|
|
Post by mangekyousharingan on May 6, 2008 16:58:50 GMT -5
I like to feed my ferret almost exclusively whole prey, as it all but eliminates the hassle of trying to balance the diet by feeding different animals parts as raw does (though I still feed different ages for different nutritional quantities). Anyway, I find that letting the ferret kill and eat its own prey is a fantastic form of enrichment. Before going off to try this, be aware that your ferret should already have quite a bit of whole prey (of the variety that you intend to live feed) in his diet beforehand. This insures he or she will understand what to do with, say the mouse, and not play around with it too much or not kill it. The second thing to be sure you do is get an appropriately sized prey animal. Animals that are too big or are known for aggression (such as rats) can end up injuring your furry friend, thus ruining the enrichment experience and racking up a tidy vet bill.  Another thing to remember, there will be a struggle the first time, but if you have chosen a safe animal to feed, your ferret should be alright. The last thing I can think of is to never feed live animals to old or sick ferrets. I know this may seem obvious to some, but it's best to be safe and mention this anyway. It should also be noted that this is a "once in a while meal," as feeding live constantly would be unbelievably expensive and increasing the risk of the ferret being injured or getting parasites. |
|
|
|
Post by Forum Administrator on May 6, 2008 17:18:04 GMT -5
Hey babe! Great post. Just wanted to add that for those people who feel uncomfortable with the idea of feeding live mice to their ferret(s) (as occasional enrichment) you can provide stimulating "Hunt-like" enrichment. Take a piece of string, a rope, or a shoe-lace even, and tie it to the mouse. Tug the mouse around the ferrets, cage, feeding area, bathtub, playpen, or even your kitchen floor. Let your fert chase and catch the mouse. Its a great way to stimulate their senses, without having to deal with a live mouse  |
|
|
|
Post by jennifer5799 on May 7, 2008 0:17:36 GMT -5
Would now be an appropriate time to post my awesome pics of Fender dispatching a batch of mice for me to freeze? (and piggo Goliath chowing down, LOL - he had no interest in them until they were dead!) You have more for me?!?  She made this nice neat pile all by herself!  |
|
|
|
Post by meli on May 7, 2008 10:11:57 GMT -5
lol so you let them kill the mice and freeze em? thats pretty interesting..I actually tried giving live mice when I had my boa (about 7 years ago)..he just sat there and stared with no interest! so the next day I had to take him to the reptile shop to be force fed pinkies..."le sigh"
|
|
|
|
Post by Forum Administrator on May 7, 2008 10:27:26 GMT -5
I dont really like to give live. I am SUCH a big sap and I get upset if the ferrets take to long to kill the mice. If the ferrets are just goofing around I make Tim quickly dispatch the mice by snapping their neck quickly (so that they are no longer in pain). I could never feed live everyday, but everyonce in a while seems like a fair compromise. I dont feel that i should force my ferrets to not engage in natural activities just because I have reservations about watching things die.
Like Tim said though, be careful. Some prey animals can get agressive! You dont want your fuzzy getting bitten! I wouldnt recommend feeding live rats, just stick with small mice.
BTW- Great Pics Jenn!
