How to Feed Your Ferret
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Just like any other animal, ferrets need a properly balanced diet to look and feel their best. For years, ferrets and their owners were forced to feed high-quality kitten foods. That time has come to an end; due to the rising popularity of the ferret as a pet, there are now numerous commercially available foods that are specifically designed for ferrets.
A good starting point is to keep in mind that you need to find at least 2 foods that are nutritionally satisfactory for your ferret. Ferrets can be notoriously finicky eaters, and if they are fed only one food, and that food suddenly becomes unavailable, most ferrets will not eat. The easiest way to prevent such a problem is to feed your ferret a blend of 2 foods from the start - that way he won't develop a dependence on a certain kind.
Most importantly, ferrets require a dietary plan that is based on animal protein in order to satisfactorily meet their nutritional needs. Ferrets are obligate carnivores and have no cecum, therefore they are unable to digest vegetable proteins, or utilize the nutrients that are found in them. When choosing a food for your ferret, pick one where at least 3 of the first 6 ingredients listed are meat. Avoid foods that have the first ingredients listed as vegetables or other plant materials.
Also, the guaranteed analysis of a food is very important. Ferrets have very short digestive periods - from the time of ingestion, it only takes 3 to 4 hours for food to be digested. Because of this it is even more important that their diets are high in protein (no less than 34%) and fat (no less than 20%). If fed foods with these nutrients in lower concentrations, the ferret's digestive tract does not have enough time to extract what they need for good health.
By using these guidelines to choose a food for your ferret, you will be able to see that your ferret is well-fed. He will have a glossy coat, supple body and clear, alert eyes. He will be active, playful and inquisitive. Putting the best food into your ferret will help him be the best ferret he can be!
Here's a food comparison chart to assist you when shopping for ferret food at Ferret.com:
Ferret.Com Food Comparison Chart
|
Brand / Name of Food |
Ingredients |
Guaranteed Analysis |
||||||||
|
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Fifth |
Sixth |
Protein Min. |
Fat Min. |
Fiber Max. |
Moisture Max. |
|
|
8 in 1 Canned Ferret Chicken Dinner |
Water (For Processing) |
Chicken |
Chicken Liver |
Poultry |
Poultry By-Products |
Fish |
10.00% |
6.50% |
1.00% |
75.00% |
|
8 in 1 Ultra Blend Ferret Diet |
Chicken Meal |
Ground Yellow Corn |
Brewers Rice |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Animal Fat |
Corn Oil |
35.00% |
15.00% |
3.00% |
10.00% |
|
8 in 1 Ultimate Ferret Diet |
Chicken |
Chicken Meal |
Ground Rice |
Chicken Fat |
Chicken Digest |
Raisin Juice |
45.00% |
16.00% |
3.00% |
10.00% |
|
8 in 1 Ultimate Soft Moist |
Chicken Meal |
Chicken |
Rice Flour |
Soy Flour |
Poultry Fat |
Corn Gluten Meal |
30.0% |
15.0% |
3.0% |
25.0% |
|
Innova Evo |
Chicken |
Turkey |
Chicken Meal |
Herring Meal |
Potato |
Chicken Fat |
50.0% |
21.0% |
1.5% |
10.0% |
|
Marshall Premium Ferret Diet Food |
Chicken By-Product (Organs Only) |
Herring Meal |
Corn |
Cod Fish |
Dried Beet Pulp |
Brewers Dried Yeast |
38.00% |
18.00% |
3.50% |
10.00% |
|
Marshall Premium Ferret Diet Senior |
Chicken By Products (Organs Only) |
Chicken |
Herring Meal |
Corn |
Oatmeal |
Cod Fish |
34.00% |
