watford based weasel?

[mrbright]

my mother in watford has been visited twice lately by a beautiful light brown/ginger weasel (we think) it is extremely tame and follows her round the garden getting right between her feet, it is in a fantastic condition, is there anything she could feed it with, it ihas obviously escaped from a domestic house, will it survive on its own, or is there something she could do to aid it.

[AshLee]

I wonder if what they feed pet Ferrets on might be appropriate? (sorry, I don't know how to feed a ferret, but I think they are quite closely related).

[mrbright]

sorry all, have not got a clue why i called this a weasel, it is certainly a ferret, sunday morning brainstorm, i could not see a tame weasel running through my mothers legs, any feeding tips please.

[AshLee]

Well, they do sell dry ferret food in pet shops (I just checked). This should keep it in good condition because the formulation will be balanced and complete.

[AshLee]

I found a few tips.

Ferrets usually enjoy other foods as treats. Fresh chicken, ice cream, raw eggs, sultanas, mashed bananas and cod liver oil capsules are just a few.

Ferrets cannot digest fruit and vegetables. Milk or milk products should be given sparingly as they can cause diarrhoea.

Although it is fine to give your pets treats please do not overdo it. You want a sleek, fit ferret - not a fat, sluggish one!

And always provide it with fresh water.

[hedgehugger]

You could try getting in touch with these....

Ferret Help - Index Page

Ferrets are carnivores and find it hard to digest plant matter, He may eat some cat biscuits, and probably meat.

[hedgehugger]

Sultanas and raisins can actually be fatal for ferrets.

[valleyforge]

Hi mrbright,

Ferrets are members of the weasel family so you are not incorrect in referring to them as such ... they are however domestic animals and should not be running free in the wild.

From its behaviour it sounds very much like this is a recently lost pet ... they are very good escape artists ... and should be taken into care as soon as possible.

As has already been mentioned, ferrets are obligate carnivores, and as such they shouldn't be fed other than on meat ... banana, although palatable to some ferrets who like the sweetness, has no nutritional value as they can't digest it, and as hedgehugger has rightly pointed out, sultanas or raisins could potentially cause a fatal intestinal blockage and must be avoided, as should most other non-meat foodstuffs. Dairy products, including ice cream, based on cow's milk will cause diarrhoea, although low-lactose cat milk is OK and lightly boiled or scambled egg is generally relished (don't feed more than once a week though).

A number of brands of dried ferret food are available at most pet stores, or perhaps from your local vet, but chicken based cat crunchies are a useful standby although they don't contain sufficient taurine for longtime feeding.

Similarly, chicken, turkey, poultry or rabbit flavour cat food is generally readily accepted, as is boiled or roasted chicken. Ferrets don't generally like fish or fish-flavour cat foods, nor do they often find beef, lamb or other such flavoured cat meats particularly palateable, but it depends just how hungry they are of course.

Ferrets do not do well in the wild ... this is especially true of unneutered females, who if left unmated for any length of time WILL develop a wasting condition that will quickly prove fatal, without a counteracting hormonal injection.

Because un-spayed female ferrets (jills) are just coming into season now, it is pretty vital that this ferret is taken into care to determine its sex, its condition and possibly even its origin ... many pet ferrets have been 'chipped' as a safeguard to them going missing, so a vet, ferret rescue or RSPCA would be quickly able to reunite it with its owners.

There are a number of specialist ferret rescue organisations in the watford area ... just google 'ferret rescue watford' for contact details.

[The Woodman]

Just for interest valleyforge, my ferrets used to love fresh flounders and rainbow trout and strip every bit of flesh from the skeleton.

I once caught a hedgehog overnight in a mink trap baited with a small brown trout. There was nothing left of the trout in the morning apart from the skin and bones.

[valleyforge]

Are you sure your ferrets weren't mink woodman?
I did say they generally do not care for fish, but that doesn't account for individual tastes ... two of the polecat ferrets currrently in my care like the occasional bit of tinned tuna! Must admit I've never tried them with fresh fish though.

As for hedgehogs, well they're pretty well known for eating just about anything.