Ferret Raw Diet & Meal Prep 101

[@CraftsWithRac]

Watched this mulpitle times. I have wanted my ferrets my whole life and I'm finally in a position to do so. this really helps me understand the raw diet better and know what to look for. thanks dude

[@michellefitzpatrick2672]

I stumbled on this and found it wildly informative. I have owned several ferrets. All but one were unwanted rescues and had already imprinted on kibble and attempts to switch them over to raw failed. Now that I am down to two (both seniors) I have been thinking about getting a kit, and I plan to feed him a raw diet. This video is good at cohesively explaining the basics. Thanks for posting it.

[@Turtlefarm]

How’d you find a rescue!! I’d take one in a heartbeat if I could.. my buddy has Ben alone for 6 years…

[@michellefitzpatrick2672]

@@Turtlefarm There are alot of unwanted ferrets out there that need new homes. The novelty tends to wear down fast with ferrets and most people are ill equipped to deal with them - the reality of how expensive they can be as pets( their vet bills can be outrageous) as well as how high maintenance they can be sets in and people really don't want them anymore ( I find them to be a joy despite these things but the truth is they are not for everyone, and I am saying more about people than I am about ferrets when I say this. Watching them play is delightful but all that comes at a price). You can find them at animal shelters sometimes, or they have rehoming groups on Facebook or they have rescues depending on what area you live in. I even found one as a stray. I paid full price for my first ferret from a pet store. All the rest were either rehomed once their owners didn't want them anymore or taken from situations where they weren't being cared for properly. In fact, once I became aware of just how many unwanted ferrets there were, I will never buy from a pet store ever again.

[@michellefitzpatrick2672]

Just to prove my point, one of the ferrets I am talking about in my original comment has since died, and I never did buy that kit. I didn't have to. A friend of mine had given me her ferret once she didn't want it anymore, so I gladly took it off her hands. That ferret has also died just two weeks ago. Now I only have one ferret who just turned 9 in Sept. I don't plan on getting her a friend at this time. She is content playing the old maid and I need a break. They are an absolute joy to own but caring for them properly is a lot of work and I need to focus on myself for a bit.

[@Turtlefarm]

@@michellefitzpatrick2672 don’t go raw…. Zero benifits

[@hxttieme]

Wow this video was beyond informative, I am so happy I found this video as I am strategising a plan to eventually have everything and as much information as I can to adopt a ferret of my own

[@ginas3219]

I found bright green plastic embedded my ferrets kibble. After that they aren't going to be eating it anymore. Thank you for making this video!

[@Grey-wp5xu]

Wow, this is an incredible video! The ferret community lacks good informational sources about the basics of raw feeding. My only feedback is that more typically, instead of 15% heart, ferret owners more commonly do ~10% and that's plenty to meet their taurine requirements! As well as it is possible for ferrets to over eat, it's just quite rare and happens most often on grinds rather than whole prey or franken! Those are just small notes though, absolutely love the video, your ferrets are gorgeous and seem very healthy! The stepping on dried bone bit is so relatable, I've nearly cut my foot because of it LOL

[@tonynapoli5549]

My ferrets are fed on good quality kibble food during the summer. Now its mid November I feed them on wild rabbit that I ferret or shoot , I’ve kept ferrets over 40 yrs and have never had a problem . Thanks for sharing

[@ferretmonger0236]

Ferrets: I'm not on the keto diet, I on Keto Carnivore Diet

[@jeremiahjones4856]

This is an amazing video and its very well developed its weird it comes from a somewhat smaller channel. Just keep up the good work and continue with this awesome information because there is not a large amount of info providers in the Ferret market. Hope to see more by you!

[@moshack]

Been keeping Ferrets for over 30 years. Many living for over 9 years. No medical issues. And they only eat high grade Ferret specific Kibbel.

[@christinemezred847]

Bonjour Christ merci pour les conseils !

[@alexknight1301]

Trying to figure out if you've got a really nice view, or a really nice monitor. Great video!

[@MrBurkistan]

Woooow this is a treasure trove worth of information! I am a new ferret owner and I’m happy I stumbled across this video!

[@taracornell9093]

I would love a video on your ferrets’ outdoor setup! Great video covering raw feeding by the way!

