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Ferrets

Sarah1228 said:
Ok we'll at least I know I can get it online. And what about feeding the ferret real Chicken? Would it have to be raw or cooked?
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You can give cooked chicken, but raw is better.
I only give it as a supplement, more like a treat. If you want to give it as a main part of the diet, then you need to spend some time on the Holistic Ferret Forum, so you can learn how to calculate a proper balanced diet.
Mine like scrambled eggs as a little treat too.
 
I just figured it would be a nice treat/supplement. Ooh eggs!! Ok!! :) egg white and yolk or just egg whites??
 
Sarah1228 said:
I just figured it would be a nice treat/supplement. Ooh eggs!! Ok!! :) egg white and yolk or just egg whites??
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I do both. It's not often, every now & then when I make scrambled eggs for me, I will dish up small amounts for them.

If you get one that recognizes whole prey as food, you can give them a variety of mice & chicks.
 
How the heck?!! Lol wow, how do they do that? I mean the wont choke on the bones??? I'd they can eat that I can give them a variety to have full nutrition!!!
 
They have no more chance of choking on whole prey bones,as they do kibble or any other food. The risk is present, with any of us that ingest food, to potentially choke on food, but the myth of choking on bones is a scare tactic.
Same with cats & dogs. Carnivores in the wild eat raw bones all the time. It contains essential nutrion for them.
I would never ever give cooked bones though. They can splinter & can cause serious internal damage.
 
This is so cool to learn! Thank you for everything. When I do get one Can I come to you for any unanswered questions I have, if that's ok!? I definitely think I am capable of taking on the responsibility or I wouldn't even consider it (no matter what).
 
Sarah1228 said:
This is so cool to learn! Thank you for everything. When I do get one Can I come to you for any unanswered questions I have, if that's ok!? I definitely think I am capable of taking on the responsibility or I wouldn't even consider it (no matter what).
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I'm always willing to help.
As long as you have done your research (find a local ferret vet, AND an emergency vet that you can go to that will treat ferrets, contact breeders, spend some time reading Holistic Ferret Forum, read up on the diseases that can affect ferrets, etc) I will be more than happy to help with the details.

Ferrets are a big commitments, & a big responsibility, & can be VERY expensive (remember, just one situation cost me about $850). If someone is serious about getting ferrets, I want to see that they have done research on their own, & show initiative in what having ferrets entails.
 
I completely understand! And I'm still doing as much research as I can. You are a big help as well, and yes I have a local vet who deals with exotic animals as well.
 
Sarah1228 said:
I completely understand! And I'm still doing as much research as I can. You are a big help as well, and yes I have a local vet who deals with exotic animals as well.
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Make sure you ask how many ferrets they see in a month. Ask how many ferret spay & neuters they do. Ask if they have dealt with cryptorchid ferrets. Ask what they recommend for food for ferrets. If they recommend a plant based protein, or food with grains, veggies, walk away. Ask about their opinion on whole prey feeding.

These are all important things to look for in a ferret vet. I know it can be tough to find a good exotic vet that really knows what your exotic animal needs, going to one that doesn't know what they're talking about is as bad as going to a regular vet. Not all "exotic" vets are worth their wieght in beans.
 
No I know that. But this one is used by a good friend of mine and let me tell you she doesn't trust her animals with just anyone! He's seen plenty in his time.
 
Can I jump in & ask a feeding question?

As a birthday present my husband got me ferrets (we waited 24yrs before finally getting them) & their owner fed them EVO but it seems to be a bit challenging to get this food in our area. I searched our 2 local pet food stores (Pet Smart & Pet Food Plus) & found the Zupreem was the closest I could find that was grain free. Is there something better than that brand that can be purchased from either store or would I be better off going with EVO? (I'd have to make a special drive to the city which is not easy for me as only 2 stores carry it. I called other stores that carry the brand but not for ferrets. One said if I really wanted it, they'd try to get it in.)
 
LMS68 said:
Can I jump in & ask a feeding question?

