Ferret feeding.

Question
I'm getting a ferret sometime between later today and the end of the week; probably today or tomorrow. I've done all my research and such. But I was just wondering a question; since ferrets are carnivores, can you feed them packaged ham? Like the ham you would use on sandwhiches, or would that be bad?

Answer
Hi Mayra-Alexandra:

What a beautiful name you have!  Ferrets can eat any meat; but the less "processed" the better. It's a good idea to start the ferret from the beginning with little bits of meat and eggs as treats instead of the junky sugary stuff you buy for treats from the pet stores. Any sugar is always bad for ferrets (READ the labels always). Hard boiled eggs all cut up make a nice snack fed a little at a time; if you feed chicken with bones, it MUST be fed RAW because the bones splinter after they have been cooked and become very brittle. Raw chicken and bones are fine and healthy as long as they have been properly refrigerated and removed before they have a chance to spoil....same with turkey.I think those are the most commonly fed meats for ferrets. Some folks also feed 'feeder mice' also called "pinkies"....some kill them first; some put them in the cage alive and let the ferret chase them down and kill and eat them. I'm a chicken and my kids eat processed ferret food kibble - the best I can buy, but I can't seem to bring myself to kill anything nor let them do it either. I've heard that folks who do feed live or raw meat CLAIM to have healthier ferrets though - something to consider IF you can handle it.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers