New fuzzy coming-Need help with diet

[dollyanna1218]

Hello everyone!
I will be getting an 8 month old female ferret in 2 weeks. I do not know anything about her personality or health for that matter. She looks healthy from what I can tell. I know she has been fed a cheap brand of kibble (not sure the exact brand). I am new to ferrets in general but also to raw feeding. I have read about, in more detail, feeding a raw diet to dogs though. I know all of these questions have probably been asked and answered hundreds of times, but I am having trouble searching for them. Thank you for any advice that you can give!

Will I get sick with salmonella if she eats raw? Or get sick with anything? I like to snuggle with my pets and give kisses, would this be a problem?
What is a good feeding schedule, as in time and which meat to feed? What goes into the bowl at each feeding? Also could someone list the meats and organs that are best for them (easiest to eat). Do they only eat meat? I mean they do not need fruits, veggies, or anything else, correct?
How do I make the switch from kibble to raw? I know with dogs you just switch them cold turkey and never put them back on a kibble again, since kibble blocks there intestines. Do I switch my girl cold turkey or over time?
Do I leave raw or kibble food out for them all day? If so is there a type I can use that is less bloody? I feel uncomfortable having chicken legs tucked away in hiding places or dragged throughout the house.. Is there maybe a way to curb their stashing behavior?
Do you only feed 2 times a day? Or can you feed 3 times a day?

Thank you again!!
-Brianna

[Heather]

Hi, congratulations on your wee one.
You may want to try reading through some of the threads in the nutritional section...they will provide you with tons of information.
salmonella....no more of a threat to you than if you were preparing it for your family. I think we all play kissies with our fuzz. I've been feeding a raw diet for about 20 yrs and raised 2 kids. None of us have got anything horrible from handling, kissing or snuggling the little ones, the dogs or the cats.
Feeding schedules.....your wee one will need to be switched, very few ferrets just switch...they're rather like cats . 8 months means she may or may not accept or even recognise meat as food. We do offer a mentoring program that you can sign up for once you get your little one. I do suggest that you read through some of the ongoing threads to see what's involved. You cannot post to these threads as they belong to the people who's names are on the threads but they're still a good source of information.
To begin with you will probably have to leave her with kibbles for now. Raw food is raw food....you can create stash boxes but they may or may not use them. You can feed them entirely in their cages, some do. Most people feed their little ones twice daily usually leaving enough to tide them over to their next meal. If there is lots of food left over then you're over feeding. To cover their nutritional needs you will feed a minimum of 3 different types of proteins, organ meats and bones.
I really do suggest that you read through some of the threads in the nutritional section. It will answer many of your questions
ciao

[dollyanna1218]

Thank you! I did see the mentoring program, but I cannot get to a computer that often. I can usually only get online 1-2 times per month, thats why I am a little scattered trying to figure this all out... I looked through a few of the pages now, and I think I understand this more. If she does switch over easily would her feeding schedule be similar to this one: (of course 3 different types of proteins, organ meats, and bones, but just generally speaking)
Mon-D bone in
Mon-N muscle
Tue-D bone in
Tue-N organ
Wed-D muscle-heart
Wed-N bone in
Thur-D bone in
Thur-N bone in
Fri-D bone in
Fri-N muscle
Sat-D bone in
Sat-N bone in
Sun-D muscle-heart
Sun-N bone in


Again thank you so much!

[Deleted]

That's a good schedule to go by.

You can replace one of the bone in meals with a boneless one if 9 bone in causes constipation (each ferret is unique - some do better with more or less bone).

For the organ, try to do half liver and half another organ.

[dollyanna1218]

Ok great. Thank you so much!

[Sherry]

I believe we also have one mentor who has switched someone via text messaging as well, ;D do you have a smart phone? If so it can also be done via Skype

[dollyanna1218]

Well plans fell through with the female ferret, but I bought a 4month old male yesterday. I tried to give him raw for breakfast and I can tell he's starving but he won't eat it. I do need a mentor, but I don't have all the supplies required to have one. Text messaging would be much easier to use than online, since I have 24/7 access to my cell! I won't be able to get all the supplies until next month, possibly. Is there a way to make raw food more appealing to him? Should I give him dry food as well so he doesn't starve himself?

[Heather]

What did you try and feed him? The easiest meal would be some meat sliverYou can try to get them to eat a raw soup immediately. You will need a blender/food processor, and the following raw items:

8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat)
1/2 tsp of crushed eggshell powder (take a raw eggshell. Rinse it out. Let it dry. Crush to powder)
1 raw chicken heart
1/2 raw chicken liver
Water or broth(use more to make it soupier, less to make it thicker)
I've also started adding raw goat milk, about 1 tsp to this mixture, they seem to like it.
Blend ingredients together. Some prefer it at room temp. Try putting a dollop of "soup" onto your ferret's nose and they probably will lick it off. I use my finger. Sometimes this takes a little bit trying to convince them that you're not trying to poison them. I find within a very short time they're licking this off my finger. When I see that they're willing to eat freely off my finger then I use a small spoon to try and get them to eat from that. Try to get them eating the soupy on their own. It might pique their interest.
You will probably have to start him, he's not aware that it's food. I would definitely have some kibbles on hand just in case you can't get him touch it.
Good luck
ciao

[Sherry]

I've messaged you with my phone number for texting purposes Dollyanna, and Heather has set up a mentoring thread for you here:
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=7497&page=1
Now, I'm going to move your question to there and answer it there

[Deleted]

Warming it up can make it much more appealing. Also don't be afraid to scruff and stuff.. some just need to taste it and realize it's edible