Question about bones...?

[Jackie]

I've recently switched my two girls (Pixie & Trixie) to commercial freeze dried raw -- and they love it! It's been about 2 months now. They get a mix of Stella & Chewy's chicken, duck duck goose, and lamb. Since I've removed the majority of kibble from their diet, I want to start introducing bones for healthy teeth.

My question -- does anyone know where I can buy small raw bones, minus the meat? I don't have the time to feed the raw meats right now, but I'd love to start introducing the bone.

BTW - my girls are healthier than ever. Pixie (almost 2) has more energy than ever and her coat has transformed from rags to silk, seemingly overnight. She's also gained a good amount of weight and is no longer as thin as she used to be. She has even started dooking (she is a notoriously quiet ferret). Trixie (just turned 1) is fluffy and healthy. Litter box cleaning is so much easier and less smelly now.

[Heather]

I don't know of too many ferrets that will accept bones without meat on it. Ferrets are a lazy chewer, just like cats....if they don't see a purpose to eat it they won't. They're not like dogs who will chew for pleasure, it's food they have to eat. Most people start with wings, quail small bones, chicken necks meats like that.
ciao

[Jackie]

Haha, you're probably right about the laziness. Do you think adding a chicken wing a week or so would be too much bone, since the commercial raw already has bone in it?

[jacksmomma]

For teeth cleaning, a few chicken gibblets works pretty well. They basically like leather and require alot of teething to break them down. I know with Jack, he strips the meat off of chicken wings and never eats the bone. I can literally watch him spit the pieces of bone out

[Jackie]

That's a good option, too. Trixie loves to chew on tennis balls and can literally destroy a mini tennis ball in a matter of hours I'd rather she be consuming something with nutritonal value.

On a side note, has anyone ever dehydrate meat for ferret snacks? I have a dehydrator, and I thought it might be a healthy treat for my girls.

[sherrylynne]

Actually, a number of people on this board make their own jerkies It's a great snack for them!