Splintering bones

[Deleted]

Hi, I really want to start feeding Fraggle a natural diet - have read loads, and think I can handle the variety of meats, remember to make sure he has organs, and the occasional egg (on that point - should he have just the yolk and shells, or the white as well? Conflicting reports...)

My one huge worry is giving him things like chicken bones - I've always been taught they splinter and can do serious damage. I know they would eat them in the wild, but I'm assuming that some would also choke themselves / stab their oesophagus etc. Don't want that to happen to my monster!

I don't think he needs to start on the soup, as he's always had various bits of whatever I'm eating (admittedly usually cooked) and he loves anything I give him.

Also, are any supplements needed? I've got Ferretone, which he loves, and probiotics as well - he sees them as his morning treat, when I put him back in his cage to go to work.

Any help gratefully received!

[Deleted]

Splintering bones will not be a problem as long as you only feed raw meat and bones. Don't ever feed them cooked chicken bones. Splintering bones is only a problem with cooked bones.

My ferrets get raw chicken bones almost every day. They eat the bones, and have never choked on them or had trouble with them. I think just about everyone on this forum gives their ferrets raw chicken bones and I have never heard of any problems caused by it. Chicken with bones in it is probably the most common raw food given to ferrets around here.

Supplements won't be necessary if you feed the right mixture of meat, bones, and organs. You should sign up for the mentor program, someone experienced can help you along the way and teach you exactly what to feed them

[Deleted]

Thanks very much - just wanted to check! I've got him a couple of chicken carcasses, some wings, and some liver - couldn't get hold of any heart today, but I will make sure he gets some.

Gave him a chicken wing just now - he had a good lick and a bit of a chew, but has now gone back to bed...... Typical!

[Sherry]

Hi, and welcome Mike is right- it's cooked bone that splinters and causes all kinds of damage. With raw, their stomach acids are so strong(as in any carnivore) that the chunks they bite off of raw bone are...eroded...around the edges, and cause no problems.
That said, when first transitioning to raw bone, you will frequently find tiny bone shards in their stool(this is quite common, and causes no harm) as the acids have to adapt to doing the job they were meant to do As they adapt to their natural diet, this will disappear and the bone will be completely absorbed by the time it reaches it's ultimate conclusion ;D

[Deleted]

Thanks Sherry.

Turns out he is a lot fussier than I though, and although he has always eaten anything cooked he's ever been given, raw food is not a hit at all. So I'm going to try grinding everything up for him - problem is I don't have a grinder that will deal with bones. Any ideas?

Thanks

[Deleted]

You can just do boneless meats for now. Adding some powdered eggshell can replace the calcium. I think the rule is 1/2 tsp eggshell per 8 oz of meat.

[Sherry]

Also, if he eats cooked meats, try by cooking it less and less. That way, you kind of "trick" him into it