under weight

[martnmagik 68]

hi all just a quick one to try and grab an idea or 2, im no newbie to keeping ferrets but one of my jills seems to be a little underweight, she isnt "skinny" or unhealthy shes just a little underweight to what id like her to be as usually at this time of year she as are all of them starting to podge up and gain there winter fat. ive tried all my normal weight gain foods like breast of lamb extra rabbit pigeon etc but she dosnt seem to be bulking up, so any ideas would be great, atb mart

[Malt 379]

You could try some raw chicken with the skin left on.

[martnmagik 68]

You could try some raw chicken with the skin left on.

cheers malt i'll give it a go and see what happens, like i say im not overly worried id just like to see a little more weight on her

[scothunter 12,609]

kibble fires the weight on them.i always have dry there 24/7.as well as thiere normal diet of meat.

[Kay 3,709]

if she is an active ferret she may well be just burning off what she takes in, all I do with any ferret that looks a bit skinny is give them plenty of fatty cuts , I dont use the dry food , so in the past i have put in fatty mince etc as a bit extra to any chicken they may be having

 

Some ferret stay lean all there lives & no matter what you give them food wise they seem to never gain any weight , if she is ok other than a bit skinny i wouldnt worry , the weathers not exactly cold just yet, you may find once the temps drop she will pack a bit of weight on

[RaiderBoy 19]

Does she live amongst other ferrets? Maybe she's being bullied off the food by the others. Just a thought

 

Anyway, i have a tiny jill thats never put on weight and 4 years on she's still as fit as the day i got her. I'd go with kays advice, always seems to be bang on.

 

Richard

Edited September 24, 2011 by RaiderBoy

[martnmagik 68]

if she is an active ferret she may well be just burning off what she takes in, all I do with any ferret that looks a bit skinny is give them plenty of fatty cuts , I dont use the dry food , so in the past i have put in fatty mince etc as a bit extra to any chicken they may be having

 

Some ferret stay lean all there lives & no matter what you give them food wise they seem to never gain any weight , if she is ok other than a bit skinny i wouldnt worry , the weathers not exactly cold just yet, you may find once the temps drop she will pack a bit of weight on

i know its still early in the year but im just going on what she normally looks like at this time, ill keep my eye on her for a bit

[Kay 3,709]

if she is an active ferret she may well be just burning off what she takes in, all I do with any ferret that looks a bit skinny is give them plenty of fatty cuts , I dont use the dry food , so in the past i have put in fatty mince etc as a bit extra to any chicken they may be having

 

Some ferret stay lean all there lives & no matter what you give them food wise they seem to never gain any weight , if she is ok other than a bit skinny i wouldnt worry , the weathers not exactly cold just yet, you may find once the temps drop she will pack a bit of weight on

i know its still early in the year but im just going on what she normally looks like at this time, ill keep my eye on her for a bit

 

Sounds like you have it all under control , i find they look better when they have moulted out there summer coats & get the thicker winter coat, some of mine look a bit tatty at the moment

[martnmagik 68]

if she is an active ferret she may well be just burning off what she takes in, all I do with any ferret that looks a bit skinny is give them plenty of fatty cuts , I dont use the dry food , so in the past i have put in fatty mince etc as a bit extra to any chicken they may be having

 

Some ferret stay lean all there lives & no matter what you give them food wise they seem to never gain any weight , if she is ok other than a bit skinny i wouldnt worry , the weathers not exactly cold just yet, you may find once the temps drop she will pack a bit of weight on

i know its still early in the year but im just going on what she normally looks like at this time, ill keep my eye on her for a bit

 

Sounds like you have it all under control , i find they look better when they have moulted out there summer coats & get the thicker winter coat, some of mine look a bit tatty at the moment

funny you should say that, although mine have finished moulting i was a little bothered about one of my hobs, he is/was a fairly dark poley colour and almost went completly bald untill a few weeks ago and he is now a very pale cinamon/sandy colour with a dark mask and looks uglier than he did before i i totally agree, i prefer to see them in winter condition rather than scabby moth eaten rats during the summer

[Kay 3,709]

if she is an active ferret she may well be just burning off what she takes in, all I do with any ferret that looks a bit skinny is give them plenty of fatty cuts , I dont use the dry food , so in the past i have put in fatty mince etc as a bit extra to any chicken they may be having

 

Some ferret stay lean all there lives & no matter what you give them food wise they seem to never gain any weight , if she is ok other than a bit skinny i wouldnt worry , the weathers not exactly cold just yet, you may find once the temps drop she will pack a bit of weight on

i know its still early in the year but im just going on what she normally looks like at this time, ill keep my eye on her for a bit

 

Sounds like you have it all under control , i find they look better when they have moulted out there summer coats & get the thicker winter coat, some of mine look a bit tatty at the moment

funny you should say that, although mine have finished moulting i was a little bothered about one of my hobs, he is/was a fairly dark poley colour and almost went completly bald untill a few weeks ago and he is now a very pale cinamon/sandy colour with a dark mask and looks uglier than he did before i i totally agree, i prefer to see them in winter condition rather than scabby moth eaten rats during the summer

 

I know exactly what you mean they do look ropey towards the end of the summer