Kibble and raw

[Deleted]

Hello. Right now I feed Kibble Mix. NV Instinct Cat Food, and Blue Wilderness Grain Free Cat Food and EVO Ferret Kibble. But they POOP so much and the smell is alot even after just a day.

I would like to add in some raw. Maybe eventually all Raw. I have 6 of my own ferrets. I often have Fosters. I'm wondering if anyone feeds 6 ferrets Raw daily and how much they end up feeding a day. My worry is cost. In my area we have alot of Chicken, beef pork and turkey meat. But normally I can only find Chicken Liver amd sometimes Gizzard with hearts (I eats them too.) Often I can only find Gizzards. I have a heard time finding hearts. I may be able to find Bone meal in our organic food store but it's not there I need another alternative we only have that 1 store. Besides regular grocery stores. Which I have talked to about hearts etc and they say they only have what they put out. Also wondering about Fish can they eat variety of fish?

Is it possible to feed kibble daily and feed like a raw meal deal or Kibble for a meal and Raw for a meal. Do you mix the Two. (I have heard no due to digestive differences)
I wanna try a Basic soupy. I have a feeling I'm gonna waste alot I absolutely HATE wasted food....i figure because I have tried the Frozen NV Instinct Cat food and they wouldn't even go near the bowl.

I also wonder about do I feed them at scheduled times or leave food all day I ask cause I work from 6 to 3 a few days a week and often don't get home til later due to 1 car and my husband works too sometimes later.
Sorry so many questions Im just concerned about cost, waste and if they need to be watched while eatting etc.

Also how to I feed it I don't want bacteria all over the cage cause it's covered in fleece. I'm always afraid of getting sick from raw meat.

I have been looking over the raw Readings that are sticky on the forum. It's alot to take in and I'm a bit overwhelmed.

[Heather]

Feeding raw takes commitment. It's hard on a ferret to eat kibbles and it makes them smell bad as you've found out. Feeding the mixture isn't really going to reap any benefits. You can do this and there are some that do but feeding raw when it's convenient has some serious issues that can occur just from feeding both. Bacterial overloads happen because kibble adjusts the ph in their stomach making it more susceptible to bacterial growth. Switching takes time and effort and a lot of commitment, it's not a choice to be taken lightly as it can be done wrong and will have serious consequences. Am I trying to discourage you, no. I would much rather your wee ones could be on raw, but I don't want you blind sided either and I don't want you to "unbalance" your ferrets' diet. This is by far worse than any kibble feeding and unfortunately what vets see.
Can you feed both...yes, with caution
Soupy is not raw, it's a switching tool and something made for sickies and end lifers. You cannot just put a bowl in front of a ferret and get them to eat it. Ferrets are set, after about 6 to 9 months in what they accept as food. After that you have to re-indoctrinate them, teach them what they can eat or should eat. Hence the use of the soupy.
Kibble fed ferrets must have access to food all the time. Raw fed ferrets (except kits and sickies) are often fed once or twice a day.
Yes, they can eat raw fish as an occasional meal.
Butchers and grocery stores will often order in organ meats at your request. This is where a freezer comes in handy. I often buy by the case. I just ordered a case of quail because they don't often sell it and can't be bothered ordering it in but for me to take the whole case means there is no risk to their bottom line because it's sold. This also means that often I get bulk discounts.
Amounts you need to feed varies. The factors that come into play are age, size, gender, health and season. As an overall a jill/sprite will eat 1 to 3 oz of food daily. A hob/gibb will eat 3 to 5 oz. A kit twice that amount at least (they're little bottomless pits)
As far as bacteria....I don't really think about it, beyond whatever normal care I would give. Their bedding gets changed weekly and I clean their cages with vinegar. Been feeding this way for 30 yrs. Can't be doing too badly
Keep reading, keep asking questions. Changing to raw isn't to be taken lightly, but your ferrets will be much happier, healthier and won't smell as bad Good luck
ciao