How to Raise Minks

Minks are beautiful creatures from the weasel family. They have long bodies, short legs and gorgeous dark brown or black fur. Minks have been trapped or raised for centuries for making fur coats. You may want to raise minks as a business or just for pleasure.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Prepare your area for housing minks. They do better in a country setting with a climate where the autumn is brisk and the air has a crisp feel to it. Metal cages work best with plenty of room for the minks to run around.
2. Know that minks are clean animals. They are hardy, robust creatures who make very little noise. They love water and enjoy swimming in lakes, rivers and streams.
3. Feed your minks one meal per day, mostly meat and fish. Minks in the wild love to eat frogs, fish, crayfish, some small mammals and birds.
4. Start with three females and two males, if you plan to breed. Minks fight with each other. You must have cages with separate compartments to house them between breeding. For permanent living conditions, they do best when caged with their own offspring. Separate them when the offspring reach sexual maturity.

Tips & Warnings

• Minks are intelligent and adaptive mammals. If you raise minks, it can be an enjoyable hobby, a business or a great learning experience for kids.
• Since minks are small mammals, they're prey for foxes, wolves and coyotes. Make sure your cages are strong enough for protection against predators.