Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 27, 2008 15:02:10 GMT -5
Note:
The amount of money it will cost to feed your ferret(s) will vary based on:
1. The number of ferrets in your business
2. The age, size, weight, activity level, and appetite of your ferret
3. Your location (cost of living costs for raw foods and cost of shipping for whole prey)
4. The diet you choose to feed (raw, wholeprey/raw, whole prey) and the amount of raw vs. prey you feed if you choose to feed a combination diet.
5. Whether you buy raw meat/prey in bulk or in smaller quantities
6. The cuts of meat and types of prey you choose to feed
Please use the following schedules as GUIDELINES ONLY. We have also included a list of tips for saving money when feeding a natural diet. The use of these tips was not reflected in the schedules below, with the exception of the purchase of whole prey.
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MONDAY: 4 large adult mice (2 each) $1.80 Total
TUESDAY: 1 large rat (to share) $1.49 Total
WEDNESDAY: 2-3 chicks (to share) $0.50-$.075 Total
THURSDAY: 6 weaned mice (to share) $2.40 Total
FRIDAY: 2 extra large mice (1 each) and 6 fuzzies (3 each) $2.24 Total
SATURDAY: 1 week old quail (to share), 1/4 cup feeder bugs (crickets, mealworms, etc), and 2 pinkies (1 each) $1.50 Total
SUNDAY: 1 medium Guinea pig (to share) $1.39
*Price of prey does not include shipping cost. All prey is bought at regular cost (not on sale) from Rodentpro.com
$11.57 per week x 4 weeks= $46.28 per month
Raw and Whole Prey Diet:*
MONDAY: 1 raw chicken wing (to share) and 2 adult mice (one each) $1.27 Total
TUESDAY: 1 raw chicken thigh (to share) $1.50 Total
WEDNESDAY: 1 medium rat and 1/2 cup boneless beef chunks (to share) $2.39 Total
THURSDAY: 1 raw turkey neck and 1/4 cup of feeder insects (to share) $1.24 Total
FRIDAY: 1 cup of boneless pork chunks (to share) $.75 Total
SATURDAY: 1/2 Cornish Game Hen (raw) (to share) $1.00 Total
SUNDAY: 2 chicken livers, 2 chicken hearts, 6 chicken gizzards and 1 raw egg ($1.00)
$9.15 per week x 4 weeks= $36.60 per month
*Bear in mind that this is a cost estimate BEFORE implementing the money saving tips below. You can almost cut this cost in HALF if you are good at scoping out deals, and if you are a savvy shopper.
MONDAY: 2 raw chicken wings (one each) $0.75 Total
TUESDAY: 1/2 cornish game hen (to share) $1.00 Total
WEDNESDAY: 1 cup boneless beef chunks $1.00 Total
THURSDAY: Other half of cornish game hen $1.00 Total
FRIDAY: 1 cup boneless pork chunks $1.25 Total
SATURDAY: 1 raw turkey neck $1.10 Total
SUNDAY: 2 chicken livers, 2 chicken hearts, 6 chicken gizzards, and 1 raw egg $1.00 Total
$7.10 per week x 4 weeks= $28.40 per month.
**Bear in mind that this is a cost estimate BEFORE implementing the money saving tips below. You can almost cut this cost in HALF if you are good at scoping out deals, and if you are a savvy shopper.
Bear in mind that on a natural diet you will save money on the following:
1. Ferret Toothbrushes and Toothpaste as well as yearly dental cleanings.
A Natural diet promotes sound oral health and oftentimes you will no longer need to profressionally or privately clean your ferret's teeth (this is done by the raw/whole prey foods).
2. Ferret Shampoo, Bi-Odor, and Deoderant Sprays.
A natural diet reduces body odor, as well as the smell of your ferret's urine and feces, thus eliminating the need for Bi-Odor and deodorizing sprays.
3. Trips to the vet
Your ferret *should* require less trips to the vet for things like flu and other illness/infection because their immune system will be stronger. While not proven, it is thought that a natural diet can also reduce the risk of insulinoma, which could save you money in the future on predisone and blood glucose tests/meters.
4. Ferret Litter
Your ferret will be going to the bathroom less often (because their food is more digestable). Thus, you won't have to buy litter as often.