[@chrisscottYT]

Thank you! I was actually planning on doing a video of their outdoor enclosure very soon. I will try to get to it this weekend :)

[@taracornell9093]

@@chrisscottYT And hey! If you see this, I was wondering if I could pick your brain a bit. Do you ever include supplements such as iodine, trace minerals, vitamin e etc? Do you use supplemental proteins such as green tripe, mussels, or oysters for manganese and zinc? I go very easy on the sups. since I feed 50/50 whole prey /frankenprey, but I do utilize them on certain days of the month or week to try to hit all their nutritional bases. The topic of using supplements at all with ferrets seems to be up for debate so I was curious. Thank you!

[@chrisscottYT]

@@taracornell9093 I'm personally not against the use of supplements and do use some on occasion, based on each individual ferrets needs. With a balanced raw diet and consistent variety nutritional gaps should be getting filled. It's great that you incorporate both franken prey and whole prey which is what I do as well and what I recommend anyone do if they are introducing a raw diet.

[@taracornell9093]

@@chrisscottYT Thank you!

[@DawgcityClev]

Excellent stuff man! Just got two baby Ferret's today and the kibble is not cutting it for me. Definitely switching to raw food diet immediately.

[@Heatherreseller]

So happy you mentioned the Fb ferret groups. I also love the iguana groups on Fb. Excellent video!!! All that carpet though with raw food. Eek!!! Would love to see the entire ferret outdoor enclosure. 💕

[@chrisscottYT]

Luckily I have moved since then and no longer have any carpet which makes life much easier lol. Currently working on a bigger, much better enclosure which I will post a video of soon.

[@Heatherreseller]

@@chrisscottYT very cool! Look forward to it. I have one ferret and one iguana. Recently had a male ferret given to me but he stank bad and I found him a new home. I just didn’t have the room or patience for him unfortunately

[@realrj]

Amazing video. Glad I found out about thus channel 😁

[@courtneypitt1328]

Great video

[@ВикторияКлименко-д4к]

Thank you! I love ferrets! 😀😁😂🤣😃😄😅😅😆😉😊They are the best animals.

[@igotem3578]

Thanks bro

[@heiditurner7332]

I just got my ferret yesterday, and she is only 12 weeks old. Is it safe to begin her on a raw diet? The breeder had her on the Marshall Farms garbage & I don’t want to shock her system. Thank you! I love this video!

[@chrisscottYT]

Yes, start immediately introducing raw because they imprint on their food and the longer you wait the more difficult it may be to transition into raw because they won't recognize it as food after being on kibble for so long. If she doesn't take to raw right away there are ways to transition more smoothly. My ferrets were also kibble fed in the very beginning like most but they took to raw right away with no issues because they were fairly young. My female was already 7 months old when we got her as previously kibble fed but she didn't have a problem taking to raw right away but all ferrets are different. I would say start now and continue to conduct due diligence moving forward :)

[@heiditurner7332]

@@chrisscottYT thank you so much!!

[@moshack]

Marshall farms breeds thousands of very healthy ferrets. The food they sell is what they feed their breeders. If the food was garbage their Ferrets would not be healthy enough to breed the way they do. Over 60 years of producing quality Ferrets. Raising and breeding unhealthy Ferrets would not be a very good business model.

[@bm-theferrets657]

Very helpful. Thanks! :)

[@IshiTheDutchAngelDragon]

With the table at 7:40 how many ferrets is that supposed to feed? One?

[@posypoodle6034]

I do give my ferrets chicks and mice, but I just chuck them in cos I don’t want to see them ripping them apart! Mind you nothing is ever left, not even a whisker!

[@mockingbirb4137]

What a healthy looking angora. 😍😍

[@kimhillegas2534]

Hi Scott, just found your beginner intro to raw fed ferrets video from 2 years ago. A good portion of what you share is ok, however I can see that your info comes straight from the holistic ferret forum. The HFF is stuck in percentages and feeding specific items on specific days which is BUNK! When feeding raw meaty bones (frankenprey) the caregiver should approach DAILY feeding as if offering an entire animaL. So the daily offering should include skin, muscle meat, edible bone, sinews, fat, cartilage and organs. The ferret's system will self regulate what it needs and how much. Only offering specific items on specific days will short change the ferret's nutrients. Whole prey is excellent for ferrets! Ferrets also can eat insects,arthropods, and reptiles. Fat is a superb nutrient that can be offered free choice as a lard lick blob. Ferrets can eat egg / yolk more than a few times a week, they can eat it daily especially if the ferret is in poor condition. Feeding raw offers ferrets the ability to thrive!

