Why do we need to do that anyway?
Mixing multiple brands of kibble is beneficial in many ways:
- Feeding multiple brands ensures your ferret is exposed to different tastes and textures. It also makes them more willing to try new things. If they are only exposed to one food their whole life, they will reject anything that isn't their normal food. Plus, it has to be boring to eat the same thing day in and day out!
- If a brand is recalled, you have another food to rely on. I saw this happen to many people during the huge EVO recall they had about a year ago. Their ferrets ate only EVO and suddenly people were having to find a new brand to feed.
- Also, if one brand is ever unavailable, you have another food your ferret is used to. Ferrets don't easily switch to new foods, and having a second food can give some security if you have a brand that is commonly sold out in stores, or if it is ever recalled (hopefully not!).
And while on the subject of mixing, I also recommend having at least 1 food that you can get locally. I know many people order online, but in the case of a shipment delay (or that moment when you go to fill up a bowl and realize you forgot to order food) you have something you can run out and grab instead of scrambling to find your ferrets something to eat! The availability of high- quality brands in pet stores makes this pretty easy. If it's proving difficult, don't be afraid to ask if the store can order a food in for you!
It's also important to keep the food bags around, even if you store the food in a separate container. In the case of a recall, you will need to lot numbers from that bag to identify whether your food was part of the bad batch. Saves the kibble from being thrown out!
Hope this helps, and if you need suggestions on what foods to mix in, I suggest checking out the Food Chart.
Happy Dooking!
-Katie and the Weasels