FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT. 55 



ding 3^011 should use fine hay or rye straw ; never 

 nse oats straw; also have their feeding part light, 

 When out hunting, the head of game caught is 

 all right to be fed to a ferret. 



Different foods are fed bv the various raisers 

 but it appears to us that the graham mash, fed 

 with milk is the best all-round feed. Bread and 

 milk is also to be recommended. Meat may be 

 fed, although they get along well without it and 

 if fed too liberally may cause ill effects. Salty 

 meat must never be fed, neither should it be 

 tainted or decayed. The chapter on Breeding 

 explains how to feed the female and young. 



Those who have followed the ferret raising 

 business for years, either on a large or a small 

 scale, recommend the "graham mash'' as the 

 principal food. It is made from whole wheat 

 ground or mashed. The mash is made much the 

 same as regular cornmeal mush, that is, cooked 

 with water to which has been added a little 

 salt — about the same as for table use. At feed- 

 ing time this mash is mixed with milk. About a 

 quart a day is sufficient for four, five or six fer- 

 rets or what is usually kept in one pen or hutch 

 during the winter season. Some use skim milk 

 but right there is where many make a mistake. 

 For strong, healthy ferrets, milk as taken from 

 cows should be fed, that is, not skimmed. 



