It is amazing how many people just miss the boat and flounder in the water! My post was to illuminate some of the wonderful things that Bob Church has studied and how the information he has compiled makes sense and should offer a base for people to confidently step into the world of natural feeding, as well as a recognition that Bob is willing to share this information freely and on a one to one level. You don't necessarily have to attend a conference or symposium filled with noisy people where it can be hard to hear the guest speaker. Bob has the ability to translate the language of scientific terminology into words "regular" people can understand. Beyond this Bob has ALSO feeds his ferrets an evolutionary diet and the health of his ferrets (as well as other natural fed ferrets) prove out what skeleton after skeleton and skull after skull of mustelid has revealed -- that animals eating the things they were designed by Mother Nature to eat enjoy optimal health! That no matter how "scientifically formulated", veterinarian approved" , "Certified", "created according to the National Research Council" a kibble is manufactured -- there is simply no way that a kibble can offer the optimal percentages and bioavailibity and quality of nutrients that an Evolutionary diet can for the ferret! Bob has invested his time, money and health into this wonderful study; he has walked the walk and can talk the talk. He has implemented a replica of the evolutionary diet in the care of his ferrets and has offered guidelines and easy to understand reasons for ANY one to do the same for their ferrets. I, for one, wholeheartedly appreciate Bob's efforts. He isn't just citing links to other people's work or gleaning the information from a book or paper and then attempting to present it as his own. Bob saw a need in the ferret community for PROOF of the effect of diet on the ferret -- and he's gone out into the world to obtain the information firsthand! This undertaking was not likely just for his own edification or to stem idle curiosity -- those of us that feed naturally have already experienced this and can already see and feel the benefits to our ferrets; no, this study was likely an undertaking to PROVE to the nay-sayers that what Mother Nature designed the ferret to eat is what will offer the best health; not some concoction made up to create profits from garbage and the dredges of what normally would be left for the ants. Mother nature has done the studies for us -- and the end design is the ferret -an animal OBLIGATED to survive SOLELY upon the flesh, skin and bones of other animals and in order that this predator remain vigorous these prey items need to be consumed as raw whole items -- not cooked into a goo then baked into cut kibbles! DO I think that kibble will disappear completely as a food stuff for ferrets? I could only WISH! But, no -- it won't -- the marketing has proved it is here to stay -- all I can hope is that through continued REAL research and POSSIBLY the REAL desire by manufacturers to provide a MORE healthy product for the obligate carnivores they serve AND as a result of demands from informed consumers that their recipes will eventually eliminate carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables. I can HOPE that ferret owners will turn away from sweetened, artificially flavored, carb loaded foods and treats and at the very least offer their ferrets the chance to CHOOSE a better diet, or replace those manufactured treats with a freeze dried meaty item, or dried chicken or duck strip. I can HOPE that breeders will respond to consumer demand to discontinue the practice of early altering, or separating the kits from the jills before the babies are properly weaned; and that the breeders will stop forcing the introduction of carb loaded kibble to the kits creating that imprint on foreign substance just because the kits are born with an innate will to survive! To those that think I am "cruel" for feeding live prey -- I merely brush off your close minded concepts and comments. Until you have done a thing long enough to see results- your views are insignificant! Would I be upset if I saw someone feeding a ferret to a snake? Well actually THAT snake would go hungry if the ferret was still alive and I was anywhere near! But I AM a realist and there are likely MANY ferrets that end up as snake food. Especially ones rehomed on places like craigslist and local Pennysavers. I HAVE had mice, gerbils, guinea pigs and rabbits as pets. Some animals are pets -- some are food, simple as that. It isn't like I lurk at the local animal parks and pounce on kids stealing away their pocket pets! But when I am out on walks with my ferrets and people inquire what I feed them to keep their coats so silky -- I don't hesitate at all and matter of factly state EXACTLY the kind of diet they get. Often times there are children present and the kids are fascinated by this information. I have NEVER ONCE had a parent run screaming or cover their kid's ears to shelter them! The most often repeated response is, "Really? I didn't know that! Well, it does make sense -- look at their teeth!" I have several friends in the ferret world that I fully understand they cannot feed a natural diet. Mainly my friends that do rescue. Yes, it does take some individualized efforts to get some ferrets to break that imprinting code and in the case of rescued ferrets, especially when there are dozens of them it just isn't feasible to allot that much time to each ferret. I discuss my successes with dietary conversions with my friends and they discuss their upgrade to higher quality kibbles with me. Some have abandoned the cat chows all together and are feeding the lower carb choices. They report a noticeable improvement in their ferrets after just this simple change. When I visit Stinky Pete's Ferret Retreat there is one rescue ferret there that knows I feed raw and she immediately comes to me begging for a piece! I oblige and the poof tail delight this ferret shows when devouring her rare treat brings a smile to my face. She'd turn carnivore in a heart beat! I am harboring one kibble crunching hold out that refuses to even taste raw. Since I do NOT force feed a transition -- I'll continue to purchase three types of low carb, no grain kibbles with supposedly a full range of actual meat sources cooked into them. And DaVinci will remain the one ferret in my crew with a dry, coarse, smelly coat that sleeps much more than the rest, tires more quickly when playing and will likely soon begin to show the onset of insulinoma as well as have to go to the vets for expensive sedated teeth cleaning. Open your minds people, READ the information Bob Church and others have taken the time to compile, test the waters, then watch your ferrets transform! Cheers, KIM please visit : for ferret help and info: http://holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi http://ferretopia.proboards51.com/index.cgi yahoo groups Natural Ferrets [Posted in FML 6888]