It's not that it's a stupid question, it's more likely no one has an answer. Let's face it - in the States we're conditioned to feed prepared package food. I read an article recently in an Australian newsletter where they feed their ferrets not only mince meat, but raw chickens, rabbits, lamb, - bones and all. This goes against everything we've been taught, yet their ferrets are apparently doing fine on this diet. We make a face when we read labels that say "contains chicken by-parts" we know those by-parts can be feet, beaks, heads, feathers, etc, but let's face it - if you've ever watched a nature program on TV, you know that animals eat all that stuff on fresh kills - and again, in the wild, weasels, polecats, etc eat rabbits, small birds, rodents, etc....... Debbie Riccio WNYFLFA Rochester, NY [Posted in FML issue 1526]