Food available 24/7?

[albionlass]

On another forum there seems to be an general agreement that ferrets should have food available at all times because they have a 3 hour digestive system and that having set mealtimes and periods with no food isn't good for long term health?

The members there that feed raw seem to leave kibble down all the while in addition.

If I gave Freca enough food so that he always had some available he would become overweight, he has already put on 130 grams in the 2 weeks since he had his implant and is now at a healthy weight/body condition for his size.
I certainly don't want to leave kibble down for him 24/7 in addition to his raw and whole prey as that would defeat the entire object of feeding raw!
As I mentioned in another thread Freca is fed twice per day and he eats the food then and there and doesn't stash any, does this mean he isn't getting enough?

I don't want to jeapardize his long term wellbeing, what should I do?

[Deleted]

I just leave enough raw to last until next meal time. Kibble lacks so much that ferrets need to constantly eat in order to survive. That is not the case with raw. I would ditch the kibble entirely. Ferrets regulate themselves rather well and usually don't get overweight from eating too much.

[albionlass]

I only feed him a little kibble every couple of weeks just so he still recognizes it as food in case I aver HAVE to feed him kibble.
I'm worried that if I feed him food to last until the next mealtime he will become overweight. He eats around 4 ounces of food per day at the moment, split into 2 meals fed at around 6.30 am when I get up and 4 pm. Perhaps I should increase the size of the evening meal and monitor his weight?
In the morning he is letting me know in no uncertain terms that he is hungry so perhaps increasing his evening meal and trying to gradually move it top a later time would be best. I feed him at 4 currently as he is pestering for food by that time.

Freca has only been with me under a month so I'm still forming his routine, he has been raw fed since a kit (he's almost 3) but I don't know what his previous routine was.

At his vet visit yesterday (for his distemper shot) the vet said she wouldn't want him to get any heavier than he is now, that he is just right in her opinion.

[Deleted]

4 oz isn't that much for a hob. How much does he weigh? How old is he? As long as he is active I don't think he will get overweight. I would up his food a bit, see how much he eats. Most ferrets can be free fed without risk of excessive weight gain. Their metabolism is very fast so they do eat more in weight than say a cat or dog. hope that helps

[albionlass]

Thanks for that, he is almost 3 and weighs 1.3 kg, he isn't a very big hob but he is solid, he was lighter when I got him but has been filling out over the last couple of weeks.
I'll give him some extra from now on, hopefully he'll make it last until near the time for his next meal and not just guts it all down.

[shilohismygirl]

I leave their raw out for them at all times-I also don't have set mealtimes-when they finish their food, I give them more. If I have to leave for awhile that day, I make sure they have enough to last. Mine eat heartily on and off all day, and they are at perfectly healthy weights and I have three gibs and one sprite.

[Sherry]

That really isn't much, is it ;D But they do all vary in their dietary intake. My 1.17 kilo farm ferret has a daily intake of 4-6 oz. in the summer, more in the winter.
I feed twice a day, and leave enough in for snacking between meals.
Also, I've not fed kibble in over 3 years. Mine don't recognize it any more, but if by some chance they had to have it, it would be simple enough to switch them back slowly, the same way they went to raw.

[Heather]

My guys have food available 24/7 but only because they steal the cat's food. I also have an insulinomic ferret. Even though it's there, they only eat in two main munching periods. First thing in the morning when they get out and again when they're put to bed when they get their whole prey or big chewy meats. Most of my guys (except for Minion) are seniors and most are ill so using their eating amounts against a healthy young hob wouldn't be fair but Sherry's got some good approximations
ciao

[Deleted]

I too leave food out 24/7. I have two kits, 5 months and 10 months. The older kit eats over 6ozs a day easily, though he has the energy of 2 ferrets! lol. The younger kit is smaller same energy and eats between 4-6 ozs.
My little girl who is 4/5 yrs old and only 1lb 12 oz eats 3/4 oz and has lower energy then any of them.

They all will leave food behind, and stop eating when full. I dont mind a bit of left over in the morning, and either do my dogs.

[albionlass]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions everyone, 3kaw, Im sure my dogs (raw fed) too will be glad to help the ferret clear up any left-overs.

[miamiferret2]

I leave a bowl of freeze dried out all day for him.