Would this be an okay schedule?

[konotashi]

So I've pretty much decided that I want to feed raw. (Or would it be considered whole prey?)

Some questions first: Is it better to feed adult ducks or ducklings, normally?

Would This be an alright basic feeding schedule? I'm going to change it up, but if this is okay, I'd like to use it as the basis. Also - how many of each per day would I need to feed to satisfy a ferret's appetite?

4 days - rats/mice
2 days - chicks or duck
1 day - pinkies w/ egg yolk

[bindiferret89]

There are four protein sources there (rats, mice, duck, chicks) so that's good. Just make sure you are feeding a variety of ages of each (rat pups, small rats, adult rats, pinkie mice, hoppers, adult mice, etc.) because the minerals and nutrients are different depending on the age of the animal and feeding variety in age is important to a balanced ferret diet.

How many you feed will depend on the ferrets' age, sex, and activity level, as well as the time of year. Moki will gobble down two pinkie mice in less than a minute and would eat a whole litter of my baby feeder mice if I let her, so I only feed pinkies as snacks.

You'll have to ask around because I'm not sure about this...When I feed Frankenprey, my ferrets eat 2-5 ounces each per day. I would assume you can figure out how many ounces each ferret eats and feed whole prey based on that (i.e. 1 adult mouse=x number of ounces), but I'll let the experts chime in on this one.

I've never fed mice as an entire meal because only two of my kids will eat them, but I know a lot of people on here have said their adult males will eat 3 adult mice in a single sitting.

Just out of curiosity, are you planning on feeding live or frozen-thawed or both?

[konotashi]

So I should put in what I think might be enough, and adjust the amounts according to how much is left?

I'm planning to feed mostly f/t, but may give live every once in a while to keep things interesting and so the fuzzy can have some fun with it and unleash his instincts.

[bindiferret89]

For me, figuring out how much to feed them was trial and error for a few weeks. I would put in a bunch of food and if they ate it all really quickly, I'd give them more. When they started stashing it away for later, I knew they'd had enough.

[konotashi]

That sounds like it'd be okay.

If I buy quail (didn't think about quail until I saw some for sale on CL), are those okay to feed full grown?

[sherrylynne]

You can feed whatever on earth you feel like feeding . As long as it's meat, of course! The only thing you have to watch out for is bone that is weight bearing for larger animals. They love to chew on them, and fight over them, but be careful about feeding beef and pork bones that they don't chip a tooth.
Beyond that- if it's meat, it's all good!

[konotashi]

What are the chances of a mouse rib being swallowed whole and tearing open the stomach/intestines?

I think this might be my basis weekly feeding schedule. Of course I'm going to switch it up, but just a foundation.

This would be considered a whole prey diet, right?

Sunday - Adult rat(s)
Monday - Chick(s)
Tuesday - Pinky mice w/ egg/egg yolk
Wednesday - Quail
Thursday - Adult rat(s)
Friday - Adult rat(s)
Saturday - Chick(s)

[Heather]

I'm not sure that if you're feeding mice in their entirety that you should encounter problems. If you've watched them as they tear mice apart to eat they grind up the mice too. The bones being crushed as they chew and gnaw on the skin. I have seen small particles of bone and the occasional foot make it through the digestive track. I suppose to rule out that possibility entirely I would be lying to say it's impossible but I think it's unlikely.
Your menu looks good...is your quail whole or is it cut up already? You could also look into rabbit which my guys really like a lot too.
ciao

[konotashi]

Whole quail, since there are a few people around who breed quail for pets/food.