Minced beef / steak

[Cornio 0]

however, its best to go for lean or no more than 12% fat really.

 

I disagree.

 

Always been told to get the cheap stuff precisely because it is fattier. The reason being that ferrets have a very short digestive transit (about 4 hours) and need to get as much energy as possible from their food.

 

Never thought about how long it takes to digest their food, I was taught that the fat was the waste part of the meat, maybe its good for them to eat more fat.

 

 

It's protein they need not fat.

[Flying Ferrets 0]

they need protein AND fat. in dry food about 18-20% fat for an active ferret and as much protien as possible, no less than 30% then the dry food is no good.

Maybe that sounds like a lot, but dry food is very compact and they will also drink a lot of water, Wwen they get meat theres a lot of water in it so the fat should be around 6-7%

 

Theres a difference in ferrets and some will need less fat, some more. But this is their general need.

[droid 11]

Read my post cornio.

 

They need the fat for energy.....

 

Fat has twice the energy per gram that either protein or carbohydrate has. Given the short transit, fat is the most efficient way of getting that energy. They need high levels of protein for similar reasons, ie limited time to break down and absorb the food.

[dh90 6]

I use shredded paper for mine all year round and had no problems. at first i was told that with hay there was more chance of them getting fleas, especially in the summer. dont no how far true this is tho. But on the whole shredded paper seems fine and cheaper

[za9za00 0]

Agreed Droid, for working ferrets a higher proportion of uncooked fat is needed as ferrets can convert this to energy quicker than protein. Protein is used to build up muscle and stamina. If your ferrets are lounging in a cage etc. then a lower fat content so that they don't get out of shape. Whilst dry foods are ok they do put a strain on the kidneys due to the higher volumes of water that a ferret has to consume to gain enough moisture. Raw meat is best, rabbit, chicken, and game birds (including liver, kidney etc), odd bits of lamb, beef, venison and mutton.

 

Andrew

 

Read my post cornio.

 

They need the fat for energy.....

 

Fat has twice the energy per gram that either protein or carbohydrate has. Given the short transit, fat is the most efficient way of getting that energy. They need high levels of protein for similar reasons, ie limited time to break down and absorb the food.

[Tiercel 6,986]

Fat is not on the natural diet of a Polecat / ferret. It may come accross it in some animals it kills but it is a very low need for a ferret. What a ferret does need is a balanced diet.. That is balanced for a ferret. High in protien low in fat and limited roughage.

 

The most natural diet you could give a ferret is whole carcus animals. Mice, rats, small birds in their feather. From these small prey animals a ferret will be able to get all the nutriants it needs. The roughage would come from the stomach content and feathers or fur of the animal. The protien would be from the meat of the pray animal. As we all know wild animals meat has very little fat content. Therefore why would you want to feed the animal a high fat content diet when it does clearly not need it to thrive.

 

Ask any falconer worth their salt what the calorific values are of meat products and he will tell you that rabbit is very low on calories. Where as dark meats and some white meats are a lot higher in calorific value. Quail and Pheasant are high on the scale but no where near as high as Wood Pigeon, Hare, Rats and Mice.

 

In the past I have fed ferrets on mostly whole Starlings and I must say they were some of the most healthy ferrets I have ever owned. Because even though I was feeding them one type of animal every dietry need of the ferret was met. Pity the starling is no longer on the wanted list.

[Cornio 0]

Fat is not on the natural diet of a Polecat / ferret. It may come accross it in some animals it kills but it is a very low need for a ferret. What a ferret does need is a balanced diet.. That is balanced for a ferret. High in protien low in fat and limited roughage.

 

 

That's what I'm getting at tiercel, although I should've perhaps explained myself a bit better, rather than a one sentence answer.

 

The keywords being natural diet.

 

Cheers.

Edited December 18, 2008 by Cornio

[Leeview 791]

Fat is not on the natural diet of a Polecat / ferret. It may come accross it in some animals it kills but it is a very low need for a ferret. What a ferret does need is a balanced diet.. That is balanced for a ferret. High in protien low in fat and limited roughage.

 

 

That's what I'm getting at tiercel, although I should've perhaps explained myself a bit better, rather than a one sentence answer.

 

The keywords being natural diet.

 

Cheers.

TRUE but the keywords should be from EXPERIENCE as well,not read in a book

Y.I.S Leeview

[Cornio 0]

TRUE but the keywords should be from EXPERIENCE as well,not read in a book

Y.I.S Leeview

 

I don't quite see what you're getting at, please elaborate.