Really just need any kind of guidance...

[marvel]

Right now, I feed my ferrets a combination of Intune and Zupreem Grain Free.

It's been a journey to get to even these. I wanted to feed Noodle raw, but he has never shown any interest in anything but sugary items (which, of course, I DO NOT feed him). I got him as a 5 month old from a woman who couldn't keep him anymore as she had too many ferrets, and not enough time. She also had a few very young children, and I can't help but wonder if Noodle got a taste of sweets here and there from the kids when he was first brought home.

I started him on Marshall's because that was what was what the lady sent me with, and after some research switched to Wysong. However, Wysong gave him runny poo (and I kept him on it for long enough it wasn't just do to the adjustment) so that's when I did some digging and bought the Zupreem to mix in. Mixing only half resolved the issue though, so that's when I switched and mixed the Intune and Zupreem. He keeps weight and has great, though stinky, poo on this combination.

I just brought home my new kit (Pip) though, and I would love to teach her to eat raw and, if there is any hope, switch Noodle over. Or at least get them both on something healthier than what Noodle is eating now! I think Intune and Zupreem aren't *the worst*, but both do have potatoes in the top five ingredients, with Intune being slightly better so I try to do a higher percent of that in the mix. It's been a learning process since Noodle is my first ferret, and I want to learn more and do my best by both, but it felt like such a wall when I realized Noodle won't touch any kind of meat, eggs, etc I try to offer him.

I appreciate any and all advice I can get!!

[unclejoe]

Ok, some opinion here, as normally this forum does not promote kibble diets. The intent is to promote meat/raw diets as much as possible. That said, there are good kibble and horrible ones, and some in between. We have fed Zupreem Ferret Diet along with different forms of raw, for a long time. We've just never been able to totally transition a Marshall ferret to full raw. That said, most "grain free" kibbles contain things like potatoes, peas, chick peas, beets and sweet potatoes, to name a few, that have been associated with oxalate kidney and bladder stones. The new formula Wysong Epigen 90 was reported to cause digestive issues and stinky poops, and they later introduced Epigen Digestive Support, which seems to have fixed things for most users. The good thing about Epigen/Wysong is the very high meat content.
One way to introduce raw is to grind the kibble into a powder and add it and some water to finely cut pieces of meat and gradually reduce the kibble. Then you can try chicken wing tips or flats, and organs. It has worked for a lot of people. I suggest serving the meat at room temp rather than right out of the fridge. That's how we first had success with soups. Unfortunately we do not have a mentor program atm.

[marvel]

Thank you! Yeah, I was bummed to see the mentor program was out right now. And unfortunately, the Wysong Digestive Support is what I tried Noodle on that still upset his stomach even after months on it.

I will give grinding the kibble and adding some meat to it a try though, to see if I can get him (and her, though I suspect fewer issues with her being so young and not nearly as attached to the kibble yet--I do think a lot of his issue was that he was just a bit too old and attached to his food when I got him, so hoping her being 9 weeks right now helps) to accept more of a raw/meat diet at the very least. I was just at a loss of how to get him to even think about meat as a food option!

[abbeytheferret6]

Have you been researching how to switch at the HFF website?

First thing i gave my petco baby was a chicken wing ---pieces cut at the joints. she was 3 mos old.
Of course she first found a a piece of jerky under the bed where the others had been stashing. I thought she was gnawing on some plastic or something and tried to open her mouth to check. I got hissed at and a threat with a jump at me---she had a personality my leelee(DIP).

For help in trying to switch ur baby, you can start a switching thread here and get feedback from people. I don't think anyone here has been mentors but some of us has been mentored or have switched our little ones to raw on our own.

Also if you like to try whole prey in the mix ---which i have changed to completely except for duck hearts---you might want to test with some white mice from Petco or Petsmart before ordering bulk. I tied a mouse on a cat toy and took advantage of one of my ferrets love of chasing cat toys on a string----not an instant success but it helped. She did gobble a piece when it come apart. I guess she thought it was going to get away.

[unclejoe]

Forgive me for not mentioning the old HFF website. Here is a link to the natural diet section with lots of info on switching and diets.
holisticferretforum.com/natural-diet/

[eclipso]

Try freezing an egg with salmon oil and something she likes in an ice cube or popsicle tray. They love to play with those and then eat them, or sprinkle raw egg shells on their food to get them used to the smell of it in their food. Drizzling the new food over the old food helps as well. If that doesn't work, you can offer them dried meat patties from My Pet Carnivore or another supplier. Always mix a bit of what they know and what they don't together so they start getting used to it.

Have you tried using dried liver treats too? Hope this helps!

[Charlie]

Since Pip is so young, you will be able to switch her very easily! The younger they are the easier it is to switch. It may take a longer time to switch Noodle but it is possible as long as you are consistent and never give up. You will have to hand feed Noodle. Does he like salmon oil and egg? You have to be careful not to use too much salmon oil but it can help with switching too. You will have to start with the soup mix for Noodle but since Pip is so young you might be able to start with small pieces of meat with her.

I switched my 3 month old with no troubles at all when I first brought him home. I always offered him small pieces of meat when I was getting my meat ready to cook. He would stand at my feet and I would take little pieces and offer them to him and he would gladly take and eat the pieces. That's when I decided to switch him completely. I started my own switching thread and a couple of the girls would answer my questions when I had them. I helped my sister switch her ferret to a raw diet.