Can Ferrets Eat Eggs? (Raw Or Cooked?) | Expert Advice

Yes, ferrets can eat raw or cooked eggs but limit them to once or twice per week as it can cause constipation.

Ferrets are obligate carnivores which means that they can easily process protein especially from animals and animal products.

They are also used to eating eggs in the wild as well which can show a good sign of them eating eggs.

Topics Covered In This Article

Are Eggs Good For Ferrets?

According to Food Data Central a 100 gram serving of boiled eggs contains 155 Calories, 11 Grams of Fat, and 13 grams of protein. 

This can be a great option for ferrets as the recommended diet for ferrets is a diet that is high in protein, fat and low in carbohydrates according to Cayla Iske from PubMed Central.

Eggs also contain a good amount of vitamin D which can help absorb calcium in the body that maintains/increases bone density in ferrets.

Vitamin D Deficiency in young ferrets has been linked to metabolic bone diseases in young ferrets according to Schoemaker N. Rickets Proceedings ExoticsCon. Portland, OR; 2016 .

Potential Drawbacks Of Eggs For Ferrets?

Eggs are a great food for ferrets but consuming lots of eggs can lead to stomach upset, constipation according to experienced ferret owners from the holistic ferret forum.

To prevent any issue you should limit your ferret’s egg intake to 1-2 eggs per week. When introducing your ferret to eggs make sure to do it gradually as too much eggs suddenly can also cause stomach upsets in ferrets.

According to experts ,ferrets that are 3-4 weeks old should only consume their mother’s milk so feeding eggs should only be done when your ferrets get older.

Can Ferrets Eat Raw Eggs?

Yes, Ferrets can eat raw eggs but when feeding raw eggs make sure to feed the whole egg with the yolk as well due to the mixture of fat and protein that the yolk and egg white provides.

The Myth About Raw Eggs

There has been a myth about feeding raw eggs to ferrets due to the presence of an enzyme called avidin on raw egg whites which is shown to isolate biotin and make it unavailable.

Here are some facts about avidin and biotin in a raw egg

1. 0.05% of avidin is present on raw egg whites out of the total protein content in it according to Monoclonal Antibodies (Third Edition), 1996.
2. A Single raw egg yolk can contain 13-25 micrograms of biotin which is one of the highest concentrations of biotin available naturally.

So, there wouldn’t be any issue of biotin deficiency in ferrets if you feed both egg yolk and egg whites. Only feeding raw egg whites however can actually cause biotin deficiency in your ferrets.

Salmonella in Eggs

According to the Centres For Disease Control, 1 in every 20,000 eggs are contaminated with Salmonella. So there is about 0.00005% chance that your eggs might be contaminated with salmonella which is very unlikely.

Eggs are highly regulated and monitored as it is consumed by humans as well and the likelihood of your eggs containing salmonella will decrease every year.

The ferret’s stomach is also acidic in nature and doesn’t allow any bacteria to take over the host according to the Holistic Ferret Forum.

Some ferret owners have seen their ferret shed salmonella in their stools when fed kibbles. This shows us that salmonella cannot effect your ferrets and they can pass it into their stool.

What Type Of Eggs Should I Serve To My Ferret?

Chicken eggs are the most popular but you can also try duck, quail eggs as well. Chickens are the most available eggs so most ferret owners prefer giving chicken eggs to their ferrets.

Some ferret owners try to provide their ferrets with quail eggs with their antioxidants richness and their size being smaller than a normal egg. Remember to provide the whole egg with the eggs and whites included when serving your ferrets any type of egg.

Quail Eggs For Ferrets

Quail eggs can be a small and good source of nutrients for your ferrets. According to Food Data Central a single quail egg which weighs about 9 grams includes 14 Calories, 1 gram of fat, and 1.2 grams of protein.

Providing quail eggs for your ferrets can be a safer option when starting out as it is very small in size and can be fed more frequently.

Duck Eggs For Ferrets

Ducks eggs are much more larger in size as compared to quail eggs. A single duck egg which is about 70 grams contains 130 calories, 9.6 grams of fat, and 9 grams of protein according to Food Data Central. 

So, start with giving small amounts of duck eggs if you are planning to start out giving it to your ferrets. Starting out small will also help you find out if your ferret likes it or not. Give them greater amounts of duck eggs if they like it on the first try.

How Should I Cook And Serve The Eggs For My Ferrets?

There isn’t a particular method of cooking eggs for ferret. You can try your own way of cooking eggs for ferrets and stick to one that works the best for you and your ferret. Make sure to not put too much salt in the eggs as it might be a habit when cooking eggs for yourself.

Give both the egg white and egg yolk as the egg white contains protein and the egg yolk contains fat which ensures the nutrient balance for your ferret.

Make sure to have another thing to eat for your ferret when serving them eggs. Try to give them some animal meat with the eggs so that they won’t feel bored by just eating eggs.

Watch your ferrets during and after having the eggs as a sudden change in behavior can tell you a lot about how your ferret is feeling after having the meal.

Go to a veterinarian nearby immediately if there is a sudden change in your ferret’s behavior.

Last Updated on 28 December 2023