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Post by Jen on Nov 5, 2008 14:40:34 GMT -5
I'm switching Weasel to a natural diet since I can't get quality ferret kibble locally. Our main staple right now is plain, raw chicken (legs, wings, thighs, gizzards, and one liver a week). We're still mid-process of introducing him to other meats as well (beef, pork, mice, etc). Usuallly, feedings alternate between meaty bones and lean/fatty meat (from the wings/legs/thighs). I'll cut down the bigger pieces so he usually finishes what I give him in a few hours.
I don't have sanitation or contamination worries, as long as I wash hands after handling his food, clean up after he eats with vinegar and peroxide, and throw out anything he doesn't eat after 6 hours. A ferret's short digestive system also prevents him from catching anything like salmonella (the food is passed through before anything can form). I give thanks to the Holistic Ferret Forum for all their help with switching Weasel over to natural (he used to eat Marshalls).
There are also prepackaged dry and frozen meat foods for ferrets; I just haven't tried any. I sometimes make him soup mixes when introducing new foods (equal parts kibble, new meat, familiar meat, and water). I used to also use FerretVite when encouraging him to eat (no longer available locally).
"Ferrets for Dummies" suggests introducing your ferret to a wide variety of healthy foods (different types and brands)- that way, in case one becomes unavailable, he'll readily accept another (some ferrets can be very picky and may go hungry before trying a new food)..
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