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Post by wgassetthannah on Feb 18, 2012 15:21:35 GMT -5
I want to include kibble so just incase my income changes and I can't afford prey and meat, then I'll have a back up they're used to. They'd get alittle bit at night if they need a snack. Sorry I've asked this a few times and maybe it's been explained but I wonder if anyone could make a week prey and meat diet plan, showing me what I should feed them each day. My ferrets aren't big eaters, they go through about a cup of kibble day at most, plus a few treats. For a weekly meal plan I want to have chicken, pork and, whole mice(live or dead) but I don't know in what portions I should do this and what parts of chicken and kind of pork. I've emailed a semi-local pet shop to see if they sell live feeder mice.
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 18, 2012 15:37:13 GMT -5
Pork I would feed boneless, I don't think there's too many cuts most ferrets would bother eating the bones on, chicken you can really feed any part, again variety is best so if you feed leg one day for bone in-feed a wing the next time, or ribs if you need a meatier part. You also have to feed organs, 5% liver, 5% another organ (spleen, brain, pancreas, kidney etc) Hearts should be fed for the taurine, but they are considered a muscle meat, as are gizzards and lung. I would try to get another meat or two in there, turkey and beef are pretty accessible.
Are you feeding any raw now? I would get a mentor and switch your ferrets over, they will help you set up a meal plan. Better to make sure your ferrets will eat and do well on certain meats before planning it out too far. My ferrets won't eat beef raw, they don't do well on pork, they really dislike fish, so there's trial and error to find out what works.
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Post by wgassetthannah on Feb 18, 2012 15:48:08 GMT -5
My male has ate raw hamburger once and cooked chicken and turkey, would mice supplement organs or would I have to buy them, and do grocery stores sell organs? I've gotten them to eat mostly anything I want them to with, ferretone, laxtone , or chicken/turkey baby food. I had to give them baby food by syringe when they had diarrhea and now they love it if it's warm. I don't have a small scale or a way to purée meat which the mentor application requires.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 18, 2012 18:14:30 GMT -5
We can likely work something out about it. The big thing about the scale is so we know if your ferret is losing TOO much weight. Some weight loss is normal at the start of a switch to raw, but ferrets can look like they are eating when they really aren't. I had that happen with one of mine. As for pureeing the meat, if they'll eat a wet ground consistency we can work with that If you are interested, and are willing to put in the time right away, let me know and we'll try to work around it. As for a menu, how about this, within the parameters you've set: Monday: chicken wings Tuesday: mice Wednesday: pork chunks Thursday: mice Friday:heart Saturday: mice Sunday: liver/kidney in the am, and mice in the pm Within that menu, you can switch meats out. Instead of chicken wings, you can feed cornish hen, or even thigh/drumsticks with the bone smashed up with a cleaver or a meat hammer. Instead of pork chunks, you could feed turkey meat if you have some. Heart, liver and kidney can be of any kind. For amounts, it really varies according to the ferret. Males tend to eat about 2-4 oz a meal, females 1-3 per meal. I'm talking about healthy animals aroun 1-3 years old. Kits can put away a LOT more than that, older and sick animals less. The reason we usually push getting a mentor is so you have a more solid understanding of WHY they need to eat what they do, in the proportions of what is needed. Also, so you have a good understanding of ratios, and what are appropriate substitutions.