|
|
|
|
Post by jennifer5799 on May 7, 2008 12:34:46 GMT -5
DON'T FEED SNAKES LIVE PREY!!! I know this is off topic, but mentioned in the above post. I've had a few snakes over the years, and one of the things I've learned (I started out feeding live to my first snakes before I knew any better) is that live prey is INCREDIBLY dangerous for a snake, as they're trapped in an enclosure with no way to get away from the prey if they're not hungry, and the prey can in turn do horrid damage to the snake!! As far as feeding live to the ferrets - I put them in the bathtub, and stayed right there next to them. I put in one mouse at a time. Fender killed each one in less than 5 seconds. She proved to be a VERY good "hunter" - the mice didn't even squeak it was over with so quick. They were smaller adult mice. I think her and I both preferred killing them this way over putting them in a box w/co2, and I think it was much quicker for the mice as well. I have had mice as pets (and rats), and I think they're REALLY cute, but you know, it's a circle of life kinda thing. I think cows are cute too, but I'm not going to stop eating them! |
|
|
|
Post by meli on May 7, 2008 13:54:26 GMT -5
I don't think I could feed my fert live or dead mice(I'm to sensitive now..not like when I was younger which is why I'm okay with the raw diet..just not whole prey) ..but my boa..well thats what the reptile people said to do for him at the time..he wasn't doing to great so I had to take him back to the shop which no longer exists..wonder if they weren't doing something right..but ya I see the point about live prey Well I ended up keeping the mice as pets lol and omg those little guys stink! it was only two as well..they were given to my neighbor for snake food after about two weeks (its what they were meant to be anyhow) God it sounds horrible now lol lol I think cows are adorable lol Sorry about hijacking your post!! Its interesting none the less |
|
|
|
Post by jennifer5799 on May 9, 2008 10:46:51 GMT -5
The do stink really bad, which is why I have yet to take on breeding my own. When I have somewhere I can keep them so that my hubby can't smell them, I'll probably do that though. Much cheaper than buying them, plus you control what they eat! I wonder what the best diet for mice that are going to be ferret food is? What would benefit the ferrets most, I mean....hmmmm......
|
|
|
|
Post by Forum Administrator on May 9, 2008 11:10:10 GMT -5
lol back on topic..... Tim and I tied a chick to a string and took the cat outside. We drug the chick through the grass and made the cat chase it. She had a blast! She wouldnt eat the chick outside, but as soon as she was brought inside she gobbled up the chick  I really feel like making your ferret (or other pets) work for their food is important mental and sensory stimulation. Even if you can't handle feeding live mice, putting bugs into a big rubbermaid tub and letting your ferret chase and catch them is always another option. |
|
|
|
Post by meli on May 9, 2008 11:46:05 GMT -5
Clever idea! I'm going to try that..when I get my fert haha
|
|
|
|
Post by jennifer5799 on May 9, 2008 12:03:40 GMT -5
Or goldfish! I haven't done this with my ferrets yet, but my dogs LOVED it! I bought a bunch of the cheap feeder goldfish and put them in a baby pool and the the dogs catch them. Of course with ferrets, you could use the goldfish or the rosy reds which are smaller, and put them in a glass casserole dish or small plastic tote or something similar.
|
|
|
|
Post by Forum Administrator on May 9, 2008 12:26:46 GMT -5
Its good enrichment to let em fish, just be sure that they dont eat the goldfish. God only knows what the petstore that keeps the fish puts in the water they swim in. Also, I think goldfish can cause some type of vitamen deficiency, but I cant remember what specifically. Let em fish, but dont let them eat the fish.
To keep them from feeling like you are stealing their prize, when the catch the fish, take away the goldfish and give em a sardine or anchovie instead (if they want to eat the fish). Sardines and anchovies are full of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
|
|
|
|
Post by jennifer5799 on May 9, 2008 16:06:44 GMT -5
Really? I wouldn't think they'd put anything in the feeder fish tanks... I was going to raise guppies for them before we moved, since they give live birth and can reproduce often they're fairly easy to breed. Good grief, ok so now I'm going to raise mice and guppies, for food! LOL..... |
|
|
|
Post by Forum Administrator on May 9, 2008 16:46:07 GMT -5
They put in chemicals to treat the water for chlorine and other crap. I cant remember what chemicals specifically, but I used to work in a petshop and had to treat the fish water.
|
|
|
|
Post by jennifer5799 on May 9, 2008 16:49:56 GMT -5
Right - the same stuff you use when you have an aquarium. I never thought about that. Can fish even live in regular non-treated tap water? LOL I guess maybe if you slowly transitioned them from the treated water to regular water?
|
|
