Eggs - What's the rule?

[Deleted]

Hi All,

I know there's a rule of thumb for giving eggs to ferts, can someone please share?  How many is too many?  What are the consequences for a fert having too many?

Thanks in advance,

Suzie

[Sherry]

One a week as a rule, and two during shedding season. Too many will really throw off the balance of the diet, as well as lead to really bad stools.

[Deleted]

Thanks so much - I knew it was probably something like that. Of course I've been feeing them too often. I'll soo have some cranky weasels.

They have REALLY beautiful coats though.

Suzie

[Deleted]

I'm thankful I saw this as I'd been seeing 1-2 per week per ferret and had never seen it clarified that 2 is only during shedding!

[Deleted]

I usually feed my ferret 3-4 eggs per week, and he's fine with it. I'm probably in the minority though. And I'm no expert.

[LindaM]

@jk211 if you do that, you're likely going to deal with some very bad poops (if you haven't noticed already), and it can really upset their stomachs and diets if they get that much of them. You should really rather aim for one egg per ferret, per week instead, and double during the shedding season. I think the highest I've ever heard of is an egg every 3 days, so that would max at 2 per week, though most of us follow the rule of 1 per ferret, per week.

[Deleted]

Ok. I'm gonna try to limit it to 1 or 2 eggs per week.

[Deleted]

The general rule of thumb is 1 a week. I just bought quail eggs though which are really small so I plan on giving those 3 times a week.

[Sherry]

jaxandjazz has a point. When we are discussing how many eggs we are usually talking about large chicken eggs. When feeding something as small as a quail's egg 3 a week is fine

[LindaM]

That is true, yes. I think I saw somewhere that 5 quail eggs equal a chicken egg though (calories, fat, and protein amount wise). So, what would be the better limit for that Sherry 3 eggs a week or up to 5 eggs? Can you also let them break these eggs open by themselves, and can they eat the thin shells of the quail egg?

@jaxandjazz77 Where did you buy your quail eggs from (store, farmer's market, online)? I've been pondering for a while if I wanted to try giving my ferrets some of them for variety and enrichment, though I'm not quite sure where I might be able to get some for them.

[Deleted]

When I weighed chicken eggs that I got for myself they were around 54-56 grams, the quail eggs were 12-15 grams. I've learned from my mentor that you can do 3-4 quail eggs per week, 5-6 during shedding season. I'm choosing to do 3 a week because I give them salmon oil in 1/4 teaspoons (so 4 times a week). The other 3 days of the week are for the eggs.

I don't know how to tag people LindaM, lol, but this is for your question. I was shopping at Price Rite and found quail eggs right there next to the regular ones. I was at Stop and Shop today looking for them. Figured if Price Rite had them, Stop and Shop had to, too. But they didn't. I don't know if Price Rite was just having some sort of special or if they carry them all the time. I hope they do though because my babies seem to love them!

[Sherry]

For quail eggs yes, 3-5 depending on shedding. And yes they can break the quail shell easily themselves and most will eat them

[LindaM]

Thanks @jaxandjazz77 and Sherry I'm gonna try and see if I can get a hold of some quail eggs somewhere. I hope one of the more local markets/stores will have some for me. I'm itching to see what my two will do with some.

[Deleted]

I'm going to look for quail eggs myself. Sounds like it would be a nice change from chicken eggs for them. I do have access to duck eggs. Sherry, what would be the rule of thumb for duck eggs? They are pretty large, but oh so tasty!

[Sherry]

Watch with duck eggs. They are too rich for some. Also it will be a meal
For quail eggs, check with Asian markets