Is this acceptable food?

[geohiccup]

Hi all, my profile has just been accepted minutes ago; I've been very eager to ask questions here
I don't have my ferret yet as I like to do a lot of research before deciding to get a pet, so I know if I'm right for him/her and if she/he is right for me
From my research I know ferrets are carnivores and various people feed various different diets, some purely raw meat etc. I would like to feed him/her (although I plan on getting a girl) a pellet diet, like the one in the link below, however yes I would give him/her eggs and meat as well, would this be alright? I know they need above 31% protien in a food, below 3% fibre and above 18% fat minmum.
www.amazon.co.uk/Alpha-Ferret-Feast-10-Kg/dp/B003670KUE/ref=pd_cp_199_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QMAP03H1EGS80ZCSFQG7
Aside from giving eggs, raw right? and some meat, is there anything else you suggest? Supplements? I have a crested gecko, well out of the way of any furry ferrets! and I know they can have calcium dust and supplements etc, would this be reccomended alongside the pellets, eggs and meat or not?
Thanks all for reading any feedback would be emmesnly appreciated
Georgia

[Sherry]

I haven't fed kibble in years, so just going by the ingredient list here Poultry Meat Meal (min 27.0%), Wheat, Fish Meal (15.0%), Maize, Poultry Oil, Maize Gluten Meal, Brewers Yeast, Sugar Beet, Linseed, Extract of Yucca Schidigera I'd say no. It is REALLY high in corn and wheat. Brewers yeast and sugar beet are sugars. All contribute to insulinoma holisticferret60.proboards.com/board/30/insulinoma
Is there is a reason you don't want to feed raw?

[geohiccup]

Mar 27, 2017 10:37:39 GMT -5 Sherry said:

I haven't fed kibble in years, so just going by the ingredient list here Poultry Meat Meal (min 27.0%), Wheat, Fish Meal (15.0%), Maize, Poultry Oil, Maize Gluten Meal, Brewers Yeast, Sugar Beet, Linseed, Extract of Yucca Schidigera I'd say no. It is REALLY high in corn and wheat. Brewers yeast and sugar beet are sugars. All contribute to insulinoma holisticferret60.proboards.com/board/30/insulinoma
Is there is a reason you don't want to feed raw?

No other factor other than meat is quite expensive and my job goes by monthly rota, 9 out of 12 months I'm super busy-I only work 3 hours max though per day so will have plenty of time for the ferret - however the other 3 months I'm low on money and have my phone bill to pay as contribution to my house. I buy my bunny food in bulk and it works well, however I'm just afaid I won't have enough to constantly be buying fresh meat in those 3 months and wouldn't want the ferret to suffer.
What food did you used to feed your ferrets before you started on a raw diet?

[Sherry]

Do you have a freezer? I buy meat in bulk when possible. It is good for up to a year in a chest freezer. I often buy frozen, thaw, cut and portion, and refreeze. It is also generally cheaper than a good quality kibble.

[geohiccup]

Mar 27, 2017 10:43:54 GMT -5 Sherry said:

Do you have a freezer? I buy meat in bulk when possible. It is good for up to a year in a chest freezer. I often buy frozen, thaw, cut and portion, and refreeze. It is also generally cheaper than a good quality kibble.

I own a small freezer but could try and get ahold of a local second-hand chest freezer, and I shall take a looka round for some deals on meat in shops and local butchers

[Lily]

I personally found that I was paying more for a high quality kibble than a raw diet, tbh.

I used to feed my ferrets a variety of kibble between Go!Natural and Orijen. I spent around $60-$90 but now I spend about $30-$40 per month on their raw diet. I could drop it down to $20 if I wanted to, but I like to offer them a variety of meat as well as high quality.

Buying bulk and putting them in the freezer during the 3 months when you're low on money might help. Kibble feeding can cause Insulinoma, one of the most commonly occurring cancers in ferrets. I switched my ferrets to raw ever since my first ferret got it due to kibble feeding; I haven't dealt with any ferrets with Insulinoma who have been fed a raw diet at an early age.

If you absolutely must feed kibble, I recommend Orijen. It's my go-to kibble if I ever have to go back to it for whatever reason. Pricey, but it's great. If you choose to go with Wysong, make sure to buy the Digestive Support one as its the same formula as the previous epigen 90, but their current Epigen 90 had a formula change, causing a lot of upset tummies for ferrets (Believe it was chia seeds or something)

[Sherry]

geohiccup I use a small apartment sized freezer(5 cu ft) and hold meat for 5 ferrets for 2-3 months at least

[Roberto de Molero]

As a personal opinion I will say that from this month I am living in my first house, paying my bills, etc and one of the reasons I don't have my ferret yet is because until next year (when I have finished paying few things) I can't afford paying for a whole prey diet. I can feed myself, my dog and a couple of nights out a month, that is it.
Next year, when my situation has improved I will get my ferret, with a lot of knowledge (hopefully) and with a clear mind ready to start properly looking after him. 
I could pay for kibbles today and I get my little fluffbutt. But sometimes, if you really want something, you want to do what is best.
I suggest you to wait until your situation changes. You and your future ferret will be happier (and way healthier) this way.

[msav]

I have found the with feeding kibble and factoring in the vet bills that feeding kibble with cause in the long run, you will save a lot more money feeding RAW.

Also you will want to be ready for at least $1000 per ferret saved for emergencies at the vet. Although Since I have been feeding whole prey I have not needed to touch that money for the last 4 years. When I first got ferrets and fed kibble, it was almost every month I had to take my ferret to the vet for dehydration and other kibble related issues.