Feeding Den and sanitation question??

[Deleted]

I'm trying to make feeding dens for my guys who are still transitioning to raw, because they are very messy!!! I want to keep all the food contained so I don't have to deep clean their whole cage every single day. I have seen several other threads discussing feeding dens, but for some reason the photos won't display. Can I see links and such for good feeding dens? Also keeping in mind that my fuzzbutts seem extra inclined to knock everything over and tunnel through the mess lol. I was also wondering if any of you are ever worried about giving your fuzzbutts kisses? I always like to kiss mine on the top of the head, but since starting the raw, I'm worried about bacteria and such being in their fur. I don't like feeling like my babies are "dirty". Help please!!!

[LindaM]

I can get pretty germaphobic about certain things, but my babies get a pass. They're often the ones giving US kisses, and all of them feel it's a "good job chef" compliment to use their humans to clean their faces on right after breakfast or dinner. They've used my pants or the small of my back to clean their faces in if they don't want to use the provided face towel by their bowls.

When handling their food and cleaning up after them, you simply practice the same good hygiene habits you would when handling your own food. Wash your hands before, keep surfaces clean, use clean equipment, and wash your hands again afterwards.

I haven't ever heard of bacteria being in their fur from eating raw, it sounds like the typical stuff anti-raw people throw around all the time as the reasons to not feed raw and scare people off the idea.

You can refer to this for some insight: rawfed.com/myths/zoonotic.html

And if you're concerned about things like E.Coli and Salmonella, please keep in mind that there has been more reported cases of this related to kibble than to raw.

[Sherry]

We would LOVE to show you the pics, but most used photobucket. Once a free service since it's inception. Now charging $400 a year if you want to share! But it is basically any enclosed box with an opening large enough to get into. If you use cardboard boxes, an empty 12 pack of soda is a good size. That one you toss after it gets too disgusting. I use a rubber maid tub big enough for one ferret, although you can use any size. Just cut a hole and sand smooth.

[Heather]

As far as the whole salmonella thing....yah, if that was the case me and my family would be deathly ill and probably most of the people here. I kiss my little ones all the time and have done for the 30 yrs I've been raw feeding. I've never heard of anyone contracting salmonella from their raw fed pet's fur. It's very typical of anti raw propaganda. In the farthest realm of possibility....I guess. We've become so germaphobic that we cannot do anything and have become overly paranoid about bacterial contamination. Be cautious, don't get me wrong. I do use feeding dens but only occasionally. The guys are fed in their cages but food sneaks out, it happens. You pick it up, throw it out and wash up. The use of vinegar and water deals with spot cleans.
ciao

[Deleted]

We seem to be lucky are babies appear to be fairly clean eaters. I do keep them in their cage to eat now since they have been transitioning to Raw. I have not noticed any food or stickiness on their fur and catch them grooming each other all the time. As a matter of fact Since switching to Raw their coats are much softer and the only time I have noticed that ferret smell at all is when my nose is close enough when kissing them on their head.

[abbeytheferret6]

Mouse and rat eaters here and other raw foods but still have to get ferret sugar.

I use fleece or flannel baby blankets in my cage and change them every couple days or 3.  I wipe the floors with a washcloth that has vinegar on it. Not really concerned about germs that much. Never had any problems with getting sick from handling meat or from ferret kisses.

A big bin might be cumbersome to clean. Although I have flipped them over and used a pillowcase for the floor instead of lid, so that I did not have to take it apart to clean.