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Jul 19, 2011 16:52:42 GMT -5
Post by kpaz on Jul 19, 2011 16:52:42 GMT -5
How much would it cost to feed 3 ferrets (two males ~3lbs and one female 1-1.5lbs) a raw diet? I am very, very interested in switching them, but I'm not sure if I will be able to afford it.
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Jul 19, 2011 17:07:29 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2011 17:07:29 GMT -5
I spend ~$100 a month on two males and one female. I do use Haretoday's ground mixes so my cost is likely on the higher end.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2011 17:09:33 GMT -5
It depends a lot on what kind of raw you're interested in. Whole prey is very expensive, commercial raw/freeze dried is second, and raw meats from the grocery store are the most affordable. I feed my three girls in a budget of about $40-$50. They weigh about 2 lbs each. Sometimes I go under because I have left overs from last month. I buy whole chickens for about 79 cents a lb, pork and beef for about $2 a lb, Cornish game hen for about $3 a lb, and ground turkey for about $1-$2 a lb. Then I buy liver and hearts for about $1-$2 a lb, and I'm placing an order at a local butcher for some organs that are about $1-$3 a lb (have to order large quantities). What do you spend on kibble? What is your budget? Asian markets are great for cheap cuts of meat
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Jul 19, 2011 17:10:05 GMT -5
Post by goingpostal on Jul 19, 2011 17:10:05 GMT -5
Well that's going to vary, depending on how much they eat, what you are feeding and what meat prices are where you live. For instance commercial raw, frozen or freeze dried is more expensive than buying meat at the store. I feed a little of everything, whole prey, commercial, frankenprey and end up spending about the same as I did ordering high quality kibble shipped in. The cheapest would be if you have lots of local options, chicken, turkey, beef, pork is all fairly accessible and not too expensive, then if you can supplement with pricier stuff like some mice or quail or lamb you'll have a good diet! Although to be honest, food costs are a drop in the bucket when it comes to ferret expenses so I don't even worry about it.
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Jul 19, 2011 17:25:42 GMT -5
Post by kpaz on Jul 19, 2011 17:25:42 GMT -5
Well meat here seems pretty expensive-- $4 a pound or more for beef to give you an idea. I pay about $40 a month and I usually have at least 3 different kinds of kibble in the mix. My father comes home from texas every other weekend, and I know meat is cheaper there. Since it's not my money, I don't think they would be pleased if the price went above $50 a month Ah well, maybe I can get a part time job or some odd jobs, or feed raw twice a week or something. Do you think that would that be better than an all kibble diet, or would feeding it every now and then just make their tummies upset all the time?
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Jul 19, 2011 17:59:32 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2011 17:59:32 GMT -5
What stores do you have around you? I get some awesome deals at Save-a-lot and sometimes Walmart. I check the weekly ads for all the local stores and try to find the best deal possible. Buy the cheapest cuts of meat, meat that is on sale that day or about to expire. You could also raise your own whole prey which would save you a ton of money. Have you heard of the new kibble from Wysong? It's called Epigen 90 for ferrets. It is both grain and starch free
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Jul 19, 2011 18:07:42 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2011 18:07:42 GMT -5
If you have ethnic markets in your area, definitely check them for prices. I spend roughly $75 a month on feeding 3 cats and three ferts raw, chicken is fairly cheap so I use that for the bulk, then add in beef, pork, turkey, duck, and fish to fill out the meal plans and make sure they're getting variety. I also watch craigslist for feeder mice and rats, sometimes I get lucky and find cheap to free whole prey locally that way, though it's more like an occasional treat than a real component of their diet since even on the cheap it tends to be more spendy than building frankenprey.
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Jul 19, 2011 18:12:26 GMT -5
Post by Sherry on Jul 19, 2011 18:12:26 GMT -5
If your parents are paying all the bills, ask your mother if she's the one who does the shopping. She'd likely have a really good idea. Females will eat about 2-4 oz a day, males 3-6. All just averages of course. It depends on how active, age, gender, health, etc. The good thing about an all raw diet is it does decrease the need for vet visits, which is nice If you need a comparison, it would cost about the same as a higher end kibble.
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