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Wild game meat
The first step to introduce wild game meat into a ferret’s diet is to introduce chunks of the animal. Ferrets will accept pieces of organs and muscle meat. Initially, you can introduce the chunks of meat in small portions. Gradually increase the chunks until the ferret starts to accept whole bones.
Wild game is the healthiest meat available to ferrets, as it is antibiotic and GMO-free. However, this meat is usually quite lean and should be balanced with other fatty meats. A good rule of thumb is to feed two pounds of meat a day, so the ferret does not get dehydrated or underweight.
The ideal ratio for a ferret’s diet is thirty to thirty-five percent crude protein and fifteen to twenty percent fat. It should be made up of high-quality meat. A good substitute for duck is turkey, which is also an excellent source of bones. Turkey, unlike duck, is less expensive and easier to find. Turkey is also less likely to contain allergens than chicken.
Bone-in meat
Bone-in meat is an excellent choice for a ferret’s raw diet. They will accept chunks of meat, organs, and bones. Chicken wings are especially good for ferrets, as they help build their jaw muscles. As their jaw muscles develop, they can be introduced to larger bones and organs.
Bone-in meat is especially important for ferrets because cooked meat destroys most nutrients. Ideally, your ferret should eat about 80% meat, with the rest consisting of bone and organ meat. Besides meat, your ferret should also consume half of its liver. Liver is a good source of essential vitamins and minerals. It also provides taurine, a nutrient that supports cardiovascular and neurologic health.
Bone-in meat should be offered in small pieces to help your ferret digest the new food. If your ferret is not familiar with eating bones, try offering soft bones like chicken wings or duck necks. Afterward, grind them up into smaller pieces to ensure that your ferret will eat them.
Powdered bone meal
A balanced ferret raw diet consists of a variety of meat, bones, and organs. The ratio should be around 80:10 (meat:bones:organs). Pork organs are a good choice, because they are relatively gentle and are readily available at many ethnic markets. You can also order them online from a raw diet provider. Many of them offer both commercial grinds and bulk organs.
You can also feed your ferret single types of meat, fish, or poultry, such as liver or sardines. These meats will be digested better than other types of raw food. Ferrets can adapt to a variety of protein sources. If your ferret has difficulty digesting a particular type of meat, you can add bone meal to the diet.
Another type of bone meal is powdered bone meal. This is an excellent source of calcium and helps replace bone that’s lost in a ferret’s diet. Eggshell can also be used as a calcium source, but the long-term effects of this type of supplement are unknown.
Commercial raw products
Ferrets require a diet that is varied and balanced. You can feed them meat, bones and organs as part of their daily diet, but it is important to choose protein sources that your ferret can easily digest and chew. Pork is a good choice, as it is a mild meat. You can find pork organs and bones at ethnic markets, or you can order them online. There are also many commercial raw food providers that offer both balanced commercial grinds and bulk organs.
It is important to make sure your ferret’s diet is balanced to prevent any nutrient deficiency. When changing the diet, gradually introduce the new protein, starting with a small amount, and then backtrack to the Base Protein. To ensure your ferret’s continued good health, keep a record of all diet changes. This will give you a better grasp of what your ferret needs.
Ferrets’ digestive tracts are too short to allow them to digest a large amount of food, so they need more fat for energy. In order to get the most nutritional benefit from their diet, you can provide a well-balanced diet by including a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole-prey items.
