CHICKEN GRAVY+
(Based on Bob Church’s Recipe)

INGREDIENTS:

1 whole roasting chicken, boiled (or preferably about 5 pounds of chicken legs and thighs)
1 tablespoon Ferretone (available at most pet stores and Ferret.com)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons whole oats or 1 teaspoon Original Flavor Metamucil or equivalent
1/2 tube of Nutristat, Nutrical or Ferretvite (available at most pet stores - use 1/4 tube or less for ferrets with hypoglycemia)
1 tablespoon honey (reduce/omit for ferrets with hypoglycemia)
2 eggs whole, hard boiled, shells removed
12 scoops Nupro (available at The Ferret Store, may be omitted but contains great stuff and enhances flavor.)
1 teaspoon Pet Tinic (Tomlyn Ferret Drops available at The Ferret Store - may be omitted but preferred)

PREPARATION: Cover the chicken with water in deep pot and boil for about 1.5 hours ... Allow to cool and then carefully separate the bone and gristle and discard (we don't want to give them a blockage). 

Grind the chicken with a meat grinder and set aside.  Blend the remaining ingredients with the chicken stock.  If you do not have a meat grinder, you can blend the chicken meat with the other ingredients using the chicken stock.  I usually blend the ground chicken with the stock anyway to make creamier gravy which is easier to swallow and digest.  If you are using Metamucil, as a final step, slowly sprinkle it into a running blender of gravy and then pour back and stir the mixture well.

Stir and pour portions of the chicken gravy into Ziploc bags, push out the air, and set aside.  Repeat this process until all the gravy has been portioned out and then store the Ziploc's in the freezer.

SERVING:  Allow a bag of chicken gravy to thaw.  Clip a corner off of the bag and squeeze some into a cup.  Add water to the desired consistency as necessary, microwave to warm it up, stir well and test to make sure it isn't too hot.  A single feeding of 25ml (5 teaspoons) per day would be a great supplement and should add weight.  For a ferret not eating at all, two 25ml feedings per day would be sufficient nourishment for an extended period of time.  For a ferret with Hypoglycemia (Insulinoma) it's best to spread it out with several small feedings throughout the day.  It would be wise to feed some to your fuzzies while they are healthy so they develop a taste for it when they need it in the future.

STORAGE:  Store the unused portion in the refrigerator.  Discard any unused portion after 3-4 days and get out a fresh bag.

Here is a link to The Ferret Store: http://www.qksrv.net/click-887634-5335946.  Some really good information about ferret nutrition can be viewed at: http://www.trifl.org/gravy.html.  A good article on how to choose the right food for your ferret is located at http://www.cypresskeep.com/Ferretfiles/Nutrition-FM.htm and http://www.ohioferret.org/INFO/nutri.asp.

SIMPLE SOUP
(Recipe by Pat Elmore, Dookie's House Ferret Rescue)

 These ingredients are readily available at the grocery/pet store and can be used until Chicken Gravy becomes available:

1 can Iams Kitten Food
1 jar of Gerber's 2nd stage chicken or turkey baby food
1 teaspoon of Ferretone (optional, adds vitamins/fats and enhances taste)
1" ribbon of Ferretvite, Nutrical or Nutristat (optional, adds vitamins/calories and enhances taste - reduce/omit for a ferret that is hypoglycemic)
Water (substitute Pedialyte if the ferret has diarrhea - use mostly water for a ferret that is hypoglycemic)

PREPARATION: Mix ingredients well adding water to desired consistency.

SERVING: Warm to body temperature.  Try to feed about 25ml at a time, more if your ferret wants it.  Offer on newspaper, on your finger or with a syringe as necessary.  If your ferret is not eating kibble he will need about 50ml per day.  It's best to spread it out with several small feedings, especially if the ferret has a poor appetite.

STORAGE: May be refrigerated for up to 48 hours.  Freeze in an ice cube tray for longer storage.

NORTH FLORIDA DUCK SOUP
(Recipe by Jackie Hawley, Dook Nook Jacksonville)

1 can Science Diet a/d (available from a vet)
1 jar Gerber Chicken or Turkey Baby Food
3/4 to 1 baby food jar of Pedialyte/water to desired consistency

PREPARATION: Mix a/d and baby food till no lumps. Stir in Pedialyte/water till smooth.