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Post by wgassetthannah on Feb 18, 2012 19:45:27 GMT -5
Thank you for the schedule, it exactly what I needed. I have a pretty good idea on how to switch them over, but before I start any of this I need to see of it'll fit my budget and get my boyfriend whom i live with to agree with this. He doesn't really think its necessary and is against the mice. I am the one who pays for them so in the long run its my choice. I wanted to breed the mice, I think it'd be cheaper than ordering offline, and the closest pet store is 30 minutes away and I'm not sure if that one sell frozen mice. I'd also like the experience of it. I'd also feel better knowing what the mice were fed and how they were raised. Can I buy hearts and organ at a regular grocery store? I've never looked for them do I don't know.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 18, 2012 19:48:22 GMT -5
Check in the freezer section of the grocery store. That's where they usually are. As for the mice, it would most certainly be cheaper to breed them yourself ;D If I get them from a reptile store, I pay about 1.25 for an average adult. Last time I went to Petland because I'd run out and didn't want to make the drive til later I left without them. They had upped their prices to almost $5.00 EACH
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Post by wgassetthannah on Feb 18, 2012 20:27:03 GMT -5
The two grocery stores closest to me are jacked up in price,(shaws, and a local one), when I get to Walmart next i'll check their price on meats, and the closest pet store right near there too. I really appreciate all the help. I'm sure I'll come up with more questions very soon, and I'll be sure to post if and when I switch my two ferrets over.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 18, 2012 20:28:00 GMT -5
Excellent
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2012 20:56:15 GMT -5
I've been breedign mice for genetics. I got hooked last spring. A #40 bag of high quality lab blocks lasts me at least 3 months and I have dozens of mice. It costs $21.19 at www.nationalpetpharmacy.com/Product/9093/Native-Earth-18-Percent-Protein-4018-Rodent-Diet-40-lbs. I combine it with other items for the free shipping. I also buy the sani-chips and harlan aspen for bedding. I think I posted my moiuse towers on a different thread. I've been donating my extra mice to the Wildlife Rescue, but I'm considering feeding them to my ferrets (only had ferrets since x-mas) if I can get over having to euthanize them myself. To euthanize the first few days the most common suggestion is the freezer since they don't have full nervous systems. Cervical breaks and co2 chambers are usually used after that. CO2 is suppose to be very humane. Most feeder style breeders over breed and aren't concerned with the overall health of the animal since it is destined to be food anyway. Feel free to contact me if you want help on mouse breeding methods. You may just find yourself breeding for genetics as a side hobby before you know it. One of my goals right now is tricolor mice (look like calico cats) and satin very longhaired angoras in a reddish orange color.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 18, 2012 23:00:17 GMT -5
Most feeder style breeders over breed and aren't concerned with the overall health of the animal since it is destined to be food anyway. And that has to be one of the worst excuses there is for neglect of an animal
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2012 23:14:24 GMT -5
I have to agree, which is why I use the methods that show breeders use. However, it does decrease the number of mice produced.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 19, 2012 0:46:15 GMT -5
And the ones produced have much less stress, and as a result are far more nutritious!
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Post by wgassetthannah on Feb 19, 2012 9:52:09 GMT -5
I've always had a love for animals and if I was breeding feeders, they would still get the best care I could give them. The ones I'd be giving to my ferrets I most likely wouldn't handle, I get attached VERY easily. If I had a good supply for food for my ferrets, then I'd love up breed for genetics. I really enjoyed studying hereditary traits in school and I think had a good grasp on it. Thanks everyone for all your help.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2012 10:34:33 GMT -5
When breeding to improve a line or mix certain genetics, you end up with a lot of left over mice. You only want to breed the best of the litter for the next generation and if it is better than the last generation, then you no longer need that one. It wouldn't cut into your ferrets supply much at all. In fact, it will probably lead to breeding larger healthier mice. The average feeder mouse I've seen in my area is in the low 30's in weight, but show mice are often as high as 60 grams. I finally got my hands on a male and female with show background and they dwarf my mice that have been bred from feeder stock. THis will surly impact how many mice the ferrets will eat.
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Post by wgassetthannah on Feb 19, 2012 10:45:49 GMT -5
I really like the idea of breeding the mice, but my boyfriend doesn't think I should and doesn't think it's nesscary, and my future mother-in law, whom we live with think it will take up too much of my time and that I won't get out to look for a job. I really don't think it'll add on too much time onto the daily care of my ferrets, but I don't really know since I've never raised mice. Do mice smell worse than ferrrets? Mine done smell bad, and I only have to clean their litter box and cage every other day.
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