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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 11:45:31 GMT -5
Okay, I already supplement with whole mouse soupie. Yep, you read that right. My ferts didn't know what to do with an adult mouse and I had bought a bag of 50. So I bought a ferret food only blender and tossed some thawed mice in, looked away, and hit the grind button. Even some of the rescues will eat it. I can get Nature's Variety nearby, but I want to start expanding what I can offer them. The soupie ice cubes have been great during the work week. However, I'm a teacher so I have the summer to figure out what I want to do. The catch is that I also run a ferret rescue and have to contend with all of their needs. Right now I have one that exhibits signs of IBS. She tested parasite free, so the vet put her on a hypoalergenic cat food. It seems to be helping.
Anyway, I've read through a number of threads some of which I know I have forgotten, others I'm not sure of which direction to go in. My budget is tight, but I'd like some advise on where to start for a bit more supplements. Mice were a no brainer since they are already a balanced diet. (Besides, I know a very inexpensive source locally and I raise my own. My mice only get fed out when pinkies though as I don't have a co2 chamber.)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 13:24:25 GMT -5
Heart would be good  Try gradually increasing chunk size in your soupies. I can give my ferrets whole chicken hearts now |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 15:11:54 GMT -5
Okay. I think I saw beef hearts locally.
What is least likely to irritate an IBS case that I "should" be able to find in a local chain grocery store?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 17:37:58 GMT -5
I went to the local pet store and bought the lamb and duck nutra source frozen. I also bought a small bag of Nutrisca chicken freeze dried. Does anyone know much about this one? The fat is listed at 30%, which is higher than I've ever seen and the fiber is 6%. I'm not too worried about the high fat because the girl I want to feed it to is a possible IBS case and is rail thin. She needs some extra. Thankfully, the hypoalergenic cat food my vet put her on seems to be helping as she was running around yesterday and the day before. She had no energy when she got here. Any opinions on this food?
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Post by Sherry on Jun 10, 2012 18:01:54 GMT -5
The lamb and duck would likely be ok for her. I'd be hesitant on the chicken though. It seems to be the most common trigger for the majority of IBD ferrets.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 18:15:16 GMT -5
Good to know, thank you! Is beef any better than chicken? I bought the chicken thinking it would be better than the beef. Not to worry though, I have plenty of others that will eat the chicken up.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 10, 2012 18:25:07 GMT -5
It depends on the individual ferret. Boris did fine on it for a long time, then it started bothering him as well. It got to the point that the only meats that didn't set him off were lamb, goat, and venison.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 18:28:50 GMT -5
Okay. I wish I knew of this was triggered by a food alergy or stress. Being a pound girl, I have no idea what she went through before I picked her up. Cruiser and Vault were adopted yesterday so it will be easy to keep her in her own fn cage for now.
What do you think of the quality of these foods as a balanced meal for the others?
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Post by Sherry on Jun 10, 2012 18:41:46 GMT -5
I can't seem to find the nutra source. Could you post a link?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 18:47:14 GMT -5
I need a nap.  Nature's Variety Instinct frozen I think I was thinking about something for my dogs. Helps to look at the name on the bag.  |
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Post by Sherry on Jun 10, 2012 19:22:47 GMT -5
;D Nature's Variety is fine Also, the only Nutrisca freeze dried I could find only listed 15% fat for the chicken? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 19:25:37 GMT -5
15% would be far too low. Compare it to Stella & Chewys freeze dried - very appropriate for ferrets. 25% fat for chicken, 30% for beef, 28% duck duck goose, 35% for lamb, and 30% for surf and turf. A mix of three would yield an average of 30% fat. So try to stick to that range.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2012 13:14:11 GMT -5
I can get Nature's variety rather easily locally. If I rotate the flavors, how complete of a diet is it? Can I try to feed only the commercial nuggets with an occasional whole prey? Also, the nuggests are so soft with no real bits of bone that I see. What will this do to their teeth?
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Post by Sherry on Aug 22, 2012 14:37:46 GMT -5
As long as you are feeding a minimum of 3 different proteins it's fine. For their teeth, they should either have the whole prey or something like chicken necks or wings at least once a week.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2012 15:30:44 GMT -5
I am impressed and intrigued by the mouse soupies. I would go out and buy a blender to do this. Any old blender or something special, or do you mean a food processor? And it grinds up all the bones and all?
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