What to Feed Your Ferret

All ferrets need food, but water is just as important. Always make sure they have enough fresh clean water in their hutch and when they are out playing in their run or in your house. You can put it in a bottle or in a bowl.

There are a few specially designed dry complete ferret foods so make sure one of these is their chosen staple diet. I have always been recommended to use James Wellbeloved ferret food by vets, ferret rescue/club organisers and all the people I know who own ferrets. It has the meat protein, high fat and is a high energy food which is needed in their diets.

Once you have picked the dry component of their diet which helps keep their teeth clean then you can add the more exciting things. The earlier you start introducing more foods to your fert then the more you can try on them.

You don't always have to feed the dry food dry, you can wet it with warm water for a change.

Varied Diet

Raw meat - can be chicks, mice, poultry and any organs. It needs to be fresh and free of germs and parasites. This can only be part of the diet as it doesn't contain all the nutrients a ferret needs.

Fish - occasional treat as they are not too keen.

Cat food - meaty and in different flavours but will make their poo stinky.

Bones - good for calcium, marrowbone and vitamins. Can be given raw but if boiled first it will soften them and kill any bacteria.

Cooked meat - just as tasty as raw but you will know all the germs are dead.

Live prey - Is your fert a good predator? If not, is it fair on the little sole you have given your ferret to torment.

Baby food - something different for them to try.

Eggs - only the yolks, raw or cooked for an occasional treat.

Cooked vegetables - something different but not what a fert needs to eat.

Fruit, only raisons, banana, coconut, apple and other non-acidic fruits but only in small amounts and not sugared.

It is up to you how often you want to feed your monsters. You can leave a bowl of dry food with them at all times so they can graze on it when they want. Alternatively if you think about polecats in the wild they only have food when they find it so that might only be once or twice a day. Mine have breakfast and dinner with the occasional treat in between or after.

You don't have to feed them out of a bowl all the time (make sure the bowl is unbreakable), there is scatter feeding, hiding it in boxes, you can stuff feeding kongs or little pots and you can fill treat balls which roll around releasing food.

Treats - these are a major part of enjoyment for monsters, they are also great bribes, good teaching aids and good rewards. There are special ferret supplements like FerreTone (an essential) and Ferretvite which a monster will do anything for, (great for distracting while clipping nails). It is also great for vitamins, fatty acids and improving the skin and coat. Any food can be used as a treat especially fruit. Hair ball treats are great as they love them, you only give them in small amounts and they stop hairballs. Cat treats are great as they are small and exciting and come in many different flavours. Ferret treats - there are a few on the market. Dental treats - these are a great way of protecting teeth.

Please avoid raw egg whites, dairy, salty and sugary foods and chocolate as these can all cause ill health. Seeds and nuts are not digestible and can cause blockages that might be fatal to your ferret.