Whole Prey Questions

[Deleted]

Just posting a few questions I have before signing up for the mentoring program (again) until I get a scale.
I know of several reptile stores close to me that sell feeders at good prices.

Is feeding one age group of mice/rats okay, or is it best to feed a variety of age groups? (Pinkies, fuzzies, hoppers, adults, etc).

Do you guys feed your ferrets in 'kitchens?' I was thinking about maybe getting a sterilite container for each of mine and putting a hole in each one so that Alice and Cooper each have their own feeding stations, for sanitary reasons and competitive, bratty ferret reasons. (Alice doesn't like when Cooper tries to eat at the same time she does).

I don't know how much either of my two weigh, but is there a prey weight/ferret weight feeding ratio? For example - a 4 lb. ferret should eat ____ of their body weight in meat?

Will surely have more soon!

[goingpostal]

You want to feed adults mainly, because they have the most calcium but throw in some younger, older for variety. Mine just have a room, they stash the mice here, the other ferret steals it and stashes it there, eventually they eat them lol. Larger things like today they got half an XL rat and I hang that from a hook to the cage so they can't drag it away and make a mess. Usually females eat 1-3 oz, males 2-4 a day, I have a 2.5 pound female and same sized elderly male, they will eat in one day either 6-7 young adult mice, half a rat, 4-5 ounces of rabbit (they love rabbit pinkies), a medium guinea pig, or a 6 week old quail (a favorite).

[katt]

Is feeding one age group of mice/rats okay, or is it best to feed a variety of age groups? (Pinkies, fuzzies, hoppers, adults, etc).
Variety is best but keep in mind that only adults are truly considered a balanced meal; the underdeveloped bones of young prey are not a full calcium source.

Do you guys feed your ferrets in 'kitchens?' I was thinking about maybe getting a sterilite container for each of mine and putting a hole in each one so that Alice and Cooper each have their own feeding stations, for sanitary reasons and competitive, bratty ferret reasons. (Alice doesn't like when Cooper tries to eat at the same time she does).
Are they free roam? If so the kitchen might make clean up easier for you (tile floors) but it won't keep prey from being dragged off. I feed in the cage and I provide a sterlite tube as a feeding den. It does not prevent stashing elsewhere in the cage, but it minimizes it and keeps most of the mess contained.

I don't know how much either of my two weigh, but is there a prey weight/ferret weight feeding ratio? For example - a 4 lb. ferret should eat ____ of their body weight in meat?
Sherry knows that. If they are on a balanced diet feed them as much as they will eat. It is very rare for a raw fed ferret (on a Properly Balanced diet) to overeat.