how much to feed??

[Ideation 8,216]

I have to wait until the local yobs are being a pest ,making a noise etc, I throw one in and the ferrets devour the lot,,I find a 14/15 yr old last about two weeks and they don`t need fed again for a month or so,, so reckon on 7/8 teenagers a year, and they`re free !

 

 

I used to do the same mate, but the ferrets ended up hooked on soapy through absorption.

[tote 854]

On a serious note, during the working season (winter), my lot fire through a whole rabbit in a sitting leaving only the jacket, or a whole phesant, it's great to watch it all go so rapidly. They eat less in summer, due to doing a lot less physical work, and not having to keep warm.

 

 

Strange as it may sound I've always found the opposite [eating less in summer]. I would've thought they'd have needed more during the winter when it's colder and they're working but it's not the case with mine. Can only put it down to the fact that with more daylight they become a lot more active whereas in the winter they seem to spend all their time sleeping.

[Ideation 8,216]

On a serious note, during the working season (winter), my lot fire through a whole rabbit in a sitting leaving only the jacket, or a whole phesant, it's great to watch it all go so rapidly. They eat less in summer, due to doing a lot less physical work, and not having to keep warm.

 

 

Strange as it may sound I've always found the opposite [eating less in summer]. I would've thought they'd have needed more during the winter when it's colder and they're working but it's not the case with mine. Can only put it down to the fact that with more daylight they become a lot more active whereas in the winter they seem to spend all their time sleeping.

 

 

Aye i know what your saying mate, but mine are out pretty much every day during the season and always seem to rip into it when they get back, whereas in the summer they are a bit take it or leave it with the food and generally chilled.

[The one 8,481]

I put a rabbit or three lbs of chicken in a hutch per day and they usually clean that up just getting the thigh bones and a bit of fur out . But during the summer they eat a lot less as there no out every day using energy etc usually just eating and sleeping

[Kay 3,709]

On a serious note, during the working season (winter), my lot fire through a whole rabbit in a sitting leaving only the jacket, or a whole phesant, it's great to watch it all go so rapidly. They eat less in summer, due to doing a lot less physical work, and not having to keep warm.

 

 

Strange as it may sound I've always found the opposite [eating less in summer]. I would've thought they'd have needed more during the winter when it's colder and they're working but it's not the case with mine. Can only put it down to the fact that with more daylight they become a lot more active whereas in the winter they seem to spend all their time sleeping.

 

if there working all day every day they will need a fair amount of food to keep going as there busy burning up the fat .. but even if there not worked every day they still need more food as just keeping warm burns up energy & if its not met by adequate amounts of food they start to drop weight

[The one 8,481]

Strange as it may sound I've always found the opposite [eating less in summer]. I would've thought they'd have needed more during the winter when it's colder and they're working but it's not the case with mine. Can only put it down to the fact that with more daylight they become a lot more active whereas in the winter they seem to spend all their time sleeping.

 

if there working all day every day they will need a fair amount of food to keep going as there busy burning up the fat .. but even if there not worked every day they still need more food as just keeping warm burns up energy & if its not met by adequate amounts of food they start to drop weight

 

 

What percentage extra do you fed when your working them Kay ? roughly as a guide ?.

 

 

 

[ferretman89 68]

i just feed mine the same all year round

[ferret100 47]

Due to a very high metabolism, ferrets should have access to food and water 24/7. In one end and out the other in 3-4 hrs. Therefore every 3-4 hours they need to eat and drink, no way round that.

 

Good quality dried ferret food should always be available. (I use a mix of Vitalin and Beaphar Care+). With regards to meat, give them what they will eat within 8 an hour period during the summer, (dusk til dawn to keep the flies off), if they don't eat all the meat, give them less, all gone, give a bit more. Winter months, as much as they will take.

 

How old is the hob? They can be chubby as youngsters....

 

Good quality dried ferret food contains the necessary essential and non-essential vits and fatty acids etc, as well as having a protein/fat content/absorption rate appropriate to a ferrets digestive tract. People will criticise plant/cereal components of the food, but these act as a fibre component in exactly the same way fur/feathers do...to help digested matter move along the intestines.

 

If feeding whole rabbit/game carcasses on a daily, even weekly basis, remove at least 2/3rds of the liver before feeding, as livers are far too high in fat soluble vits for a domesticated ferret. Prevention is better than cure. People will also argue they feed all of the liver for years and ferret been just fine....but a post-mortem may just prove otherwise.

 

Only other recommendation is to freeze the meat before defrosting thoroughly to feed your ferrets , helps to prevent worm infestation, (cooking it through is another precaution).

 

I usually get a months worth of different meats, chop and divide the meat and organs (giving the excess liver to the dog as a treat) and divide the whole lot evenly into daily portions. Store them in the freezer and take out a daily portion, defrost it and watch them get stuck in! Time consuming to some, but to me, it's the best way all round.

 

Best of luck with your ferrets!

Edited April 5, 2011 by ferret100

[Ideation 8,216]

Due to a very high metabolism, ferrets should have access to food and water 24/7. In one end and out the other in 3-4 hrs. Therefore every 3-4 hours they need to eat and drink, no way round that.

 

Good quality dried ferret food should always be available. (I use a mix of Vitalin and Beaphar Care+). With regards to meat, give them what they will eat within 8 an hour period during the summer, (dusk til dawn to keep the flies off), if they don't eat all the meat, give them less, all gone, give a bit more. Winter months, as much as they will take.

 

How old is the hob? They can be chubby as youngsters....

