Food imprinting and raw feeding

[kpaz]

I know that ferrets imprint on their foods at a pretty young age. now that mine are all over a year old, will they still be able to switch to a raw diet?
Also, my ferrets are free roam. The room they are in is rather large (about 460 sq.ft.), and while it is safe, there are a lot of places which are hard for me to get to, like corners or among/between mazes of boxes full of clothing and christmas lights. Ellie already stashes kibble, and I'm worried she would try and stash meat in dark corners, leaving them to rot. That's the other thing, she only eats about a third of what she stashes. With kibble, I just get the shop vac out and clean up the food stashes when it gets to be a small pile, but with meat this would not be very practical, as there would be blood or juices left behind.
When you feed raw, can you set up distinct feeding times? The food bowl is still in the FN cage, and it would be convenient if I could feed them at certain times and just close the doors until they are done. If not, do you guys have any suggestions or have any experience with this kind of thing?

Thanks,
Kiersten

[goingpostal]

When I switched my group they were all 4 or older, it took about a month to get them all eating raw and then they would eat just about anything. My group is also free roam, key is not to put out more than they are going to eat, I also use metal hooks (the same as attach their bedding) and just put their meat on the open cage door, I feed them in the morning and evening and will throw in more during the day if they have finished it already. They do run off with chicken/turkey bones or pieces they can rip off but they eat them for the most part and I just do a quick check under bedding, I have one who stashed in tunnels and another who steals that and puts in under beds.

[Sherry]

I also feed twice a day. I do put enough in the cage to last them the day, but the cage is closed when they are out and about.

[Heather]

The oldest ferret I've ever switched was 9 yrs old. Just over a year is ver dooable At one point I had 18 free roaming raw fed ferrets. Stashing does occur but if you use feeding dens it often occurs less.
ciao