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Post by saphire on Jun 26, 2008 10:41:34 GMT -5
:-/I have been talking to one of the forum members of this site on a different forum and she has asked me to post my questions here so here I am. so here is my question: so if i go with the Raw diet based on the prey model where would i buy it and how much does it usually cost? or is it like say chicken that you would buy from the store that you eat and you just give it to your fuzzies instead?
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 26, 2008 11:07:14 GMT -5
Hi Saphire. I will throw in my info and then hopefully others will jump in and share what they know, too. A RDBPM (raw diet based on prey model) is fed by using a variety of animal parts. MOST of these parts you can just pick up at your local grocery store or butcher. When feeding this diet you should aim to feed: Raw Meaty bones (like chicken wings, legs, thighs, pork necks, etc) 4 days per week. Boneless Raw Muscle Meat 2 days per week (like chunks of beef, pork, turkey, and lamb) Organ meat 1 day per week (like liver, lung, kidney, pancreas) Beef, Pork, Chicken, Turkey, and Lamb are all commonly fed, but you can feed more "exotic" meats as well, such as ostritch, emu, kangaroo, quail, gosling, rabbit, etc. So yes, if you go to the store you can usually find food for your ferrets in the meat department. Its recommended that beef (and preferably pork as well) be organic and pasteured (grass fed) this helps to ensure your meat is free of hormones/anti-biotics, and is full of nutrients (most cows are grain fed, grass fed cows have better nutrional composition because they were raised on a healthier diet). A raw diet can cost less then a premium kibble diet. A baby ferret WILL eat alot, but once they hit 6-7 months old they stop being a little garbage disposal Most people can get by with feeding a chicken leg/wing/thigh to each of their ferrets for a days worth of meals, or a hunk of boneless meat about the size and width of your palm. Sams Club and Walmart are two places you can go to get cheap, quality meat. You can buy in bulk and freeze your meats. This way you save $$$. Another neat way to save is to see if there is a local farm/slaughterhouse/butcher in your area that has organs or unusual animal parts for free (or for dirt cheap). Yet another way to save is to buy meat that is "on sale" because its going to expire soon. As long as you take it home and freeze right away, its okay to feed. I can get about 25% off on my meat if I buy it this way! Thats how I can afford lamb Not only can this diet be cheaper to feed (if you get savvy with scoping out deals) but a healthy diet can prevent many chronic medical problems. This means you also save money because you wont need teeth cleanings, frequent vet visits, and HOPEFULLY you wont need to deal with the costs associated with insulinoma (a diet related illness). PLUS on a natural diet your ferrets go to the bathroom less frequently and in smaller amounts. This means you save money on litter too I hope this helps! Feel free to post more questions as they pop into your head
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Post by tss on Jun 26, 2008 14:42:11 GMT -5
For prey model I my "base" is a whole cut up chicken, I weigh it then add 10% liver. Along with that I add other things each day like beef, goat, rabbit, deer, piglet, eggs, pork and whatever else I can get. Everything except the eggs, chicken and rabbit is free. Feeding raw is cheap and I find it easier to deal with then kibble. I just spend a couple hours a month preparing food then thaw it out as I need it.
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Post by josiesmom on Jun 28, 2008 10:24:55 GMT -5
Feeding based on prey model is relatively easy, Polecats in the wild eat predominantly mice, voles, rats followed by rabbits, small birds, seasonal amphibians like frogs and supplemented with insects, eggs, fish and invertebrates.
Rodents and small birds are relatively easy to emulate - feeder mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils etc which can all be raised at home after the initial purchase of the breeding pair or trio.
Cornish game hen, chicks, chicken, turkey and their various pieces and parts. Just remember to avoid meats processed with solution or enhanced with broth.
Rabbit is easily available either from pet suppliers, or already dressed for human consumption. I wouldn't recommend raising rabbits to feed to your ferrets unless you too want to eat the rabbit meat ( which is quite good and nutritious) because rabbits take a bit of room and considerable care too.
Like Giuli noted feed organ meats only once a week, do NOT feed just muscle meats - the ferrets NEED complete nutrition and that comes from being able to devour the entire meaty bone item! Skin, flesh, sinew and bone - so keep your selections limited to the smaller boney choices - like necks, wings, legs and backs of regular chicken. Wing tips of turkey wings, entire cornish game hens and rabbits. Entire chicks, rats & mice.
If raising rodents as feeders, this will help: mice don't smell as bad as rats and can use smaller enclosures. Cavies are easy to house but require fresh greens and veggies to be their healthiest. Rats need larger enclosures and will climb and chew considerably more than mice do.
I haven't fed frogs or lizards to my kids, because I don't really need to. Those prey animals wouldn't add anything to their diet and may actually be harmful, but I suppose if I wanted to spend money frivolously I could buy some frogs legs.
I've often wondered about whether they'd eat crawfish tails, but cannot locate any that aren't already seasoned and cooked.
If you mix up the different types of meaty items through the week or even during the day then your ferrets will be open to eating all kinds of prey items, PLUS their diet will be "well balanced".
Cheers, Kim
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