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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 11, 2008 16:08:09 GMT -5
Thanks giuli! Anyways hi tss!! As I am sure you know my I'm "bigsis7". Right now Oliver is my only ferret and I love him to death!!! I wanted to switch him because I saw how beautiful naturally fed ferrets are and how much more healthy and "natural" it sounds  ! Also my mom has a very sensitive nose so if she even smells him a tiny bit she gets mad, so I read that this keeps they're stink down a bit! Oliver is about 20 weeks old and I have had him about 8 weeks. Right now the kibble I am feeding him is 8 in 1 and I just started his raw diet 3(?) days ago and he has had steak, chicken, and the tenderer kind of steak (fillet manion? I think). Oliver is doing very good right now at eating all of it!I would be trying harder to get him on 100% raw and eventually whole, but I will be leaving for 5 weeks in the summer and don't know of anyone who would be willing to feed him raw meat. Well can't wait to get to know you better!!! |
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Post by tss on Jun 11, 2008 16:25:38 GMT -5
Hello! I'm Maria, it's nice to meet you!!! Your in Virginia too!!! Cool  Raw fed ferrets are much healthier, my ferrets didn't have any muscle mass when I got them. After being on raw Lilly lost weight (she was a pudge ball) and Weezer gained some, it's not that he's fat, he's just big weighing in at 3 pounds  Raw poops really don't smell unless I give them a bunch of fish oil or some grainy treats. It also cuts down on the ferrety smell! It's awesome that Oliver is eating those things, watch out for the fillet mignon though. Sometimes those are seasoned with all kinds of tenderizers and stuff, it's even worse if they are the bacon wrapped ones. It would be good if you could go ahead and get him eating raw now, maybe you could try pre-made and see if someone would be willing to feed it? Or even freeze dried Stella & Chewy's, Ziwipeak is also good.  |
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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 11, 2008 20:00:05 GMT -5
I could pre make it, but 5 weeks worth of meat is a lot of money and space to take up! I made sure there was no bacon on the fillet.
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Post by tss on Jun 11, 2008 21:29:40 GMT -5
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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 12, 2008 6:38:48 GMT -5
Oh ok!! Thanks! I'll try that! Also is the fat on chiken and meat ok for ferrets to eat? I am pretty sure it is, but just wnated to check.
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Post by tss on Jun 12, 2008 9:37:19 GMT -5
Yes, the fat and skin on chicken is great for them Ferrets need more fat then most animals. |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 12, 2008 15:28:57 GMT -5
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTE: Also, RAW fat is healthy , it is COOKED fat that is acutally bad. PEOPLE in the the high artic (inuits) have actually survived on a diet of mostly meat and RAW blubber (aka fat) and have been quite healthy, however, when COOKED fat and processed sugar was introduced to their diet, they started to experience obesity and other diet related diseases.
Ferrets get their primary source of energy from FAT, whereas humans get their primary source of energy from carbohydrates (something ferrets do NOT need). Fat is an important part of a ferret's diet, like you mentor, Maria said. And she's right, ferrets have a higher fat requirement then many carnivores (because they have a high metabolism).
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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 14, 2008 14:15:10 GMT -5
When I give Oliver his meat he'll bite into it and it smells SO BAD!!!! Is this normal? It usually goes away 30 mins after he's done, but it's so bad!
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Post by tss on Jun 14, 2008 16:30:09 GMT -5
The meat smells bad?
What kind of meat are you feeding? Check the sell buy date on the package, the meat is good for only a few days after that.
Some meats do kinda stink, like veal and lamb but other then that meat shouldn't really smell like anything at all. If it smells that means it is probably old.
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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 15, 2008 7:01:23 GMT -5
It doesn't really smell until he rips it, but I am feeding him chicken and steak. Another thing is it usually only stinks when he eats the meaty meat with no bones. Not sure if that has anything to do with it or not.
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Post by tss on Jun 15, 2008 11:43:12 GMT -5
Well what is the sell by date on the meat?
Normally even if the outside of the meat stinks the inside won't so I'm not really sure why it would in your case.
Maybe you've got a sensitive nose? I've been cooking since I was 8 so maybe I'm used to it... Have you dealt with meat before?
To me it smells wet and a bit like iron or just blood. Beef is a bit stronger than chicken.
Also, where does the meat come from? A normal store? Is it free range?
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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 15, 2008 11:57:55 GMT -5
Ok I'll check the sell by date in a bit. We got it from Sam's Club. Maybe I do have a sensitive nose I know my parents do.
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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 16, 2008 9:59:21 GMT -5
OK I was wondering how much met should ferrets get a day? I give oliver about 1/4 of a pound a day, but is this to much? Not enough? He seems content, but just wanted to make sure.
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Post by tss on Jun 16, 2008 12:10:31 GMT -5
That depends, does he eat all of what you give him? You can let him eat to his hearts content, they know when They've had enough. If he does eat the whole 1/4 try giving him a bit more (only if he eats all of it), and try splitting it between 2 or 3 meals. Between my two ferrets they eat right at 1/4 pound a day, I do only feed them once a day. No one recommends feeding once a day but even if I try to feed them more they just lick it and walk away, if Oliver will eat two or three meals throughout the day then split the food up.
Also, are you feeding him organ and bone yet? That is something very important to do, the main organ of choice is chicken liver, I prefer feeding beef, rabbit and goat organs as well to get more variety. I don't think Sam's Club sells organs but if you go to the supermarket you can get the chicken livers, after he is used to that you can add whatever else you find. Beef kidney isn't too hard to find, you can also feed "sweetbreads". That is pancreas and thymus.
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Post by bigsis7 on Jun 16, 2008 12:20:44 GMT -5
Well I give him the 1/4 pound in th afternoon and he usually eats some and saves the rest for later. So he doesn't eat it all at once. I have not been able to get my mom to the grocery store yet to get any other meat. Right now he is just eating boneless meat (I know not that great but the 25% of his diet right now is kibble so he get the (little bit) of nutrients that he's not getting from the bones or organs.
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