Nowadays, more and more people keep pets, because pet mink looks cute and lovable, and it is not difficult to keep, so there are also quite a lot of people. , as a novice for the first time, there will definitely be many problems that you don't understand. Let's learn from Xiu Chongjun about which aspects of pet mink need to be considered in the breeding process.

Marcher Chocolate Marten

1. Food

Eating high-quality dry ferret food will make ferrets thrive. If you cannot find dry food specially for ermines, you can Use high-quality kitten feed instead, but cats and ferrets need different nutrients, so kitten food or adult cat food cannot fully meet the dietary requirements of ferrets. The nutritional composition of dog food is not close to the nutrients that the ermine should absorb. Looking at the analysis of the ingredients on the packaging bag, it does not meet the basic requirements of the ermine. The main food of mink should be composed of fat and protein, especially animal protein, because their digestive circulatory system is very short, if they only absorb vegetable protein, it is not nutritious. Chicken, turkey, beef and lamb can all be fed to them. Most minks don't like to eat fish, and eating fish can make their feces stinky. Mink food should contain 30-35% protein and 15-20% fat. Most of the plants cannot be absorbed by the digestive system of the mink. Feeding the plants to the mink may lead to bladder stones, so make sure that no plants are present in the feed.

2. Cages

It is a place for animals to be protected and at ease, best at night or when no one is watching them Keep it in a cage so it won't get hurt. Your ermine sees its cage as a safe place, and if given enough time to play outside, it won't hate being caged. When letting him out to play, make sure the cage door is open, so he can eat food, get thirsty, use the toilet, and sleep when he walks into the cage. (Though they'd rather sleep in a drawer, behind a refrigerator, under a mattress, under a TV, or somewhere we can't see).

The cage should be large enough to allow the ermine to stretch and play, although it will be sleeping most of the time in the cage. The cage should fit a bedpan, feed bowl, and water bottle, as well as a place to sleep. A cage about 90cm wide, 90cm deep and 60cm high can comfortably house one or two ferrets.

A multi-layered cage can provide the marten with more room to move around and save you space, but make sure there are no traps in the cage that could allow the marten to fall from a height. The bottom of the cage should be flat and bedding.

The wire at the bottom of the cage can injure their delicate feet. You can lay carpet over the wire. To prevent the rug from slipping out of place, you can make some small holes in the corners of the rug and tie the rug and wire tightly together. Weaving cloth can be placed on the bottom of the cage. The cloth is soft, easy to wash, and cheap. It can be thrown away when it is rotten. Small pieces of rugs or sweaters, etc., can give the mink a soft place to sleep, or let the mink sleep in the sweater. Check his toenails for cracks or too long, which can hide dander in the toenails. Please do not use wood chips or shredded newspaper as their bedding material, which can become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you're using cloth material for bedding or on the floor, check regularly to see if the ermine eats the cloth? Does the shredded cloth come apart? Long loose wires can sometimes become entangled in the ermine , it may be injured or even killed. Shredded litter, washed at least once a week, can slightly reduce ermine odors. Cages made of metal are a good option, and you can make your own or buy them. Do not keep your mink in an aquarium, as the aquarium creates a lack of air circulation, which can cause the mink to breathe in bacteria-laden air. One problem with most plastic transport pet cages is the lack of air circulation. These transport cages are just great for transporting your ermine to the vet or taking him to visit friends. Most plastic transport cages are not recommended for ferrets.

Remember, the ermine cannot be trapped in a cage for a long time, it needs to play outside the cage and build a relationship with its owner. The ermine should spend 4 hours a day (more time is better) playing outside the cage, and it will love to play with you.

Feeding basins and drinking fountains - always provide sufficient dry feed and fresh water to the mink, the mink takes about 3-4 hours to digest the food, so it is necessary to replenish the food frequently to maintain the digestive system operation. Mink will often knock over the feed basin, to prevent it from tipping the feed basin, it is best to use a heavy flat-bottomed bowl. Use a drinking fountain to avoid leaks and keep the water clean. However, clean water should still be changed daily, and it should be cleaned regularly, and fresh feed and water should be provided frequently.

Third, the bedpan

You can use the bedpan that ordinary cats use. However, sometimes a small rubber pan can be used, and one side can be cut 1-2 inches high, and this potty will work better and be cheaper. If your ermine is not a ferret that likes to dig and play with toilet bedding, just use a normal cat bedpan, and it will be easier to handle. Condensing toilet litter is not recommended if your mink treats it as sand and plays in it. Ordinary dust-free litter, eco-friendly litter, or similar litter can be used for ferrets. Some people use wood litter compressed from wood chips, which can be a cheaper and more effective toilet litter.

4. Vitamins

If you feed it high-quality mink food, there is no need to add extra vitamins. These vitamin-supplemented foods are very useful for training ferrets. The ermine usually loves to eat it (if you give it the first time and it won't eat it, you can get a little on your finger and smear it in its mouth). These vitamin supplement foods contain a lot of vitamin A, so it is best to dilute these vitamins and reduce their intake. It can be diluted with olive oil; for one vitamin, use two (or a little more) olive oil to dilute. Don't give it more than half a teaspoon of diluted vitamins a day.

5. Bathing

Fill the bucket with hot water first, and test the water temperature with your hands to make sure that the water temperature is just right. There are many soaps, shampoos, washes, etc. Shampoo, Angora's, Marcel's, whichever you use, don't use a shampoo with a tear-jerking effect, then gently wipe the pet mink from head to tail, and wash him in a few minutes. Repeatedly, use velvet conditioner to make his hair more fluffy, and finally wipe him. You can use a clean bath towel with better water absorption, or put it in a quick-drying bag and let him wipe it himself. He will rub and rub himself to dry, and finally put it in the cage, and the fragrant ferret is born.