Here we gooooooo

[br8080]

I've made the decision to go raw with my newly obtained ferrets.  I'm basing this decision on a few things:  1. It's healthier for them and their teeth (better than the Wysong 90 kibble as well?),  2. It'll make them poop less frequently, and 3. It will help with their odor from what I'm reading. 

I'm going on vacation from Oct 1 - Oct 16 and will be boarding them.  I think it best to wait until i return to start the transition as I'm certain the boarding place won't be as vigilante as I with the feeding.  I'll have to contact them to verify the feeding routines followed with ferrets and go from there.

In the meantime - Reading through the diet and newbie threads has been very informative (thank you all for posting) and I hope to have an experienced mentor to help someday.....

My grocery store (Wegman's) sells chicken hearts and gizzards in a combined package - I haven't seen gizzards mentioned in any of the reading I've done thus far.  Are gizzards not a preferred part of the soup/raw diet?

I also have a couple local butchers that I can source meat from but the grocery store is just more convenient. 

Acquiring bone meal is pretty easy as it's all over amazon, do any of you have suggestions as to a preferred brand?

Well, that's it for now...I'm sure I'll have more questions eventually.  THANK YOU!!!!

[caitmonster]

Gizzards are categorized as a muscle meat for nutritional purposes, and they're generally recommended as a way to help ferrets build up jaw strength since they're that chewy rubbery texture that they go bonkers for. Some people try to avoid chicken due to sensitivities so that might be why you don't see many mentions of it. If your meal plan is otherwise well balanced (at least 3-4 bone-in/muscle proteins overall) and your ferret isn't allergic to chicken, then they're fine to use in that regard. Just be aware with grocery stock, sometimes cuts are packaged with a salt water solution, so those can't be used. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with using bonemeal so someone else should have more info on that.

[Sherry]

You are right to wait until you get back. Makes life so much easier. And yes, even better than Wysong's
As for the heart/gizzard combo you'll be lucky to get 2-4 hearts in them as a rule. Better to find a more reliable supply while you are waiting to start.
Gizzards are a favourite muscle meat here. They get them on average once a week.

[mermaidsirena]

Welcome and great news about the plan for the switch. I agree that after vacation is the best. Wegman's is awesome (I missing living up there sometimes). You might want to check out some of the Asian markets and see if they have kidney, quail and some other unusual but highly encouraged meat types (both is body part and in animal). the bone meal I used in my soup in the beginning was from Amazon was Upco Bone Meal. Worked great and wasn't too expensive as my two were only on soup a few months. Honestly, I still have more than 1/2 a bag left just sitting in the pantry.

[abbeytheferret6]

My grocery store (Wegman's) sells chicken hearts and gizzards in a combined packag

Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/24645/gooooooo#ixzz5OZF0MB5y


Occasionally, I go to the farmers market and get hearts. The people that sell chicken meat will have them. Sometimes they run out though. My grocery stores sells gizzards and hearts together also. I buy a couple of packs because--- yes, they are skimpy on hearts. But they are cheap and I give my dog the gizzards. I on occasion give my ferrets gizzards but if I give backs or thigh during week I will not give another chicken as a two of mine get diarrhea on chicken.

Inspect the packages. If you see only gizzards try another pack. I pick the packages where I see at least a couple of hearts because there is generally a few more underneath the gizzards. It might be just two more:))) At least that is how it has worked with me.

Of course you can order online if you want to pay for shipping. I have ordered duck hearts a few times from www.farmfreshduck.com/45-duck-hearts

I do not wash blood off hearts that I get from farmers markt. I feed with all the blood

Here is an interesting statement about grinds

For example, if you buy raw ground meat/bone/organ packages, the liquid that comes out as it thaws – which is not blood despite its red color – is full of dissolved taurine. If this broth is discarded, the meat ends up with a lower taurine content than before freezing.

© 2018 Feline Nutrition Foundation

Read more at feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/no-bull-taurine-is-a-must-for-kitty

[br8080]

Thank you ALL for the input, I'll order a bag of the Wysong and get them on that prior to vacation then plan for the switch upon my return. Thanks again!!!