Introducting a whole prey diet

[Bugboy]

Hi everyone. Im new to the whole forum world so I'm still navigating. Anyway, I have been researching the raw meat diet for my little boy because of the awful things I've heard about kibble, and whole prey definitely sounded good for me, but the issue is I have absolutely no idea of where to even start with this and what I should be feeding him and how much counts as a full meal and probably so much more. Was just hoping someone could offer some tips and tricks on how I could start this diet.

[Corvidophile]

Because ferrets will eat such varying amounts from individual to individual, expect some waste at first as you get used to how much yours will eat. It can range from two to eight ounces for adults, for example! A younger ferret will eat more than an older one. Many people start them out on pinkie mice, which can either be bought online or from pet stores that sell snakes. It’ll cost less in the long run buying in bulk online, but you may be better off starting out buying a handful from a pet store just to start with small numbers. You start with pinkies, move up to fuzzies, then hoppers, then adults. Alternatively you can start with chicks, move up a few weeks to teenage chicks, then young chickens.

From there many people introduce larger prey, like rats, guinea pigs, quail, rabbits, even frogs if you know where to buy them (I wish I did!) Of course, you can skip a step at any time and try offering a larger animal and see what they do. When feeding an animal bigger than what the ferret can finish in one meal, some people chop it up for the ferret into portions, refrigerate the leftovers, then offer more when they’re done. Some people leave the whole carcass in there for the ferret to finish on their own time. Whole prey can be left out for 48 hours generally.

Some are enticed to eat them by allowing them to hunt and kill live mice in a bathtub. If you do this, be prepared to kill the mouse yourself if your ferret only injured them and doesn’t seem interested in finishing the job. A swift strike on the back of the head with a heavy glass will do it. Sorry to be gross, but you have to be ready to do that if you want to try letting them hunt.

[Bugboy]

Awesome! This is really great advice, thank you.

[abbeytheferret6]

Mine are on whole prey though I butcher my frozen guinea pigs and count them as a frankenprey meal.
So here is a chart on how to do frankenprey with whole prey or a grind or anything that includes bones,organs,hearts and the muscle of animal. The chart is based on a 2 meals a day for 7 days thus the 14 meals.
holisticferretforum.com/natural-diet/raw-diet-the-meat-of-the-site/balancing-frankenprey-with-alternative-meals/


So for breakfast my 5 year old male gets two adult mice(when it is mice day). I take out the intestines---not necessary, but it is what I do, so it is not as much as an intact mouse. I also give him something else for supper, which he will eat sometime during the night. He will have the 2nd mouse consumed usually by noon.
This works for my male. Now if you have a kit they will eat a lot more. I have not had a kit start completely on whole prey, so i do not have that experience to share---just make sure there is food around as they are growing and need the nourishment.

My husband is wanting to start raising mice and we will close down our asf rats breeding then.

[abbeytheferret6]

Here is the co2 chamber he built by way of a you tube instructions. He does all the dirty work (putting them to sleep).