Pork anyone?

[LindaM]

So I was wondering if my ferrets could have some piggly wiggly. And no, not the supermarket chain.. I didn't even know that existed until my husband just mentioned it to me, lol.

Pork...

Does anyone on here feed their ferrets any pork? Are there any specific cuts to get preferably or need to avoid for any reason? I know fattier cuts ought to provide them with more energy than a lean cut.

I am able to get packets of pork from the grocery store (though I think those have a tenderizing solution on which includes a bit of salt, should I just avoid this one entirely?), or I can get plain pork straight out of the butchery at one of the other grocery stores we shop at.

Also, pork rib ends, can ferrets get this as a bone-in meal? Or is the bone in that too hard?

[crazylady]

Hi avoid any form of salted pork try them with a little pork grind from a butchers to begin with as a lot of ferrets are not keen on pork mine simply prefer pork tongues and wont look at any other portions lol also make sure there has not been any problems with pork in your area good luck take care bye for now
Bev

[Klarissa]

As long as it's 1) meant for human consumption, and 2) Not treated with any kind of solution you should be good.

As crazylady said, pork can be a tough sell. I actually use it as a staple (instead of chicken which is a treat in my house). Ground pork, mixed with a ground meat they're familiar with is a good way to introduce them to it.

[LindaM]

Thanks crazylady. I can get unsalted pork directly from the butcher in the one store.

Athena has been very, very keen on her raw the last 2 weeks, and she will basically eat anything, she's even stopped being as picky as she was with beef (both my ferrets weren't ever exactly fond of beef, they'd eat it, but showed it no love or enthusiasm) and now happily munches some chunks.. or tries to create her own homemade biltong from it under my bedside table, to be eaten later.

So I don't think she'll be too fussy.. though my boy Loki might be. I'll give it a shot and see how they take to it.

[Heather]

I feed pork, occasionally. My guys like it. There is no reason why you can't feed pork as long as it's not treated (salts, flavouring without crap that we seem to think is needed in meats). The only time you have to be careful is with free range or hunted wild boar. Meats in the market or at the butcher are fine.
ciao

[Lily]

Lexy loves pork, Ramsey not so much. I don't feed them regularly but they eat some when I'm preparing pork for dinner that's directly from my local butcher. As others have said, there's nothing wrong with feeding pork as long as it hasn't been "treated."

[LindaM]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll be picking up some pork for the fuzzbutts and see how they like it.

Heather Speaking of avoiding boar, I know Orijen does FDR Alberta Wild Boar treats (Ingredients: Wild Boar, Wild Boar Liver). Would there be any concerns with that as treats?

[abbeytheferret6]

My blaze likes pork. She will eat small chunks. I did get the others to try it after blending it in bullet and finger feeding. Blaze is the only one who will eat it without it being a soupie.  I Use tenderloin or pork chop--- whatever we are eating. As others have said with no solutions.

[LindaM]

Thanks abbeytheferret6!

Anyone have any idea if they can have pork ribs ends for a bone-in meal?

[Heather]

Commercial raw boar is fine.
Some ferrets can handle rib ends, riblets, some cannot. It's really up to the ferret. Just make sure you've got a lot of meat around the bone if the bone is more dense
ciao

[LindaM]

Thanks Heather!

I'll see how much meat are on the rib ends in the store, I saw some untreated packages in our one local grocery store. Will try and see what my ferrets do with them once they take to pork meat, if they do that is. Though I'm very hopeful with Athena at least.

Should I smash up the bone in that to start with? Since it'll be a new bone type for them and likely harder than the chicken bones I think.

[Sherry]

I use the long strips of rib ends here. Cheap and they love them Only two of mine are able to actually consume the bones from them though.

[LindaM]

Thanks Sherry. I'm hoping to try that out and just pray they will like it. I want to introduce more variety to their bone-in meals which has mostly been chicken-related.

[Deleted]

We have pork on our weekly menu and all of our ferrets like it we just buy the fattier cuts that are on sale. I have to go to the dollar store that packs their own meat because Walmart treats all their pork with salt

[LindaM]

@kelso Luckily, I'm able to get some untreated meat from the butchery in our one local grocery store. But it's good knowing there are people whose furbabies do enjoy eating the pork. I hope mine will take to it as well. ^^