FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT. 57 



One of the large and successful raisers feeds 

 as follows : During winter the stock kept for 

 breeding is fed milk in the morning, no mush and 

 meat in the afternoon. In other words milk only 

 in the morning and meat only in the afternoon 

 or evening. After the mating and until young 

 are born no meat is fed but the graham mush. 

 After young are born then the graham mush with 

 milk and ground meat. The young will learn to 

 eat the mush and milk also the ground meat as 

 soon as they leave the nest. Many ferrets are 

 killed by too much meat and young especially 

 must be fed but little at first. A piece as large 

 as a hen's eg^ ground up is plenty to begin on 

 for a litter of five or six. 



Where large numbers are kept, the graham 

 mash fed with milk is not only the cheapest but 

 most convenient feed. Some feed meat occasion- 

 ally but during hot weather it may cause bloat. 

 Ferrets are very fond of horse flesh and the 

 larger ferret establishments buy old worn out 

 horses for about |5.00 each. The hide is worth 

 considerable so that the meat costs little or noth- 

 ing other than the work connected with the 

 slaughtering and feeding. A piece as big as a 

 hen's egg is enough for each ferret. Remember 

 that it is best to feed meat but once or twice a 

 week. Some successful raisers feed little or no 



