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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2015 23:25:17 GMT -5
I am going to definitely need to get a freezer chest. Currently arguing with my partner about organizing the freezer and how many shelves are allowed for dead animals.
This is what got me realizing my need for a another freezer. I know it is a bit far off but I like to plan ahead. Got an estimate from RodentPro (never ordered from them myself but every herp keeper I know uses them) and this is what I got:
I want a good variety for Enzo, and plan on 9-10 whole prey meals each week with 3-4 meals of hearts or other organ meats? I wish there was a herp event closer to me so I could pick up prey in person. And the only reputable store that sells whole prey around here only has f/t mice. I live in a rural area but all the livestock is just chicken, guinea fowl and bull yaks. And pig of course but we are a Jewish household and I don't feel comfortable bringing it in, even for the ferret.
So I am wondering, with the ferrets + whatever else you may keep, do you have a separate storage freezer? Or do you fight for space with your housemates |
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Post by Heather on Nov 10, 2015 23:49:49 GMT -5
I have 2 full sized chest freezers (largest on the market) for the dog, the cat and the ferrets. I just ordered for the dog and that was 250 lbs of meat. The ferrets I buy weekly for their prey but I just bought 100 lbs of ground bone for my ground raw mix, 50 lbs of turkey hearts, 50 lbs of turkey necks and 50 lbs of liver. I did notice though that the prey seems to have taken over my fridge freezer {sigh}
ciao
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Post by msav on Nov 11, 2015 1:08:55 GMT -5
ferret freezer yep just for the ferrets. they also get the bottom drawer of the fridge for thawing said frozen meats  |
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Post by msav on Nov 11, 2015 1:12:42 GMT -5
oh and you will want to get sexually mature whole prey, too young and they are not nutritionally balanced.
the 3 week old quail and small chickens may be a bit too young.
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Post by RedSky on Nov 11, 2015 3:04:06 GMT -5
My ferrets inherited my dogs old big chest freezer. I've just refilled it with whole prey and it's going to take quite a while to go down with just 2 ferrets. It's much bigger than our standing (under counter) freezer, but so worth it so I can get the bulk orders in, especially the whole prey. Makes it so much cheaper.
I just wanted to ask about that last part. You said you wanted to feed them whole prey for the majority of their meals then heart and organs for the rest. That would be very unbalanced. Whole prey is the perfect balance, unless you are removing the heart and organs they wouldn't need meals of more.
I found doing half whole prey and half balanced raw works easy to understand. They get 5% liver, 5% other organs, 10% heart and the rest I feed bone in as mine often don't eat all the bone. If they do eat all the bone then you need to do some (10% to 20%) just muscle meat. I've put % as no matter how many meals you feed that need to be balanced out it will still be the same. At least one meal a week should be red meat (beef, lamb, goat etc).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 3:14:06 GMT -5
My ferrets inherited my dogs old big chest freezer. I've just refilled it with whole prey and it's going to take quite a while to go down with just 2 ferrets. It's much bigger than our standing (under counter) freezer, but so worth it so I can get the bulk orders in, especially the whole prey. Makes it so much cheaper. I just wanted to ask about that last part. You said you wanted to feed them whole prey for the majority of their meals then heart and organs for the rest. That would be very unbalanced. Whole prey is the perfect balance, unless you are removing the heart and organs they wouldn't need meals of more. I found doing half whole prey and half balanced raw works easy to understand. They get 5% liver, 5% other organs, 10% heart and the rest I feed bone in as mine often don't eat all the bone. If they do eat all the bone then you need to do some (10% to 20%) just muscle meat. I've put % as no matter how many meals you feed that need to be balanced out it will still be the same. At least one meal a week should be red meat (beef, lamb, goat etc). That is interesting. I have been reading transition to whole prey threads and I wrote down people's meal plan and that is the pattern I saw. Most meals were whole prey and then a few were organs and hearts? Or maybe just hearts. I should re-read them. Dankie! Your information is appreciated. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 5:02:34 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 5:17:56 GMT -5
Got a chest freezer. Ferrets taking over human fridge freezer,too.
OHHH, TO HAVE AN UPRIGHT. Not enough room to have a long chest, which would be nice as well. Can't arrange in little short chest, so I tag bigger bags that hold freezer baggies of mice, asf rat, hearts, gizzards.etc
If you got a freezer on bottom of fridge---make sure you know where the baby is. U can catch some footsies.
MSAV how big is your freezer?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 5:21:11 GMT -5
We have a chest freezer for the ferrets as well, as I prefer to order in bulk for them, and I don't quite fancy meeting frozen rats when I cook for ourselves  ) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 5:32:48 GMT -5
I don't at the moment. They have their own space in our freezer (Top for weekly meals and bottom for the bulk storage) I plan on getting a little freezer for them soon since we're running out of space.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 19:10:43 GMT -5
oh and you will want to get sexually mature whole prey, too young and they are not nutritionally balanced.
Do you think the rat pups are OK?
I just wanted to ask about that last part. You said you wanted to feed them whole prey for the majority of their meals then heart and organs for the rest.
I realized my mistake, what I wrote down was a frankenprey diet.
Dankie! That is very helpful!
Would rats, mice, and guinea pigs be an OK variety for a ferret? 10 meals of those, 3 bone-in meals and 1 meal of 50% heart and 50% liver?
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Post by msav on Nov 11, 2015 20:53:29 GMT -5
Small or medium rats would be closer to sexually mature.
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Post by Corvidophile on Nov 11, 2015 20:59:28 GMT -5
I've got a little dormitory sized freezer in the basement full of ferret stuff, but it's upright so it's quite inefficient, open the door and the cold just pours right out. I've also got a chest freezer big enough to fit a number of frozen humans in, it came with the house and I literally can't get it out of the basement! One day we'll hire someone to take a crack at fixing it, it would be much better.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2015 20:59:22 GMT -5
Small or medium rats would be closer to sexually mature. OK, thank you. I was trying to order something my python could eat, too, but that is OK. He will grow into it. |
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Post by msav on Nov 11, 2015 22:29:22 GMT -5
Got a chest freezer. Ferrets taking over human fridge freezer,too. OHHH, TO HAVE AN UPRIGHT. Not enough room to have a long chest, which would be nice as well. Can't arrange in little short chest, so I tag bigger bags that hold freezer baggies of mice, asf rat, hearts, gizzards.etc If you got a freezer on bottom of fridge---make sure you know where the baby is. U can catch some footsies. MSAV how big is your freezer? it is a 14 cubic foot upright. |
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