17.00% |
3.00% |
10.00% |
|
Sheppard & Greene Premium Senior Ferret Food |
Chicken |
Chicken Meal |
Rice |
Corn |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Chicken Fat |
32.00% |
16.00% |
2.50% |
10.00% |
|
Sheppard & Greene Premium Adult Ferret Food |
Chicken Meal |
Ground Rice |
Corn Gluten Meal |
Chicken Fat |
Ground Corn |
Dried Whole Egg |
35.00% |
20.00% |
3.00% |
10.00% |
|
Totally Ferret Active Diet Food |
Chicken By-Product Meal |
Rice Flour |
Egg Product |
Chicken Fat |
Poultry Fat |
Wheat Flour |
36.00% |
22.00% |
1.50% |
10.00% |
|
Totally Ferret Older Diet Food |
Chicken By-Product Meal |
Rice Flour |
Egg Product |
Chicken Fat |
Wheat Flour |
Ground Corn |
33.00% |
18.50% |
1.50% |
10.00% |
|
Totally Ferret Baby Ferret Formula |
Chicken By-Products(Organs Only) |
Wheat Flour |
Whole Dried Eggs |
Chicken Fat |
Beet Pulp |
Poultry Fat |
42.00% |
24.00% |
2.00% |
10.00% |
|
Totally Ferret ASP Food Chicken Chunks |
Chicken By-Product Meal |
Rice Flour |
Dried Egg Product |
Chicken Fat |
Poultry Fat |
Wheat Flour |
36.00% |
22.00% |
1.50% |
10.00% |
|
Totally Ferret ASP Food Turkey Chunks |
Chicken By-Product Meal |
Rice Flour |
Egg Product |
Chicken Fat |
Wheat Flour |
Corn Meal |
36.00% |
22.00% |
1.50% |
10.00% |
|
Zupreem Premium Ferret Diet Food |
Chicken Meal |
Chicken Fat |
Ground Wheat |
Wheat Flour |
Chicken |
Egg Product |
40.00% |
20.00% |
2.00% |
10.00% |
|
8 in 1 Canned Ferret Chicken Dinner |
Water (For Processing) |
Chicken |
Chicken Liver |
Poultry |
Poultry By-Products |
Fish |
10.00% |
6.50% |
1.00% |
75.00% |
Ranking of Ferret Foods Based on Ideal Ingredients
|
Name of Food |
Ingredients |
Total Rating |
||||||
|
Protein (at least 36%) |
Fat (at least 19%) |
Fiber (Less Than 2.5%) |
Meat, Not Meat By-Products |
# of meat-based ingredients in first 4 |
Corn In First 6 ingredients |
Corn Free |
||
|
8 in 1 Canned Ferret Chicken Dinner |
Y |
Y |
|
|
3 |
|
Y |
5 |
|
8 in 1 Ultimate Ferret Diet |
Y |
Y |
3 |
Y |
5 |
|||
|
8 in 1 Ultra Blend Ferret Diet |
Y |
1 |
Y |
1 |
||||
|
8 in 1 Ultimate Ferret Diet Soft Moist |
Y |
Y |
Y |
2 |
Y |
4 |
||
|
Innova EVO |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
4 |
Y |
8 |
|
|
Marshall Premium Ferret Diet Food |
Y |
3 |
Y |
3 |
||||
|
Sheppard & Greene Premium Adult Ferret Food |
Y |
Y |
2 |
Y |
3 |
|||
|
Totally Ferret Active Diet Food |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3 |
6 |
|||
|
Totally Ferret ASP Food Chicken Chunks |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3 |
6 |
|||
|
Totally Ferret ASP Food Turkey Chunks |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3 |
Y |
5 |
||
|
Totally Ferret Baby Ferret Fomula |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3 |
Y |
6 |
||
|
Zupreem Premium Ferret Diet Food |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
2 |
Y |
6 |
|
* Percentages taken from The American Ferret Report Vol. 17, No. 4 2007. "Choosing a Proper Diet" by Kerry Fabrizio
|
Name of Food |
Senior Ferret Foods |
Total Rating |
||||||
|
Protein (32-36%) |
Fat (16-19%) |
Fiber (Less Than 2.5%) |
Meat, Not Meat By-Products |
# of meat-based ingredients in first 4 |
Corn In First 6 ingredients |
Corn Free |
||
|
Marshall Premium Ferret Diet Senior |
Y |
Y |
|
|
3 |
Y |
4 |
|
|
Sheppard & Greene Premium Senior Ferret Food |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3 |
Y |
6 |
|
|
Totally Ferret Older Diet Food |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3 |
Y |
5 |
||
|
Marshall Premium Ferret Diet Senior |
Y |
Y |
|
|
3 |
Y |
4 |
|