From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2003-05-20 03:47:56 UTC
Subject: chicken gravy
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20030519.234800.3212.10.kazpat1@juno.com>
It won't hurt them but shouldn't be their only
food- it nice to add it to the days choices of food, or as
a treat or supplement . Healthy ferrets would do better on regular meats
and
kibble ( some people believe the less kibble and more natural
diet the better). Instead of grinding the chicken and following
the recipe you could just let the ferret eat the chicken as is-maybe
breaking up the long bones some, boiling it first,
or if available feed carcass- the skin, and organs and all is
healthy for an obligate carnivore, but most kibble fed, picky
ferrets won't readily eat like this. The advantage is that most of
it is readily digestable, unlike kibble, and they don't have to eat
as often, so those that feed carcass don't do it daily. For mine they
get a mix
of kibble and BARF diet, and those very picky eat just the kibble
and once a day or so they get the chicken gravy so they get used
to it in case they are sick and won't mind eating it when they need it.
I also believe in variety, so have tried rabbit in the "chicken" gravy,
use different organ meats, try different kibbles mixed together,
if I feed baby food I use the turkey, chicken, lamb and veal ones.
That is only my opinion, I would guess a debate on nutrition
and diet could go on and on.
There are lists for BARF diets, natural diets, and so on. The main
thing to remember is that there is no good research or absolute data
on what a ferret really needs, so most of the info is based on the
polecat diet and the knowledge that they are obligate carnivores.
The main point is that if the only thing your ferret is eating, then
it is more important to pay attention to the original recipe by
Bob C, if it is just part of the whole diet, I doubt it would make
much difference if you adjusted the recipe.
I am not a nutritionist or a vet, I would listen to what Bob C has
to say about diet ( he posted some wonderful stuff on the FML
not too long ago) and Dr. Willard is very knowledgable as well.
Patty
> So, for healthy ferrets, you wouldn't want to give this to them in
> place of
> food?
>
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