret shelters and rescues in this list because if someone is looking for a ferret breeder, they want to acquire a ferret. If there’s no breeder near you, a shelter or a rescue is the next best place to go.

      We could’ve left the list small to only include breeders, but we really wanted to give every ferret a chance to be adopted and every person a chance to own a ferret.

      If you know of any breeders that we haven’t included in this list, please let us know and we’ll be glad to include them 🙂

  2. North Carolina ferrets is a mill!! She does not keep track of health records and feeds inappropriate food. She keeps them in deplorable conditions and does not socialize these ferrets – many people have had trouble with her ferrets biting. She offers NO paperwork or counseling after you adopt.

    • Wow, I didn’t see that in my research. Let me do some research on that and update the post accordingly. Thank you for the info Holly!

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