[@chrisscottYT]

Very well said, I still implement a mixed raw diet, but they each get a single whole prey item at least once per day. Maybe I should consider possibly making an updated version or additional edits to the video. Thank you. 😃

[@amandasteimel2657]

Is chicken breast okay

[@chrisscottYT]

Chicken breast is fine to feed them, but they need variety in their diet. Feeding chicken breast alone will not fulfill your ferrets' nutritional requirements.

[@blakedefriend4075]

I was looking into getting a ferret a few years back and the recommended diet was different to this.

[@_eve372]

Amazing underrated video! I learnt a lot thank you. and your ferrets are super cute godbless them 🤗💕💕

[@chrisscottYT]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot.

[@cv2tv]

Would I be able to feed my Ferret a squirrel if I hunted it and froze it for 4 weeks? I ask because squirrels sometimes eat bugs and you mentioned this being a problem. Great informative video, thanks!

[@chrisscottYT]

It depends on where you live. If you live in the city or a suburban area I wouldn't take the risk just because squirrels are omnivorous/scavengers and in those areas they'll have access to foods/garbage that can expose them to disease that you wouldn't want to risk transferring to your ferrets, if you are in a rural area there isn't as much risk. It's common in some parts of the world that people will work their ferrets to hunt squirrel and eat them fresh which can expose them to higher risk of contracting something if not frozen, although the fresh meat will have more nutrients. However, the risk is still significantly lower in those rural areas versus the city/suburbs. It's also important to remember that freezing doesn't resolve every problem, the risk of contracting parasites becomes less likely but bacteria, other micro organisms and disease is still something to be aware of.

[@stephanybarajas4344]

Would it be good to feed raw and also have a kibble for snacking throughout the day?

[@chrisscottYT]

No, only raw. You can give them freeze dried raw treats though.

[@michaelcleaver402]

I have been told not to feed day old chicks to many of them is no good but my ferrets love them what do you think

[@chrisscottYT]

@michaelcleaver402 chicks are a good source of nutrients, as long as it's not the only thing you're feeding them. They must have a variety of different proteins in their diet.

[@michaelcleaver402]

Ok thanks 👍

[@Turtlefarm]

Make sure if he’s not eating dry food you BRUSH THEIR TEETH!! My ferret just had 7 teeth pulled and had an abscess tooth… very important to keep their teeth clean… dry food does this best… they also digest dry food better… I regret letting him eat raw

[@jessicagislason4855]

That doesn't make any sense, kibble leaves a ton of food stuck in and on teeth, there's little chance it's the ferrets raw food, more likely treats it's eating, or just bad breeding, also what do you consider a raw diet exactly?

[@Turtlefarm]

@@jessicagislason4855 false… if you don’t think kibbles keep teeth clean you’re a moron… look at any dogs teeth that eats just kibble… white.. healthy gums… clean… it’s not rocket science….

[@wickedjiry7096]

Is the percentages the amount they must eat in 1 meal, 1 day or 1 week etc

[@colleenrussell4228]

Hi I've just bought my ferrets bulk chicken knecks ...now I've been reading up on them, seems theres contradictions on feeding them, a lot of mentions they could choke on them??

[@chrisscottYT]

@colleenrussell4228 It is important to monitor your ferrets when feeding items like chicken neck. Although chicken necks are a great source of nutrients and edible bone, there is the possibility of a choking hazard or small pieces of bone getting caught behind the mandible. I recommend making a mash/grind meal with them so they get the nutrients but remove the risk of choking on pieces of bone. I wouldn't be so concerned to completely remove it from their diet, but that's completely your perogative. You can give them other edible bone items as an alternative that would provide the same benefits but reduce the risk of a choking hazard.

[@lkalu.6]

Since they are fed twice a day, can the first meal be meat and the long meal granulated food

[@tommygifford7975]

No

[@backisayback5147]

I’m really sorry but, I always struggle with figuring out how much I actually need to put into their meals… I’m hoping to get a female kit and I’m just so unsure of how much she needs to eat, because the whole weighing the body weight confuses me. Could anyone explain to me a bit more in detail just so I understand? If so thank you ever so much 😊

[@JspRooster]

Great video just a question can I feed them frozen meat ?

[@chrisscottYT]

Yes, it does not need to be fresh however it does need to be thawed.

