'ferret diet'

ferret diet

mike (63.176.159.162) -

I have a one and a half year old ferret that belonged to my friend and I was wondering what a ferret might eat.

Comment #1 Charlie (200.172.107.97) -

http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/diet.htm

"The unique ferret digestion system demands a food that can provide adequate nutrition assimilation in the four hours that food is in the ferret's system. Ferrets are strict carnivores, meaning they are meat eaters. But they also have an extremely high metabolic rate. Most ferrets eat 8 to 10 small meals every 24 hours to sustain the energy required by their high metabolic rate. Ferrets consume 4 to 7% of their body weight in high-quality, easily digestible kibbled food daily."

• http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/diet.htm

Comment #2 KateyBate (66.227.233.47) -

I didn't realize ferrets were carnivores. Maybe that has something to do with their smell. My friends who had a couple ferrets seem to feed them a lot of fruits and lettuce and things. Is this okay for a ferret's diet?

Comment #3 MissyG (64.136.27.228) -

I'm surprised that the ferrets would eat lettuce and stuff like that. Back when I had mine, they would occasionally nibble on a piece of fruit, but much preferred meat. They are weasels, and weasels hunt other rodents, frogs, lizards, even birds.

They do have specific ferret food, but we had great health with a high quality cat food too.

Comment #4 endora (24.45.126.104) -

I used the ferrat food i bought from the store. I never had mine go for meat. Do they chase mice around? That would be soo cool.

Comment #5 Molly (71.94.20.14) -

I like ferrets but my parents won't let me have one. They won't let me get a cat either

which are my favorite animals. At least I have a Hedgehog and two gerbils. So, Please send me a chocolate covered ferret.

From, Molly [:

Comment #6 Apple from US -

mike (63.176.159.162):

Ferrets eat meat, here is a list of meat that you could possibly feed, preferably raw, unseasoned:

mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, 1 day old chicks (treat basis, high in fat), beef, chicken, cornish hens, superworms, venison, lamb, veal, turkey, elk, fish, shrimp, sardines, tuna, almost any kind of meat. They can eat it lizards, but I don't really recommend that, I've never heard of anyone with any success there. I do know some ferrets who go "fishing" with feeder goldfish. Not sure about that practice either. Anyway, also high quality kibble, no fruits or veggies added, Top 5 ingredients all human-safe meat products, not by-products. Good kibbles to check out: Innova Evo, Wysong Archetype, Totally Ferret, Ziwipeak. Also high protein kitten food is sometimes good. The Evo Kitten kibble is cheaper, then ferret and has basically the same ingredients. Remember the eat about a 1/4 cup of of kibble a day, so these bags will last you. I suggest mixing a few types of kibble at once, because ferrets imprint on the food, you will need another kibble available incase one food runs out or is no longer sold. Plus it adds variety and helps make sure he has a complete diet. Great health is a result of the treats you feed, which should be just as high qualtiy as your kibble, and your kibble or raw meats.

endora (24.45.126.104):

Ferrets will eat live mice. If you want to try this, you should start with a pinkie mouse. My ferret eats live pinkie mice. It can be hard to watch. But to coax him into finishing it, I always add Ferrevite or Ferretone to give it more flavor. It is good for enrichment and to keep him active. I don't consider this cruel, because animals in the wild kill and eat live prey.

KateyBate (66.227.233.47):

Lettuce, fruits, veggies are pretty bad for a ferret. They are undisgestible because he is a carnivore. They do not provide any nutritional value either. In fact, they could possibly cause blockages in the stomach, and have to be removed by surgery! You may find that a ferret on this diet will have stringy poos, green poos, mostly diarrhea, or his poos will practically stop because there is a blockage. If this is the case, see a vet immediately! Preferably a vet with ferret experience, however any vet should be able to take an xray and determine what is happening!

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