From:
Roger Vaughn
Date: 2002-05-22 11:04:00 UTC
Subject: RE: Baby food?
> I'm experimenting with Barfing feeding. Any in put? I do cook the
> food.
Well, if it's cooked, it's not really BARF. It might be argued that if
it's liquified, it's not BARF either....
Anyway, the recipe you described is pretty darn close to Bob C's
chicken gravy recipe. You do want to make sure you get plenty of fat
in there - 20-30% of the dry matter should be fat. I know it's hard to
estimate that way, but a store bought chicken doesn't have enough fat
on it - more is needed.
That's very good food. It's not really appropriate as the main meal
for healthy ferrets, but it's great as a supplemental treat, or as a
diet for sick or malnourished fuzzies. The only real problem is that
it doesn't do much for their teeth - make sure you clean their teeth
regularly, too. Petrodex for cats works well.
Baby food is good for ferrets with stomach problems, as it is very
bland. It's also good if you're too busy - or lazy - to make the
gravy. The gravy is much better for them since, unlike the baby food,
it is nutritionally complete. Since they are already eating the gravy,
stick with it.
You can't really overfeed them. (Most of them, anyway.) They will eat
enough to satisfy their needs and quit. The trouble many people have
is getting ENOUGH into a sick ferret. Overeating isn't usually a
problem, but sick ferrets will often stop eating and need to be
encouraged.
Roger, Digger, Bear, Fox, Sniffles and The Runt
Tampa, FL