As a birthday present my husband got me ferrets (we waited 24yrs before finally getting them) & their owner fed them EVO but it seems to be a bit challenging to get this food in our area. I searched our 2 local pet food stores (Pet Smart & Pet Food Plus) & found the Zupreem was the closest I could find that was grain free. Is there something better than that brand that can be purchased from either store or would I be better off going with EVO? (I'd have to make a special drive to the city which is not easy for me as only 2 stores carry it. I called other stores that carry the brand but not for ferrets. One said if I really wanted it, they'd try to get it in.)
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Evo used to be a good food to feed them, but they were bought out by Proctor & Gamble, who has a track record of switching out ingredients to make cheaper processing, so I stopped buying it.
I use Fromm Surf & Turf for mine. Mostly the cat formula, but I sometimes mix in the dog formula. Fromm is harder to come by, even more so than Evo, there's only two stores in my county that sells it, but it is one that I am really happy with.
I think some people I know order from PetFoodDirect, online, & have it shipped to their door. You can get Fromm S&T from there.
I have fed Orijen, but the kibble pieces are larger than Fromm, & I lost one of my ferrets who choked on the kibble.
If the Fromm is too expensive for you, there is Merrick Before Grain (cat formula) which has the similar smaller sized kibble that Fromm does.
My ferrets are all private bred & were raised to recognize raw & whole prey (mice & chicks) as food, so they get raw & whole prey supplemented.
The Holistic Ferret Forum is a good place to learn more about feeding raw/whole prey, if you're interested.
 
Heather, FWIW no ingredient changes in Evo since the buy-out. I sell tons of Natura foods in my store, and like hundreds of other local pet stores, we have promised to drop their entire line with the first down grade. I still feel like it must be bound to happen one day, with the shareholders wanting better margins, but so far, just normal price increases.
 
I heard they removed some ingredients on one of the foods (that had like five meats in it) but it was one I didn't feed, so I didn't pay attention to which one. Another thing they've (P&G) been known to do is use lesser quality ingredients, so the list doesn't change, but the quality does. Iams used to be a decent food, until P&G bought them out.

Granted, there's much crappier foods out there, I still want to feed mine as best as I can.
 
I had a browse at that link you posted & I would love to feed my ferrets raw (my mother has been feeding her dogs that way for well over a decade) but right now is not possible. My farm house is gutted & we're smack in the peak of the worst part of the renos. Luckily for the ferrets, they were put in the spare bedroom where it's being left till last. Most of the house looks like a blown up parcour! Plus, I kind of have taken over part of the kitchen for the horse food. :uhoh: If I start taking over more for raw ferret food, my husband may implode! ;) (we also run our business/shop out of our home)

Oh BTW it's not Pet Food Plus we have in the village, it's Pet Value. Regardless, we have a couple of clients that sell pet food, when I discussed this thread to my OH, he suggested we give our clients a call to see if they can bring in whichever food you guys recommend.

So I'd gather that EVO would still be the best candidate of foods readily available?
 
LMS68 said:
I had a browse at that link you posted & I would love to feed my ferrets raw (my mother has been feeding her dogs that way for well over a decade) but right now is not possible. My farm house is gutted & we're smack in the peak of the worst part of the renos. Luckily for the ferrets, they were put in the spare bedroom where it's being left till last. Most of the house looks like a blown up parcour! Plus, I kind of have taken over part of the kitchen for the horse food. :uhoh: If I start taking over more for raw ferret food, my husband may implode! ;) (we also run our business/shop out of our home)

Oh BTW it's not Pet Food Plus we have in the village, it's Pet Value. Regardless, we have a couple of clients that sell pet food, when I discussed this thread to my OH, he suggested we give our clients a call to see if they can bring in whichever food you guys recommend.

So I'd gather that EVO would still be the best candidate of foods readily available?
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That's up to you. I personally wouldn't feed it (because I like the Fromm Surf & Turf, & can get it locally), but if that's your best food to access, it's definitely better than others out there.
 
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