[@JspRooster]

And also in my house we have kosher meat and in order that meat to be kosher contains salt, can I still give it to my ferret?

[@chrisscottYT]

@@JspRooster No salted meats. Meats should be pure and not have any type of seasonings or preservatives.

[@clarina8134]

Btw do y'all have to cook the meat or anything you're gonna give them

[@chrisscottYT]

@@clarina8134 no, strictly raw.

[@clarina8134]

@chrisscottYT oh tyy

[@onichophora8825]

Thank you SO much! This is SO helpful! I am planning on buying a ferret and I found it so HARD to find info on raw feeding! I am so glad to find this information, at last:) Could you please tell if your ferrets are able to eat the whole adult mouse by themselves or you should cut it? And can ferrets choke on quail or turkey bones?

[@chrisscottYT]

I always give whole prey items whole. As far as choking goes, it is possible so when you're just starting out especially with a kit, monitor their feedings just to be safe but they get used to it pretty fast. Neck bones seem to be the most problem in the beginning because of their odd shape. They can also get these items caught behind the hinge of their mandible so just be cautious. These things are unlikely to happen but they can and do happen so just be prepared and make sure you have a vet experienced with ferrets in your area before getting them. If your ferret isn't choking but having a hard time you can give them some salmon oil or egg yolk to help pass food items.

[@onichophora8825]

@@chrisscottYT Thank you very much!:)

[@dollyproctor8720]

Chris, So I can give my ferret a whole raw chicken wing with the skin and bones? Also what "brand" and "kind" of freeze dry food do you recommend and can I buy it on Amazon? Thanks for all the info you've been a lot of help. ♥️

[@chrisscottYT]

Yes, you can give whole wing but I personally cut them up to eliminate stashing. Pure Bites is the brand I would recommend for freeze dried snacks which Amazon does sell, get the pack meant for cats since it's small enough to feed them directly. You'll have to experiment with the different flavors to see what they like best, mine will only eat the salmon treats.

[@salemjune666]

@@chrisscottYT I also had that same question for wings. Can kits eat wings cut up? I started to cut them but I got nervous and gave them some instinct raw chicken bites instead.

[@chrisscottYT]

@@salemjune666 Yes, they can eat wing cut. You can chop up any of the bone filled meals like chicken/turkey neck, wings, etc. I usually cut them during meal prep and bag them prior to throwing them in the freezer so they're ready to go once thawed for feeding time. Kits need access to a lot of bone for development and by cutting up the wing for them there will be a better chance of them eating more of it.

[@salemjune666]

@@chrisscottYT thank you so much!

[@chrisscottYT]

@@salemjune666 Be careful with chicken neck bone for kits, sometimes when they're adjusting to that diet the small odd shape of the bone can cause them to have issues ingesting or get caught behind the mandible. Perfectly ok to eat, just be mindful of the smaller cut pieces and monitor kit's feedings.

[@aleshiamilam1542]

I have a 6 month old female that is on kibble 😒, when I had gotten her she was already on kibble but I want to make the switch, but I’m lost due to I don’t know what raw diet is best there’s 2-3 of them (probably more) i just feel lost trying to figure out what raw diet I should do.

[@chrisscottYT]

At 6 months old, you still have some time to make the transition. If you plan on doing so, start immediately. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to get her to accept the new diet. I got my female at 7 months and it only took her about 2 weeks for a full transition to a franken prey/whole prey diet. (I recommend this diet) I introduced "soupie" meals which you can obtain the recipes for on the forums I mentioned or even here on YT.

[@aleshiamilam1542]

@@chrisscottYT thank you

[@cryavi2005]

Hello! The meal plan you posted on here, is it enough for one ferret or 2? How much is 5% organs for example. Newbie here. Thank you

[@chrisscottYT]

The amount of food will depend on your ferret as some consume more than others. Age, sex and season can dictate your ferrets diet and how much they will eat per meal. I would introduce 2 to 4 ounces of food per meal per ferret and monitor their feeding to see how much they eat and how much they leave behind/stash. As far as organ goes, if you are feeding whole prey throughout the week I wouldn't be as concerned about hitting those marks but if you're feeding strictly frankenprey then 5% of the total amount of food given in their diet should consist of organ/liver. Hope this helps!

[@JH-cx1vx]

I understand that if they don't get exposed early go the raw food they don't imprint.. ive a rescue who obviously ate cheap kibble. Any hope theyll eat raw eventually.

