Switching to Raw

[Artroxy]

Also intersting tid bit. At least in cats, they were better able to digest meat than chicken. Not saying that it should be the core of a ferret's diet but it might be a nice treat once in a while.

[monkeypoohbear]

Ferrets do well if their natural diet is full of diverse foods. Heck, some peeps feed vension (deer) everyonce in a while. while its not the natural prey of ferrets, there is a possibility that in the wild they would come across a dead deer and devour some of it. The most important thing is that when feeding animal meat that is not the traditional prey of ferrets is that you don't feed massive bones Don't feed cow or deer bones, ferts obviously cant eat them, but like Antroxy said, giving some boneless meats (beef, lamb, venison, etc) everyonce in a while can be good for the ferret

[agilegsd]

monkeypoohbear said:

Don't feed cow or deer bones, ferts obviously cant eat them, but like Antroxy said, giving some boneless meats (beef, lamb, venison, etc) everyonce in a while can be good for the ferret

I actually do give very small beef bone parts to my guys. They can't eat the bone but they will chew any meat off and get marrow from the middle. I offer them more for recreation than meal though.

[monkeypoohbear]

My kiddos have never been able to eat these bones. Oh well, they get a ton of chicken bones, rabbit bones, mouse bones, etc. If your kiddos can get the marrow out then it sounds good to me lol. I give my kids boneless beef OCCASIONALLY and they like it.

[alaskastreet]

If I ever get a ferret, I'm going to try to convert it to the goodness that is a whole-meat diet. Specifically, pinkie mice. Is this a good choice? Does anyone know of any companies that mail their products? How many would I have to feed them a day?

I was thinking leaving kibble out for them to much on during the day and giving them the mice during the morning, when I get home from school, and again at night. I don't figure the small amount of kibble would do anything bad health-wise.

Also, cooked food or no? Just on the off chance I give them a bit of steak or something for a treat. I really wouldn't want them to get any diseases or anything.

[melicious625]

Wow alot of great info.. I just got Loki to take Duck soup... so this is our next step.. thanks

[whipple]

Jul 6, 2007 21:28:52 GMT -5 @alaskastreet said:

If I ever get a ferret, I'm going to try to convert it to the goodness that is a whole-meat diet. Specifically, pinkie mice. Is this a good choice? Does anyone know of any companies that mail their products? How many would I have to feed them a day?

I was thinking leaving kibble out for them to much on during the day and giving them the mice during the morning, when I get home from school, and again at night. I don't figure the small amount of kibble would do anything bad health-wise.

Also, cooked food or no? Just on the off chance I give them a bit of steak or something for a treat. I really wouldn't want them to get any diseases or anything.

Would you just be supplementing, and feeding mainly kibble? It might not be as eay to get them onto wholeprey. Most ferts have to be graduated from duck soup, to raw to whole prey. And it takes a long time (usually).

Ferrets also need variety. Even if all it is is variety in ages and sizes of rodents, then good. Ferrets are able to eat a rabbit whole. So mice of varying ages is best. Once mine are on a whole prey diet I plan on breeding my own mice and giving other meats once in a while (rabbits, anoles, quail, fish, guinea pigs, rats, ect)

[BumbleinGrey]

Nice to see you on here, too, Whipple