SERVING:  Serve slightly warm either in a bowl or syringe.  If you warm in the microwave (approx 8-10 seconds), stir with your finger to make sure there are no hot spots. A syringe full of the soup will warm quickly in a glass of hot water. Test on your arm as you would for a baby bottle.

OPTIONS: 

FerretZyme Plus - a great additive that helps break down food to make it easier to digest. Excellent for stomach or intestinal problems and good at all times on dry kibble. Available from Pets Friends, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (800) 868-1009 or "For Ferrets Only," 1-305-378-8877.

Nupro - some very good natural additives, available from The Ferret Store.

Ensure Plus, etc. - If your ferret refuses to eat the basic soup mixture, you can add about ½ to 1 ounce of either of these.  Usually available in your pharmacy or supermarket.  As your ferret will eat the soup better, discontinue this asap.

STORAGE:  May be refrigerated for up to 48 hours.  Freeze in an ice cube tray for longer storage.

SOUTH FLORIDA DUCK SOUP
(Recipe by Mike Janke, South Florida Ferret Rescue)

This is a very simple recipe that has proven to be a life saver for many ferrets.  This (along with Prednisone) is also used for the hypoglycemic ferrets at the shelter with excellent results:

INGREDIENTS:

1 can of A/D, Hills Prescription diet (available from a vet)
1 jar of Gerber's 2nd stage chicken or turkey baby food
1/4 tsp. FerretZyme (available from For Ferrets Only, 1-305-378-8877)
1/2 baby food jar of water or less for desired consistency.

PREPARATION: Mix all ingredients well.  Note that the FerretZyme will thin the mixture considerably as the enzymes go to work breaking down the nutrients.

SERVING: Feed at least 25ml at a time, more if your ferret wants it.  How many times you feed per day depends on whether or not your ferret is eating any of its regular food.  Medications may be added at time of feeding. Warming to body temperature seems to make ferrets more eager to eat this.

STORAGE: May be refrigerated for up to 48 hours.  Freeze in an ice cube

CHICKEN GRAVY – Shelter Mix
Based on Bob Church’s Recipe

 This recipe for "chicken gravy" is a larger one for a shelter or a person with several fuzzies:   

INGREDIENTS:

10 lbs. chicken legs & thighs, boiled
2 tablespoon Ferretone
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons Original Flavor Metamucil or 2 tablespoons whole oats
1/2 tube Nutristat, Nutrical or Ferretvite  (reduce to 1/4 tube for ferrets with Insulinoma)
1 tablespoon honey (reduce or omit for ferrets with Insulinoma)
4 eggs whole, hard boiled
12 heaping scoops of Nupro
2 teaspoons Pet Tinic

PREPARATION:  Cover the chicken with water in deep pot and boil for about 1.5 hours ... Allow to cool and then carefully separate the bone and gristle and discard (we don't want to give them a blockage).  Grind the chicken with a meat grinder.  Blend the remaining ingredients with the chicken stock.  If you do not have a meat grinder, you can blend the chicken meat with the other ingredients using the chicken stock.  I usually blend the ground chicken with the stock anyway to make creamier gravy which is easier to swallow and digest

Stir the mixture well and pour portions of the chicken gravy into Ziploc bags, push out the air, and set aside.  Repeat this process until all the gravy has been portioned out, then store the Ziploc's in the freezer.

SERVING:  Allow a bag of chicken gravy to thaw.  Clip a corner off of the bag and squeeze some into a cup.  Add water to the desired consistency as necessary, microwave to warm it up, stir well and test to make sure it isn't too hot.  A single feeding of 25ml (5 teaspoons) per day would be a great supplement and should add weight.  For a ferret not eating at all, two 25ml feedings per day would be sufficient nourishment for an extended period of time.  For a ferret with Hypoglycemia (Insulinoma) it's best to spread it out with several small feedings throughout the day.  It would be wise to feed some to your fuzzies while they are healthy so they develop a taste for it when they need it in the future.

STORAGE:  Store the unused portion in the refrigerator.  Discard any unused portion after 3-4 days and get out a fresh bag.