Forgive me as I come late into this discussion, so if I have misinterpreted something, please let me know. My opinion on this topic is.... I don't see the variation on kibble size that outrageous a problem. Why? Because the size that ferrets come in also varies. And personalities vary. It doesn't matter which ferret foods I feed our group, someone is either wolfing it down and not chewing, or choking on a piece for whatever reason. The reason I say for whatever reason, is because I find ferret food bits in the water bowl. Those are the ferrets that are soaking the pieces before they eat them. Not all do it, and it works for the few that do. Some of my ferrets can't wait to eat fast because they feel the competition from other ferrets. This usually happens with the newcomers who don't understand that food is readily available and they don't have to fight over it. And lastly, because I can't think of anymore, is that, ferrets have various sizes of tracheas and that has more to do with genetics than the size of the ferret. It is my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, but size of trachea does not equate with size of ferret, at least not necessarily. It's akin to human babies when they are born, some having defects of a larger means and others just minor. And babies too are born in various sizes. Now as I recall way back when Performance Foods first made their appearance at one of our ferret symposiums, that they stated that the shape the kibble was created, was specifically designed for the ferret to be able to comfortably grab the piece and crunch on it. That is the basis for size and shape. My littlest of ferrets does very well chewing each piece, and then being a good little cleaner upper and finding every little crumb from that piece that she broke off from the original. Then there was Ping, my beloved little ferret with black girl attitude. She choked on a mouse and suffered for about three hours until the thing passed. (I couldn't get it out and it was too far in, but she managed and learned a lesson to eat slower in the meantime.) So, when I think of the size of even a pinky or hopper, compared to a piece of kibble, there is no comparison. And no problem as I see it. If I did have a ferret who was constantly choking on food, I would try soaking the food, doing a light grind, or taking the ferret to the vet to have its throat checked out. Throat infections may cause choking, and a build up of fluid would too. In any case, I hope the issue with your ferret passes and is only temporary or correctable by other means. betty and her blurs o'furs For the Love of Ferrets... Caring for the unloved, unwanted, mistreated, misunderstood and medically challenged for nearly 30 years [Posted in FML 7845]