Can Ferrets Eat Duck?5 min read

Ferrets are beautiful animals with playful personalities. They are known to be strict carnivores meaning they feed on meat and animal protein. Maybe you are wondering what you should feed your furry friend and if a duck is the best food for them.

So here is the answer to the question, can ferrets eat duck: Yes, they can eat duck.

Actually, duck would be a perfect food for ferrets. It is a nutrient-dense protein source that provides essential fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants. It also contains vital amino acids needed by your ferret to maintain brain function and overall good health.

What Do Ferrets Eat?

A ferret’s diet should consist of 32 – 38% protein and 15 – 20% fat. Ferret food can be a mixture of dry and wet foods. Ferret owners can choose from many different types of diets, including raw meat diet, canned foods, and commercial pet foods.

Among the reasons their diet needs to be high in meat-based protein and fat are their short intestinal tract and inefficient ability to absorb nutrients. It is easy for their bodies to digest meat, and it provides them with energy.

The most important thing to remember when feeding your ferret any food is that it should be the freshest possible. If you provide fresh food daily, then there will not be much need for supplements.

However, if you are giving them processed foods such as kibble, they may benefit from some additional vitamins and minerals in their diet.  

Ferrets do need meat in their diet because they can not produce Taurine by themselves. Dogs, for example, can. Ferrets are dependent on intaking Taurine through an animal-based diet. In that regard, cats are similar to ferrets. That’s why some wet cat food brands could be good ferret food.

What Meats can Ferrets eat?

Ferrets will eat almost anything, but they need to be fed a meat-based diet. It is best to provide them an assortment of different raw meats such as chicken, beef, duck, fish, and rabbit. Dry foods can also be offered but only in small amounts.

Here are some examples:

• beef
• chicken wings
• chicken breast
• rabbit
• duck
• game birds
• fish (tuna sometimes) – turkey
• goose
• venison
• organs (liver)
• whole prey animals such as mice
• special kibble

Most ferrets absolutely love all kinds of raw meat! One thing you should know is that ferrets are imprinted to their food by the age of approx. 6 months. Many ferrets that grew up in animal farms (or larger pet stores) never tasted raw meat in their life.

To get them used to raw meat, you should offer small pieces of raw meat repeatedly. It should be the same meat every time until they get used to it. Then you can start changing between different meats (e.g., beef, chicken, and rabbit).

What Dried Food Can You Buy?

Well, if it comes to dry food for ferrets, you should stick to the brands specialized in ferrets. Ferrets have a pretty specific dietary plan, and some dry foods are not appropriate for them.

Also, I would not recommend dry food as a primary source of food. Try to at least mix in some high-protein wet food or raw meat if you can.

If you are feeding dry food, choose a brand that offers everything your ferret needs for a healthy and happy life. One that I can recommend is Wysong Ferret Epigen 90. It’s starch-free and comes with everything your furry friend needs.

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But to be honest, I would never feed only kibble to my ferrets. They might get used to it but wouldn’t you want some variety in your meals?

How often should You feed your adult ferret?

As mentioned above. Ferrets have a short digestive system, so they need 5-7 meals a day. Plus, they need fresh water at all times available to them.

How much Should You feed your ferret?

Ferrets eat about 5-7%, equal to their body weight per day. Animals need different amounts of food based on their age and life stage, and the quantity varies. During growth, gestation, and reproduction, ferrets require more food.

What about Fruits?

Nope, no fruits for ferrets. Fruits contain sugar, and sugar is not only unhealthy for your ferret, but actually, its regular consumption could lead to severe health issues.

Ferrets are prone to a condition called Insulinoma. This is cancer in the pancreatic cells and will shorten your ferrets’ lifespan drastically.

Ferrets also have a very high risk of developing diabetes mellitus. Treatment usually consists of a special diet that helps control diabetes. The main signs of diabetes in ferrets are excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and lethargy. Ferrets with diabetes may also have cataracts (cloudiness in the eye) and skin and ear infections.

Ferrets with diabetes should have their blood sugar levels monitored regularly. The best way to keep ferrets healthy is to feed them a balanced diet that contains all the nutrients they need for health and longevity.

Summary

Ferrets are naturally very social, friendly animals with a great personalities that will make the perfect pet for everyone. They are strict meat-eaters and should be fed a diet consisting of raw meats.

The question if ferrets can eat duck can only be answered with yes! In fact, duck is a healthy and high-protein food that ferrets can eat. Feed raw pieces of duck, and your ferret will be happy.

The proper diet for your ferret is a mix of wet, dry food and fresh meat. This diet will keep ferrets healthy and happy!