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Post by raven on Aug 14, 2010 3:13:40 GMT -5
Hi all, I am new here and with some fatty questions  I will start with what we feeding our ferrets I use for example: 3 whole chickens = +- 3 kg. +- 500 grams chicken or duck fillet pure. +- 500 grams chicken necks. +- 500 grams heart from a cow. +- 250 grams liver from chicken, cow or rabit. +- 500 grams extra fat like chicken skin or cow and goat fat. Putting it all together in a meat mincing machine. That is the basis for my own barf  When it is feeding time... we add some other meat with bones in little chucks to it. They love chicken or turkey wings/legs and neck’s but also lamb, goat, duck, cow, horse and wild birds all in chunks. We never using pork. I only feed them 2 or 3 times a day and sometimes I don’t feed them for a day and after it they get some whole chicken necks for the teeth Also I give them salmon oil for humans once in a week. Lol what an intro Now my question is how much % fat need a ferret? And what kind of fat is the best? And why need a ferret so much fat? I think that I use about +- 22 a 25% fat for the moment. I hope you can help me? Kind regard, Raven. |
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 14, 2010 11:48:11 GMT -5
As to the exact amount, I'm not certain. I *think* it's about 25-30%. I do know they need a fair bit because that's where they get their energy from, and the fact that they've got a really high metabolism. Mine get fat from all the meat I feed. I simply don't trim anything, and I generally look for fattier cuts for them.
Out of curiosity, any reason you don't feed pork? That one is a favourite here!
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Post by Heather on Aug 14, 2010 11:56:55 GMT -5
Same here, my guys get a lot of fat because ferrets when they're on the go, are pure energy and that's where the energy comes from. You will know when they're not getting enough fat. They get itchier, more itchy than usual  . Their coat gets really dry and coarse. Curiosity...why not pork....my guys love it and it has a lot of good rich fat. It's the other white meat ciao |
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Post by mustelidmusk on Aug 14, 2010 20:03:33 GMT -5
ferrets can handle more fat than dogs/cats. I've seen ferrets eat about 50% fat in a meal and have no serious trouble from it other than undigested fat in the stool. I would not recommend doing this - especially not on a regular basis. Ferrets can get pancreatitis from too much fat. This is more likely to happen if a ferret is not accustomed to eating an extremely rich diet.
so... on a regular basis a healthy ferret can handle 30% fat with no trouble at all. Please note that the Wysong archetypal ! ferret diet has 33% fat. ANd, I'm sure a little extra on top of that (fish oil, and some fatty treats) will not be an issue for a ferret with a healthy digestive system that's accustomed to eating a fat-rich diet.
Not only are animal-based fats the primary source of energy for ferrets, but fats also help to maintain healthy skin and fur.
-jennifer
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Post by 1 on Aug 14, 2010 21:10:28 GMT -5
Ferrets use fat as herbivores use sugar and starch.
Ever eat a piece of meat and its so dry watter only makes it worse yet you must try watter? That's because the meat is low fat! (exactly the same as oil = most skin no oil = dry skin but with meat.) I'd picture ferrets might taste more of that, but in the case of raw theirs lots of lots of lots more fat.
Just a bit of reasoning and common sense. But I read that to much fat means really really bad ferret farts + they can get fat if they eat to much. Hope I'm clear.
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Post by raven on Aug 15, 2010 6:13:35 GMT -5
Thank you all for replaying First, we, here in Belgium and our neighbor countries we have a taboo for feeding pork to our pet animals. It had something to do whit a sickness “Aujeszky's disease” cymru.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/disease/aujeszkys_disease%3Bjsessionid=F1RYJvMQ2Crl1mntPyXnb3cBX14KQ2MJ4vh2DnBLJpsHyvSQvDJg!-45510742?lang=en The government says it is safe... but we hold the taboo About the fat content, I gone raise the fat % up to a 30 % (for just being sure) but I will use more cow fat then chicken skin because the smell LOL. I only know for sure, that less fat then 20 % is not good for pups or junior ferrets because one friend of mine had 2 junior ferrets and their skin and fur was not very soft and shining like mine ferrets! He feeds them only little chickens and a few mice or rats once in a while. Now after a few tips from me they are becoming more and more healthier  I also give my ferrets a own mixture from linseed oil 50%, Letichine oil 25% and cocos oil 25% instead ferretone. For nails and ears cleaning.... they love it! Treats, they don’t know it ;D And I try to keep it that way. ;D Greetings, Raven. |
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Post by zoologist on Aug 20, 2010 12:14:52 GMT -5
interesting taboo, raven! duck and lamb tend to be very fatty meats and that is generally where i get my fat from. i also don't trim anything and they both have gleaming coats and bounds of energy |
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Post by 1 on Aug 20, 2010 12:30:30 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Aug 20, 2010 14:00:00 GMT -5
Not for ferrets Aaron....some really like the taste of their humans  ciao |
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Post by raven on Aug 22, 2010 3:52:38 GMT -5
interesting taboo, raven! duck and lamb tend to be very fatty meats and that is generally where i get my fat from. i also don't trim anything and they both have gleaming coats and bounds of energy Yes, a lot energy Like chicken I think  Not for ferrets Aaron....some really like the taste of their humans ciao Only for playing |
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