The amount of money it will cost to feed your ferret(s) will vary based on:
1. The number of ferrets in your business
2. The age, size, weight, activity level, and appetite of your ferret
3. Your location (cost of living costs for raw foods and cost of shipping for whole prey)
4. The diet you choose to feed (raw, wholeprey/raw, whole prey) and the amount of raw vs. prey you feed if you choose to feed a combination diet.
5. Whether you buy raw meat/prey in bulk or in smaller quantities
6. The cuts of meat and types of prey you choose to feed
Please use the following schedules as GUIDELINES ONLY. We have also included a list of tips for saving money when feeding a natural diet. The use of these tips was not reflected in the schedules below, with the exception of the purchase of whole prey.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of Feeding Two 3.5 pound, 8 month old, Male Ferrets (In St. Louis, MO) during the SPRING/SUMMER months:
Whole Prey ONLY Diet*:
MONDAY: 4 large adult mice (2 each) $1.80 Total
TUESDAY: 1 large rat (to share) $1.49 Total
WEDNESDAY: 2-3 chicks (to share) $0.50-$.075 Total
THURSDAY: 6 weaned mice (to share) $2.40 Total
FRIDAY: 2 extra large mice (1 each) and 6 fuzzies (3 each) $2.24 Total
SATURDAY: 1 week old quail (to share), 1/4 cup feeder bugs (crickets, mealworms, etc), and 2 pinkies (1 each) $1.50 Total
SUNDAY: 1 medium Guinea pig (to share) $1.39
*Price of prey does not include shipping cost. All prey is bought at regular cost (not on sale) from Rodentpro.com
$11.57 per week x 4 weeks= $46.28 per month
Raw and Whole Prey Diet:*
MONDAY: 1 raw chicken wing (to share) and 2 adult mice (one each) $1.27 Total
TUESDAY: 1 raw chicken thigh (to share) $1.50 Total
WEDNESDAY: 1 medium rat and 1/2 cup boneless beef chunks (to share) $2.39 Total
THURSDAY: 1 raw turkey neck and 1/4 cup of feeder insects (to share) $1.24 Total
FRIDAY: 1 cup of boneless pork chunks (to share) $.75 Total
SATURDAY: 1/2 Cornish Game Hen (raw) (to share) $1.00 Total
SUNDAY: 2 chicken livers, 2 chicken hearts, 6 chicken gizzards and 1 raw egg ($1.00)
$9.15 per week x 4 weeks= $36.60 per month
*Bear in mind that this is a cost estimate BEFORE implementing the money saving tips below. You can almost cut this cost in HALF if you are good at scoping out deals, and if you are a savvy shopper.
Raw Diet Based On the Whole Prey Model:*
MONDAY: 2 raw chicken wings (one each) $0.75 Total
TUESDAY: 1/2 cornish game hen (to share) $1.00 Total
WEDNESDAY: 1 cup boneless beef chunks $1.00 Total
THURSDAY: Other half of cornish game hen $1.00 Total
FRIDAY: 1 cup boneless pork chunks $1.25 Total
SATURDAY: 1 raw turkey neck $1.10 Total
SUNDAY: 2 chicken livers, 2 chicken hearts, 6 chicken gizzards, and 1 raw egg $1.00 Total
$7.10 per week x 4 weeks= $28.40 per month.
**Bear in mind that this is a cost estimate BEFORE implementing the money saving tips below. You can almost cut this cost in HALF if you are good at scoping out deals, and if you are a savvy shopper.
You don't just save money on the cost of food when feeding natural:
Bear in mind that on a natural diet you will save money on the following:
1. Ferret Toothbrushes and Toothpaste as well as yearly dental cleanings.
A Natural diet promotes sound oral health and oftentimes you will no longer need to profressionally or privately clean your ferret's teeth (this is done by the raw/whole prey foods).
2. Ferret Shampoo, Bi-Odor, and Deoderant Sprays.
A natural diet reduces body odor, as well as the smell of your ferret's urine and feces, thus eliminating the need for Bi-Odor and deodorizing sprays.
3. Trips to the vet
Your ferret *should* require less trips to the vet for things like flu and other illness/infection because their immune system will be stronger. While not proven, it is thought that a natural diet can also reduce the risk of insulinoma, which could save you money in the future on predisone and blood glucose tests/meters.
4. Ferret Litter
Your ferret will be going to the bathroom less often (because their food is more digestable). Thus, you won't have to buy litter as often.