 

Good quality dried ferret food contains the necessary essential and non-essential vits and fatty acids etc, as well as having a protein/fat content/absorption rate appropriate to a ferrets digestive tract. People will criticise plant/cereal components of the food, but these act as a fibre component in exactly the same way fur/feathers do...to help digested matter move along the intestines.

 

If feeding whole rabbit/game carcasses on a daily, even weekly basis, remove at least 2/3rds of the liver before feeding, as livers are far too high in fat soluble vits for a domesticated ferret. Prevention is better than cure. People will also argue they feed all of the liver for years and ferret been just fine....but a post-mortem may just prove otherwise.

 

Only other recommendation is to freeze the meat before defrosting thoroughly to feed your ferrets , helps to prevent worm infestation, (cooking it through is another precaution).

 

I usually get a months worth of different meats, chop and divide the meat and organs (giving the excess liver to the dog as a treat) and divide the whole lot evenly into daily portions. Store them in the freezer and take out a daily portion, defrost it and watch them get stuck in! Time consuming to some, but to me, it's the best way all round.

 

Best of luck with your ferrets!

 

 

Hello and welcome to the site. Do you have your tin hat ready? I hope so.

[tote 854]

On a serious note, during the working season (winter), my lot fire through a whole rabbit in a sitting leaving only the jacket, or a whole phesant, it's great to watch it all go so rapidly. They eat less in summer, due to doing a lot less physical work, and not having to keep warm.

 

 

Strange as it may sound I've always found the opposite [eating less in summer]. I would've thought they'd have needed more during the winter when it's colder and they're working but it's not the case with mine. Can only put it down to the fact that with more daylight they become a lot more active whereas in the winter they seem to spend all their time sleeping.

 

if there working all day every day they will need a fair amount of food to keep going as there busy burning up the fat .. but even if there not worked every day they still need more food as just keeping warm burns up energy & if its not met by adequate amounts of food they start to drop weight

 

I'd agree with you Kay, but how many of us are able to work our ferrets 7 days a week? With work commitments most of us are only off 2 days out of 7. Also agree that they should need more to keep them warm but for whatever reason any ferrets I've had the more daylight hours there are in a the more grub they go through to keep them in good condition.

[runforyourlife 361]

Due to a very high metabolism, ferrets should have access to food and water 24/7. In one end and out the other in 3-4 hrs. Therefore every 3-4 hours they need to eat and drink, no way round that.

 

Good quality dried ferret food should always be available. (I use a mix of Vitalin and Beaphar Care+). With regards to meat, give them what they will eat within 8 an hour period during the summer, (dusk til dawn to keep the flies off), if they don't eat all the meat, give them less, all gone, give a bit more. Winter months, as much as they will take.

 

How old is the hob? They can be chubby as youngsters....

 

Good quality dried ferret food contains the necessary essential and non-essential vits and fatty acids etc, as well as having a protein/fat content/absorption rate appropriate to a ferrets digestive tract. People will criticise plant/cereal components of the food, but these act as a fibre component in exactly the same way fur/feathers do...to help digested matter move along the intestines.

 

If feeding whole rabbit/game carcasses on a daily, even weekly basis, remove at least 2/3rds of the liver before feeding, as livers are far too high in fat soluble vits for a domesticated ferret. Prevention is better than cure. People will also argue they feed all of the liver for years and ferret been just fine....but a post-mortem may just prove otherwise.

 

Only other recommendation is to freeze the meat before defrosting thoroughly to feed your ferrets , helps to prevent worm infestation, (cooking it through is another precaution).

 

I usually get a months worth of different meats, chop and divide the meat and organs (giving the excess liver to the dog as a treat) and divide the whole lot evenly into daily portions. Store them in the freezer and take out a daily portion, defrost it and watch them get stuck in! Time consuming to some, but to me, it's the best way all round.

 

Best of luck with your ferrets!

 

 

 

is this a wind up! I have kept ferrets for most of my life mate... Never have i fed them dried food. Always give then the liver, and never i had to freeze meat! They have survive to ages of 10 and more, never let me down in the grafting department..

 

What are you trying to achieve actually/ Having this pattern. To tell the true i have never read anything like it. Dried food maybe for show or pet ferrets. meat for workers.

[Elmer Fudd 2011 39]

so how do you lads feed jills that have a nest full of kits ? do you or do free feed her ? what best for to eat when feeding ? i feed a lot of quail when she got kits ?

Edited April 10, 2011 by Elmer Fudd 2011

[The one 8,481]

so how do you lads feed jills that have a nest full of kits ? do you or do free feed her ? what best for to eat when feeding ? i feed a lot of quail when she got kits ?

 

From about three weeks i put a bit of rabbit in the nest box they might no eat it but they will give it a good sucking to get the meat juices ,a young rabbits a good size for this . then i build up to a adult rabbit and by the time there six weeks old mine were eating two full rabbits a day

[tote 854]

 

 

From about three weeks i put a bit of rabbit in the nest box they might no eat it but they will give it a good sucking to get the meat juices ,a young rabbits a good size for this . then i build up to a adult rabbit and by the time there six weeks old mine were eating two full rabbits a day

 

How many was there in that litter? As we know litters can vary in size, can't see a small litter getting through 2 rabbits a day so I'd imagine that was a fair sized litter?

[Ideation 8,216]

 

 

From about three weeks i put a bit of rabbit in the nest box they might no eat it but they will give it a good sucking to get the meat juices ,a young rabbits a good size for this . then i build up to a adult rabbit and by the time there six weeks old mine were eating two full rabbits a day

 

How many was there in that litter? As we know litters can vary in size, can't see a small litter getting through 2 rabbits a day so I'd imagine that was a fair sized litter?

 

 

Not sure, but i think maybe more than one communaly raised litter