I have been following with interest the topic of Live Prey Versus Kibble Versus Raw. Here in New Zealand we have a clear view of what ferrets eat naturally at least are far as what is available. Male ferrets eat rats, mice, invertebrates, birds, and other odds and ends like mushrooms and fruit in the absence of other meat/carrion. Females eat mice, invertebrate, birds and other odds and ends like mushrooms and fruit in the absence of other meat/carrion. They mostly do not hunt for prey but rather seek the carcases of dead animals such as possums, birds, rats etc. They do hunt tho as the fact that were ferrets live there is generally a smaller population of rodents. One down side to carrion eating in the case of possums, dead cats etc is that of TB, ferrets eat the dead possum get TB and then die. Research at Molesworth Sheep/Cattle Station in the South Island shows that they are end hosts, but not vectors e.g. transmit TB. We have been discussing this topic for a while here too. Fancy ferret foods are hard to obtain here as nearly all is imported and ferrets are no longer welcome here as pets (except by those who have them) So importing ferret foods is a no go. Good quality cat foods are the next best, and a variety of these are fed here. Chicken Mince, Beef Mince, Liver, and a few other items such as Duck Soups etc are also fed. It has been noted here that a few years ago ferrets regularly lived here past 8-10years, were often feed all sorts of crap food and were more robust and healthy, lived longer than they do now, tho most are now fed a "Quality Diet" What has changed in this time. Ferrets were being breed for colours and temperament, diets have changed, ferrets live indoors far more so are under less conventional lighting, etc etc. Having worked for a time on a ferret farm that exported kits internationally, the diet consisted of Beef Trim (Fatty) 60% and Fish frames e.g. Head, Spine Guts etc 40% all thrown through a large mincer, Vitamin E was added when needed as were antibiotics, treatments for ringworm if it turned up, and other supplements as needed. This was fed out once everyday and we had some of the healthiest animals I have ever seen. Housed in sheds protected from the rain but open sided, straw for their nest boxes, constant water supply, areas out of the sun when hot and nest boxes to snuggle in when cold. Temperature ranges here are - 6¡ Celsius to a peak of 33¡ Celsius (don't know fahrenheight at all sorry) [21 to 91 Fahrenheit. BIG] An interesting note was that on a day of minus temperatures a Jill with kit's nest box was over 30¡ Celsius, she like others regulated the temp of the nest using only straw, the nest box of thick plastic and her body temperature. In high temperatures we often found the animals buried deep in the straw, in fact this was more often than not, I figured they controlled their temperature better with their own bodies. My remaining animals are inside in cages of varying sizes, have time to run, eat a mix of meat and kibble, calcium supplement, petmilk, flaxseed oil as a treat on a regular basis. Some eat the odd raisin, all those who lived over 7-8 years ate raisins, drank little sips of tea, milo etc from the bottom of the cup. And other treats not suited to ferrets. I have a 6 year old male desexed who has Adrenal and Lymphoma who till recently was not doing well losing weight etc. it was suggested to try a little heavy cream each day. He has been getting better, has put on some weight, eats more biscuit/kibble has a better arch to his back ( he was straigtlining), plays longer and is a little more tolerant of other ferrets around him, he also likes to be held for a short cuddle which he wasn't willing to do till just recently. And even likes to dose in my arms occasionally. Heavy cream has little Lactose in it as that is found in more processed more liquid milk. He is very sensitive to change in diet, yet has done well with this, with no noticeable change in poops etc. (He is being treated for the Adrenal etc.) Of a note feral ferrets don't live all that long here, we don't really have a natural predator that targets ferrets except feral cats and the odd dog. And perhaps our dear friends the humans, traps poisons etc. Kit mortality is high. But some very healthy feral ferrets have turned up on occasion. Ferrets are a fading pet here, but giving the best you can with what you have is the key, hugs with a ferret are very special when each one who passes is the end of an era for Many here. Remember to spend a precious moment with each of your furries every day, for tomorrow they may not be here. Michelle and the NZ Clan [Posted in FML 6246]