ferret diet

Question
hello,
i have a 9 week old kit. i am reading a whole lot of online information about ferret diets. I have had to scrap the info given to me by the guy i bought my little boy from (he was feeding them a weetbix or bread everymorning with cows milk and water, and a couple of other things i have seen on the "do not feed list.
now my question is, is it possible to not have to feed my ferret a packages food (whether it be ferret mix or good quality cat food)?? we home cook meals for or staffy and would like to do something similar for our kit. Is it possible to just give our ferret the puppy mince, chicken necks and things like that for his meals??

Answer
Hello Liz,



Thank you for asking!  Bread with milk is NOT an appropriate diet and could do your ferret more harm than good. Your ferret's nutrition is extremely important for good health.

Ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest plant material, carbohydrates or milk. They should never be given vegetables, fruit or anything containing sugar.  This can lead to serious health complications.  You can, however, feed some meat if your ferret will eat it.  I feed my guys chicken on occasion, and they love it.  

Make sure you are feeding a HIGH quality, grain free diet.  Cat kibbled diets work well as long as you find the right one.  The diet should be high in protein (about 45 percent) and high in fat (about 20 percent).  It should also have low fiber.  

The first three ingredients should be meat-based, and not contain by-products since these are mostly devoid of valuable nutrition.  Also, the food should be low in carbohydrates (corn, rice, potatoes, etc) since ferrets are obligate carnivores and cannot digest them well.

Here are some brands I recommend (may not be available in other countries):

Wysong Archetypal-1 (beef) or Archetypal-2 (chicken)
http://www.wysong.net/products/archetypal-1-natural-healthy-ferret-food.php
http://www.wysong.net/products/archetypal-2-natural-healthy-ferret-food.php

Wellness Core Feline
http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat_wellness_dry_core.html

Innova Ferret EVO (Or cat version if not available)
http://www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=15

Wilderness by Blue Buffalo
http://www.bluebuff.com/products/cats/wilderness-cat.shtml

Brands I Do not recommend:  Marshall Farms, Totally Ferret, 8-in-one, IAMS, Kaycee ferret, etc.   

This list is by no means all inclusive.  There are many other good types available, just check the labels. Not all premium kitten/cat kibble is good for these guys, and not even all brands of ferret-specific food!  Every brand is different, and that is why I tend to choose 2-3 of the best, and create a mixture. I currently feed a mix of Core Wellness, and Wilderness, although it varies from month to month with what is available.       

It is difficult to change a ferret's diet once they have imprinted on a certain brand.  Imprinting on certain foods happens at a very young age, and most will turn up their noses to anything else!   If you decide to switch brands, always introduce the new type by mixing it in with the old kibble.  I generally start with a 25/75 mixture, then increase the amount of new food over the next few days.  This allows the sensitive ferret tummies and taste buds to get used to the new diet.  Changing food too quickly can result in nasty vomiting and diarrhea.

Remember to store all extra food in airtight containers (Such as for cereal storage).  If you buy three kinds of kibble, it will last you awhile!  Also, change the kibble in your ferret's bowl DAILY.  These brands contain vitamins that can go rancid quickly and cause stomach problems.  

Stay away from vegetables, fruits and milk products as treats.  Raisins can cause kidney failure, and too much sugar (anything that ends with -ose) can lead to insulinoma and other complications. I feed my guys dehydrated 100% chicken treats with no additives as snacks.  These can be found in the canine section of your local pet store.  Another obscure (but healthy) treat is live meal worms.  These can be found at any pet store, and I haven't met a ferret who didn't love them yet.

There is a short FAQ that contains some info on nutrition from the AFA's Official Website:

http://www.ferret.org/read/faq.html

I hope this answers your question!  Sorry that my response is so lengthy, but I wanted to cover all of the important points =3

Remember... Always check the ingredients for whatever you buy, since most store bought brands are not good for the little guys!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

-Cindy P