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Post by socksandshoes on Aug 8, 2012 20:28:27 GMT -5
I've had my two female ferrets, Socks and Shoes, for almost three years. They have since been on a dry kibble diet. I am looking to change their diet in order to promote good health. I am leaning toward Wysong. Any suggestions? Please help! I need the 411 on what is best to feed my little girls!!!! Thanks!!!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2012 20:50:49 GMT -5
Honestly? Ideal diet is whole prey. Next is raw/whole prey mix, then fresh raw. Wysong's freeze dried raw, as well as other freeze dried raw comes in pretty close behind  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 21:02:24 GMT -5
If you definitely need to feed a kibble, Wysong's Epigen90 (ferret) is the best kibble there is, hands-down (IMO). I do NOT recommend their archetypal II. (ArchII is bad kibble; Arch I is awesome freezedried goodness) Sherry is totally right about raw being best though  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 21:40:53 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2012 0:10:49 GMT -5
I feed Epigen 90, a blend of various baby food meats, pumpkin, and starting to use Archetypal I. I feed kibble bc they were kibble eating weasels when I adopted them and just getting them to eat soupies has been a challenge. My life is not my own right now so I am keeping it simple and using what they have come around to eat without a huge battle. They love the Epigen and there was no transition, they took to it immediately. Ozzy, who is a newbie and came with that dry, scratchy, dull coat, is getting softer by the day and has gained close to a 1/4 lb in just over two weeks. He is still holding out on eating soup but he is at least licking it off my finger now,,,,he used to clamp shut and wouldn't even clean his nose off  I also give them supplements, taurine, krill and I learned to make my own ferretone. The Wysong is expensive but we have a new pet store near me and although she doesn't carry Wysong, she orders it for me ( and I am saving rather than ordering myself) and she has a great program where you earn a 10% store credit regularly. Just a suggestion in case you don't have anybody who carries it near you,,,,worth asking if they will order for you. I feel like I am doing the best I can for them until I can find the time to really get them eating raw. The Archetypal is new this week and they love it dry in small treat size chunks. Wetting it and getting them to eat it in soup will be the next challenge. Good luck! Time and patience is half the battle  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2012 9:33:52 GMT -5
Ditto the above comments. Whole prey is best, but of the kibbles I feel Wysong ferret epigen 90 is closest to their natural diet. My ferrets also like the achtype I. Here is the kibble mix I feed:
Wysong ferret epigen 90
Zupreem Grain free
orijen 80/20 grain free poultry/fish cat
wellness core grain free original formula cat
All are high in meat proteins and grain free. My rescues usually love the mix.
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Post by socksandshoes on Aug 12, 2012 13:22:39 GMT -5
Thank you all--your support and kindless is greatly appreciated!!! I am going to transition my kiddos to Wysong Epigen 90, and also the Archtypal freeze dried. Laurel, do you care to share your ferretone recipe? I refuse to use anything store bought because of the parabens and artificial ingredients! Again, thank you!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2012 13:27:48 GMT -5
You can simply use a salmon oil as a ferretone replacement. I use the grizzly kind in the pump bottle. Mixing in a little cod liver oil would also add some extra vitamin a (but be careful as you don't wanna overdo it)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2012 16:49:10 GMT -5
Hmmm, I think I got the ferretone recipe from this forum somewhere. it is a mix of organic flaxseed oil, vitamin e oil and  I'll dig around and see where I got it from and post. |
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Post by ferretlove67 on Aug 12, 2012 17:27:47 GMT -5
For those that absolutely can not feed a raw and/or whole-prey only diet ( the best IMO but to each their own of course) , I think Wysong epigen 90 is the best ( of course your ferret has to approve) and then I'd place Orijen and other varieties like wellness core next to it. IMO, variety is key to any diet. Some mix it between a few kibbles that are grain-free when doing kibble and some go just for one, but Wysong is the best and the best as an alternative to fresh raw (opinion). I think raw can be the very best, yes. However, like stated, if not going raw there all the way or whole prey etc, wysong has a great variety to choose from too in addition to epigen90. Some mix a variety of grain-free kibbles etc. (Orijen and wellness core are at the top of my own lists if I fed kibble, besides the Wysong products that are #1 IMHO) and I commonly scope the aisles out more and more as new products come available and are moving more towards the grain-free kibbles and even some raw blends in the fridge section at places for dogs. ( unfortunately most contain a lot of additives at this time). It is very good to see the trend change for sure, wysong still happens to be the best IMO if raw and whole-prey can not be fed and balanced appropriately by someone etc. OR its just a matter that they choose not to and do not want to go all raw/whole-prey. I happen to love Wysong products, think it is important that anyone switching do it with ease on any diet so no upset tummies under a vet consult even, but truly it's a hard decision and we love Wysong if ever needed. Good to have on hand if there is an emergency as its the closest one can get to raw, without going full blown raw. JMHO. No help am I, diet is such a hard decision and you wouldn't think it was until you are stuck trying to find the best diet for you and your ferrets. It can also be controversial so no one diet is ever perfect as they simply are not "wild" but you can sure get as close as you can.  |
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