>From: Lynn-Anne Friese <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: Ferret List Issue 411 Note to ferret-list readers - this is a response to e-mail sent to me by Lynn-Anne continuing the discussion of her finicky ferret. Since this is of general interest, I'm Cc'ing it to the list. > Do you know anything about the Kaytee ferret food? I've seen it in a I just checked, I have the name wrong, you're right it is Kaytee... :) Kaytee is actually a very good ferret food, as far as they go. Purina Mini Friends Ferret Chow (plastic tub in pet stores) is O.K., but it has a lot of corn in it, and has been known to cause prolapsed rectums in kits, I've never heard of a spleen problem, but that certainly doesn't mean there isn't one. I don't claim to be anywhere near an expert on the subject. Purina Ferret Chow (the good stuff, not available in any stores that I know of) is an excellent ferret chow. The only problem is that you have to have it trucked in in 50 pound bags, which isn't a very good option for one family of 3 ferrets. I've never heard anything about 8-in-1. There is one kind that comes in a plastic bag that is fish based, definately stay away from it (I don't remember the name). If that's not 8-in-1, it probably wouldn't hurt to give it a try. > > If all else fails, maybe you could try grinding up some of the grocery > > store brand and sprinkling it on the pet store food. Maybe just the > > hint of that flavor will entice your little albino to eat it. I was reading Fara Shimbo's "A Tao Full of Detours: The Behavior of the Domestic Ferret" last night and came across a few paragraphs that are directly related to this. Unfortunately, due to the wording of the copyright I don't think I can quote directly. Here's basically what it says. Polekits (wild Polecat babies) have a critical period for learning the scent of prey, between 60 and 90 days old. The will not eat anything other than these prey except under extreme duress. Therefore, they actually have to learn what to eat during that time, it is not instinctive. In ferrets, the critical time period is at about 60 days. She continues to explain that this is the reason that many ferrets will eat only one kind of food and refuse all others. Ferrets who are given a variety of food during their third month will not be picky eaters, and will be open to new foods throughout their lives. So, it seems to me that the basic moral of this is that when you bring home a new baby ferret, give them several different kinds of food mixed together, at least for the first few months. Another interesting idea arising from this is that maybe you should look at the labels of the foods that she will eat and see if you can find good foods with similar main ingredients. (I.e., maybe the main ingredient in the grocery store food is beef, and it's chicken in the pet store brands you have tried.) Also, since scent seems to be a primary issue (I've heard others claim it is the shape of the food that is important), that seems to indicate that grinding up the old food and sprinkling it on the good food may actually work. > Again, I tried this but she'd never want to eat it at the time I set it > out. Then I was afraid when I was gone or sleeping she'd be hungry > and looking for it, only to find it wasn't there. When she gets hungry enough, she'll eat. Just start with a set schedule, she'll adapt eventually. (unless she has virtually no survival instinct left) I'm going to try to remember to ask around to shelter owners this weekend at the AFA's Ferret Show in Frederick, MD. I'm sure that most of them will have encountered this before. It should be interesting to hear what they have to say. (I imagine that they probably just never notice it's a problem since there are so many ferrets, no single one gets a lot of attention. The ferrets finally get hungry enough to eat, and get used to it, without any intervention. I've never heard of a shelter ferret starving itself to death.) - Nancy Nancy Hartman CIS graduate student [log in to unmask] U. of Delaware President and founder, Delaware Valley Ferret Club Owner of Percy, Bree, & Popcorn, the ferrets [Posted in FML issue 0413]