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Post by ccretarolo on Dec 20, 2009 12:13:56 GMT -5
Does anyone have decent sources, personal experience stories (other than the already posted help) etc about why you CAN switch a baby to raw overnight, cold-turkey? Good internet or scientific sources would be especially good. I can't give you anything scientific but it's a pretty simple explanation. Until about 6 months of age, ferrets are willing to eat about anything since they haven't imprinted foods yet. And when it comes to raw vs. kibble for a baby, they'll choose the raw since it's easier on their teeth and they can tell it's more nutritious. I've honestly never heard of a ferret liking kibble if they were switched to raw as a baby. My Ozzy considers kibble something to dig in. A quick note: When it comes to foods to imprint him on, beef is good but don't give him bones until he's older and knows his limits. He might get a little overconfident and try to eat the bone . Beef bones are simply too thick and dense for a ferret to chew through without hurting themselves. When you give him bones, think about what a ferret (or Polecat) would eat in the wild. This includes rodents, eggs (which are fine to give raw), and small birds.
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Post by Lynxie on Dec 20, 2009 13:55:29 GMT -5
I'd stick to the freeze dried for traveling, or just bring a cooler with you!
Also, no bone in beef/pork/other large animals. The bones are too hard and could chip your little one's teeth.
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Post by Heather on Dec 21, 2009 18:39:54 GMT -5
You're not giving your little fuzzies much credit. Most tooth damage done to ferret mouths is done by cage biting or cage wars. I've never had a ferret damage teeth or the enamel on their teeth by taking on bones that are too large for them. Unlike dogs ferrets are a lazy, opportunistic hunter/chewer. They will not take on bones that are too heavy or too hard for them to eat. They will steal them but they won't eat them . They will eat the meat and sinew off the bone, but I've never seen them take on bones that they can't handle. The heaviest bone that my guys have ever gnawed on are turkey legs. With these they will eat the knuckles but won't eat the main leg. Pork have some awesome little riblets that my guys love and they will eat the bones. If they're the full ribs, they will chew them a bit but they won't actually eat them unless I crack them open with a hammer. Even then it's only to eat the marrow. My guys often steal from the dogs' bowls. Napoleon at about 10 weeks stealing Shakespeare's venison chew bone. ciao
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