feeding ferrets

[RaiderBoy 19]

i fed mine dry food on less than the daily amount on the bag and they still got fat,now they only eat a small bowl between the two of them every day and they are just fine

[Ron Weasley 83]

I find it quite bizarre that so many of you are feeding dry as a staple food.

 

Let's not forget that ferrets are basically domesticated wild animals. When would a wild animal get a chance to chow down on a bowl of frankie ferret or whatever?

 

Whole carcass feeding, as has been discussed on here many many times, provides everything needed for a complete diet, and for me, is the best way to keep ferrets.

 

At least we've moved on from bread and milk!!

[Leeview 792]

I FEED DRY FOOD IN SUMMER TO CUT DOWN ON THE SMELL, I ALWAYS FEED FRESH MEAT IN THE WINTER MONTHS TO KEEP EM IN TIP TOP CONDITION...I THINK THE REASON THE WEIGHT BALOONS IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER THEY GET THROUGH..

So in your opinion your ferrets are in better condition in winter when fed on fresh meat, than in the summer when you feed them dry food? and several replies comment that the ferrets eat dry food non stop could that not surely be down to them not getting sufficeint goodness out of the dry food and having to gorge on it?

Y.I.S Leeview

[The one 8,592]

That's why they have big teeth to crunch all that dry grub ,like hell they have big teeth because there carnivore's and eat meat . so thats what i feed mine all year round

[Bevwallis 7]

I never feed dry- the dogs eat raw-it is easy for me as they all eat basically the same.

I use rabbits as a staple food but also feed chicken,lamb,venison,Hare ,wild birds,etc.

 

TBH i havnt had any problems,i took in a little Jill a few months ago-she had been raised on dry cat food and arrived here in rag order.

She now looks so much better after a diet change- that is evidence enough for me although i have a couple that still get porky on raw if i'm not careful

[maphunter 0]

I FEED DRY FOOD IN SUMMER TO CUT DOWN ON THE SMELL, I ALWAYS FEED FRESH MEAT IN THE WINTER MONTHS TO KEEP EM IN TIP TOP CONDITION...I THINK THE REASON THE WEIGHT BALOONS IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER THEY GET THROUGH..

So in your opinion your ferrets are in better condition in winter when fed on fresh meat, than in the summer when you feed them dry food? and several replies comment that the ferrets eat dry food non stop could that not surely be down to them not getting sufficeint goodness out of the dry food and having to gorge on it?

Y.I.S Leeview when i say better condition,i mean slimmer , more athletic and generally less lethargic, as for gauging,they can only eat as much as we put in the bowl, as i said before i think the weight gain is a lot to do with the amount of water they take in. atb

[angoraferret 0]

Mine get fresh meat everyday, mostly with bone to keep their teeth good, ferrets need meat in their diet, in summer jst feed it later on when the sun has gone down and take it out in the morning.

Feeding a dry food diet only leads to more water intake and fatter ferrets, chickens wings are perfect if you can't spare any rabbit for them, they are 5p each

[j davies 8]

Its about the reward at the end of a day mate if you have ever been caveing you will see how hard it is to move about under ground in the pitch dark it aint easy. Do you eat what you catch?

 

yes i only kill what i need no more

[j davies 8]

had my ferret 3 year and in that time they have never had rabbit or any game food only dry food from pet shop my dad had 40 ferrets and always fed them bred and milk. my ferrets have turned out fo be as good as any ones when they kill in the hole i find they come out within min.

so all i want to sy is they dont need to be fed what they hunt its in them any way

 

I would have thought the clue was in the fact it sayes '' complete ferret food'' on the bag , each to there own , mine dont get dry food here as i found it made them eat none stop & they got very fat , thats basically the only reason i stopped feeding it

 

you are very very right there mate it does make them fat

[j davies 8]

How would you like cereal morning noon and night for your grub ?

what do you feed yours rabbit all the time

[j davies 8]

I find it quite bizarre that so many of you are feeding dry as a staple food.

 

Let's not forget that ferrets are basically domesticated wild animals. When would a wild animal get a chance to chow down on a bowl of frankie ferret or whatever?

 

Whole carcass feeding, as has been discussed on here many many times, provides everything needed for a complete diet, and for me, is the best way to keep ferrets.

 

At least we've moved on from bread and milk!!

i asked about this and got lots or replys to it think i should start to feed them meat thanks

[John-B 4]

mine get a varied diet, kitten biscuits mixed with a little olive oil, cat food and warm water. also they get fresh rabbits with guts and everything left in, just cut open the stomach and chuck it in the hutch, they love getting inside the carcass for all the meaty bits, as a treat they get a couple of raw eggs in a porcelain bowl and i just slightly crack the shells and leave the rest to them. Most important thing really is a plentiful supply of fresh drinking water no matter what food they eat.

[chalkedup 14]

mine always have dry in the hutch but i also rotate every day with mince or chicken wings to give them a bit of variation

my hob loves mince and whole chicken wings and my jill loves the dry and also likes a bit of mince but i have to cut up the wings or she just hides them and doesnt eat them

they also get a egg yolk each a week and some lactose free milk as a treat

havnt got any permission yet so havnt had the chance to feed them rabbit but i got a air rifle today so theyl be getting the odd crow and woody soon hopefully

[Leeview 792]

I find it quite bizarre that so many of you are feeding dry as a staple food.

 

Let's not forget that ferrets are basically domesticated wild animals. When would a wild animal get a chance to chow down on a bowl of frankie ferret or whatever?

 

Whole carcass feeding, as has been discussed on here many many times, provides everything needed for a complete diet, and for me, is the best way to keep ferrets.

 

At least we've moved on from bread and milk!!

Agree wholeheartedly with your views, they may be domesticated but feed them naturally and when did anyone ever see an overweight wild animal? it does nt happen wild animals have to be in peak condition to survive or they perish

Y.I.S Leeview

[ferretmaniac 5]

had my ferret 3 year and in that time they have never had rabbit or any game food only dry food from pet shop my dad had 40 ferrets and always fed them bred and milk. my ferrets have turned out fo be as good as any ones when they kill in the hole i find they come out within min.

so all i want to sy is they dont need to be fed what they hunt its in them any way

 

I would have thought the clue was in the fact it sayes '' complete ferret food'' on the bag , each to there own , mine dont get dry food here as i found it made them eat none stop & they got very fat , thats basically the only reason i stopped feeding it

 

Och my ferrets get all sorts from pheasent to dry food. I occasionally give them dry food but no oftern, i agree it will make them fat and it isnt exactly "fresh" but game killed today is. And its a de-wormer for them!