Switched at confusion

[Deleted]

Hi! Now that I've gotten your attention, I will state, I am terrible at doing this, so please be patient.
I have a nearly 4 year old cinnamon ferret named Lexi, she had anxiety/stress issues towards other weasels, so we live alone. I do not agree or believe in kibble foods, feel its the McDonald's for ferrets, so I refuse to be ok with feeding that to her. That said, shes been kibbled since kit lands. Currently I work crazy amounts and haven't been able to meet all the requirements to apply for a mentor, however it is a definite plan of mine. Currently Lexi and I are on day 5 of her switch, yesterday was the first day I haven't given her kibble at all. And shes doing great, currently in feeding commercial raw from a local store, the owner is very open about her products and sources and grinds it herself. In the mixes currently, there is at least 70% meat and bone, and 20% heart and liver ground together.

[Deleted]

So far her weight went from 1.70lbs to (5th day) 1.60lbs her poops are solid and good colour, and shes happy and plays from 2-4 hours.

[LindaM]

Doesn't sound bad, if you want to double check with her, I believe the balanced ratios for ferrets are 65-70% muscle meat, 10% heart, 10% organs (half needs to be liver), and 10-15% bone. Where's the other 10% in that grind going, does she put fruits and veggies in it or something? Too much bone can make them get constipated though, too much organs could mean there's too much liver in there and lead to a vitamin A toxicity. If she grinds it herself, she could probably make you a perfectly balanced grind though.

Are you planning on switching to a frankenprey or whole prey diet later on, or do you wish to keep her on commercial raw? Grinds are great, and easy to prep, but you must brush your fuzzy's teeth regularly as only bone-in meals from a frankenprey or whole prey diet will clean teeth by themselves.

It sounds like she's doing really good. Keep us posted on how it goes. And congrats on making the choice to switch!

[Deleted]

Who am I double checking with? Also how many times a day should she be eating?

[LindaM]

The local store owner you are buying from that you said makes her own grinds, if she makes her own grinds, she could make one that's fully balanced for them.

Most of us doing frankenprey do an AM and a PM meal, so twice a day. And those that do wholeprey, depending on what they put out, feed either once or twice a day.

[Sherry]

That's great that she's doing so well You mentioned 70% meat/bone, and 20% heart/liver. Do you know what the other 10% is? She will need another organ mixed in there. Kidney, brain, reproductive organs, spleen, pancreas, thymus, etc. for examples.
What is your final goal? Full meat pieces(frankenprey), commercial raw grinds(similar to what you are doing now), whole prey(whole small animals), or a mix of the above?
For number of feedings, it will depend on what you are giving. Whole prey for example you can feed once a day, just leave enough in to last them 24 hours. Same with large pieces of meat(example whole thighs, drumsticks, large chunks of muscle meats, etc). With smaller pieces and commercial raw best to feed twice a day.

[Deleted]

Thanks Sherry, I think I've contacted you via fb, so the commercial raw packaging (made for cats) is 80% meat bone in, and 20% heart and liver, there was one mix that had 12%salmon in it (which I hadn't noticed when reading the mixtures) but I stopped that when I went back to get a print out of all the mixtures I had gotten.
My final goal is frankenprey and commercial raw mixes...im just working out the kinks on local farmers to provide happy healthy meat sources for my little one.

[Sherry]

They can have fish, so no issues there. I had one who adored salmon. But ONLY wild pacific cohoe(spoiled fuzz ). Any other kind she turned her nose up at.

[Sherry]

I didn't get the pm, even in alternate messages. Here is my fb link www.facebook.com/sherry.stone3