Raw and whole prey diets can be cheaper to feed then the EVO and the Wysong FOR SURE.
I can't give you an exact # because I dont know a.) how many ferrets you have b.) how old they are c.) how much they typically eat d.) their genders e.) their activity levels
I can give you an idea of what it costs to feed my male ferret, Fugue and my b/f's ferret Mizu (De eats a special raw soup so I wont count her here). They eat a strictly whole prey diet (with a raw snack if they get hungry). This is more expensive then if you went mostly raw with SOME whole prey, or JUST raw. I will break down what it would cost me to feed them
a.) Just a whole prey diet
b.) A whole prey and raw diet
c.) Just a raw diet
I hope this will help you. Both males are under 1 year old but over 6 months old. They are pretty large (around 3-3.5 pounds) but they eat suprisingly little. If you have a smaller ferret or a female ferret or an older ferret or a lazy ferret they might eat less then the boys.
Fugue and Mizu eat a mostly whole prey diet. Depending on the time of year they may eat more or less. In the summer, they actually eat very little. I buy my mice from rodentpro.com I usually try to pick up the mice (and other prey) when they are at a ferret/reptile show (so that I save on shipping) but even with the cost of shipping its not that bad. For example my boys will eat the following foods (combinded) over the course of a week:
Cost of Feeding Two 3.5, 8 month old, Active, Male Ferrets (In St. Louis, MO: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 monthRaw 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.Notes:Now bear in mind I just buy raw meat at my grocery store. If the meat is on sale or if I were to buy in bulk at say, Costco or Sams club, then the cost would go WAY down. Also note that the cost of all feeder animals DOES NOT include the cost of shipping (since I try to pick up my order at shows to avoid the cost of shipping). Petstore mice WILL be significantly more expensive. The list of the prices above is just a guide. Again, the cost can vary significantly based on how good you are at "bargin hunting" to how expensive the "cost of living" is in your area.
Also bear in mind that on a natural diet you will also no longer need yearly in office teeth cleanings (unless there is a pre-existing issue), you will buy less litter (because your ferret wont go to the bathroom as much), you'll save on ferret shampoo (because they will smell less), and 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.
Hope this helps.