[@chrisscottYT]

It's not impossible, start slowly transitioning.

[@jessicagislason4855]

I've heard people have luck using bone broth mixture to transition

[@AngelusNielson]

I clicked on this video because I love tube weasels.

[@goodguy4913]

What store would have the best Selection of raw food

[@chrisscottYT]

It depends where you live. Big box grocery stores are unlikely to have everything you need. Try smaller establishments like mom and pop shops or ethnic markets. As far as whole prey goes, order online or raise your own. Most pet stores won't have everything you need either besides frozen mice.

[@adampoulter5240]

What ratio are they fed on mate

[@chrisscottYT]

The percentage ratios are based on a weekly regimen. If you're feeding whole prey frequently, you don't need to be as concerned measuring out the bone/meat/organ ratios.

[@adampoulter5240]

@chrisscottYT I feed my mainecoon cat an dog on 75/15/10 an make my own would this be OK do you recon for the ferrets we are getting at the weekend

[@chrisscottYT]

@adampoulter5240 As far as the ferrets go, following this regimen would suffice for their diet. It's important to make sure they are getting a variety of bones/meat/organ within the right ratios to make sure their nutritional requirements are being fulfilled. Feeding a raw diet that isn't balanced can be dangerous if they're deprived of the proper nutrients, but done correctly, it is the best means of nutrition as nature intended. If you want to avoid the meal prep, balanced freeze dried raw or whole prey is the way to go.

[@chillboi-69]

Only lagends know thumbnail was different before

[@marblejernkerns]

Hey! I hope someone could help out... I adopted 7 month old ferrets and want to give them a proper raw diet, but they don't seem to like it. They love kibble. Any suggestions to transition and get them interested?

[@chrisscottYT]

They imprint on their food at a young age and don't recognize anything else you give them as food. Some ferrets are harder than others to transition, make sure to familiarize yourself with the raw diet before fully committing and check out the forum I mentioned in the video, you can have a mentor guide you throughout the process. I transitioned my 7 month old from kibble to raw with "soupie" meals which mainly consisted of soft tissue/organ meat. You can try giving them egg yolk and freeze dried raw treats for now to see if they'll eat that.

[@marblejernkerns]

@@chrisscottYT thanks so much for your reply!! I'll take a further look into it :)

[@petersiska6915]

how they get beef😆?

[@chrisscottYT]

?

[@anthonysach]

I have shared this with @FerrtTubeTV on there Discord. You may get more views from it.

[@chrisscottYT]

Thanks Anthony, I really appreciate that!

[@cawneyhawme7141]

My ferrets stashed a mouse.. I can smell it but I cannot find it ^_^'

[@Lilhousejungle]

Would anyone be able to help me with raw chicken leg bones, they can have these chopped to eat can’t they? Xx

[@littlewigglemonster7691]

Why not feed whole mice n rats and chicks

[@chrisscottYT]

You can and should feed whole mice, chicks, etc. whenever possible to ensure they are getting a variety of nutrients. You can certainly feed larger whole prey items like rats, rabbits, etc. if you have enough ferrets to consume it and not leave it to be stashed or wasted. In some cases ferrets will waste whole prey items too large for them to consume in a single sitting so it's best to prep some of these items and feed in smaller portions to reduce waste.

[@lowellbentley]

Ferrets on kibble do not transition to raw diets. So most of this video seems useless.

[@chrisscottYT]

I'm not sure where you got your information from or the experiences you had, but you are misinformed. I took in a 8 month old female (past the time they imprint on their food), she was fed only kibble within that time, and I was able to successfully transition her to a full raw diet just within a few weeks. Please do not discourage people and spread misinformation to those that want the best for their animals. Nor did I ever state that it was a 100% guarantee any ferret could transition at any point. The purpose of this video is primarily directed towards what ferrets on a raw diet should be eating, not how to transition them. Thanks for your feedback.

[@JoBrosLov3r]

@lowellbentley you are very misinformed. Many people transition their older ferrets. Not to say it’s easy, but definitely doable. Please check out holistic ferret forum. They have pages on info on exactly how to do so. This video is specifically on raw meat diet basics and not how to transition.

[@Bunuffin]

NO animal ever should eat kibble... That is abuse

[@justinrice928]

I clicked off when i saw the mouse 💀