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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 24, 2008 17:07:33 GMT -5
I gave them ground hamberger last night and they love it! i mixed chunks of it in the baby food and last night i fed them by placing my finger in some of it and offering it to them. they seem to me more into beef then chicken. can i give them some of both or should i just stick to one kind of meat? How do u post pictures? I'm happy to hear they liked the beef Its okay to let them have beef (in fact the more variety of meat you can get into the diet, the better.) I would like you to work them up to WHOLE chunks of beef, instead of ground beef. Ground foods dont really help to clean the teeth because they dont wipe and clean the tooth surface like ripping through a chunk of meat would. Also grinding can reduce certain nutrients. Its okay to use the hamburger meat to them used to raw, but you do want to get them onto meat CHUNKS in the future So offer them the babyfood with the chicken chunks mixed with ground beef. I would slowly work on phasing out the babyfood, so they are eating just meat. From there increase the size of the meat chunks. Our goal is to get them eating "thumb sized" pieces of meat, from there we will work on getting them to eat bones (an essential food that provides calcium and other dietary nutrients). I'm happy to hear they already have tried chicken and beef! That is very good that they are taking to the variety so quickly. Excellent!
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horseyliz
Going Natural
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 144
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Post by horseyliz on Sept 24, 2008 20:33:56 GMT -5
so what kinda meat should i buy for the ferrets as they progress? I get paid on friday so i was thinlking of getting some meat for them. What do u suggest i buy?
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 24, 2008 22:46:55 GMT -5
Well right now the goal is to get them eating edible bone asap. Edible bone is raw bone that comes from any animal smaller then a rabbit or chicken (so no beef bones, pork bones, etc).
I would invest in mainly chicken. To get them eating bone we will start by using chicken wings, so buy some chicken wings. Chicken thighs are also good, get those as well. If you can find beef or pork (boneless) get that (buy whatever is cheapest or on sale) avoid ground meats (as we want to get them eating whole chunks of meat). I would also pick up a tub of chicken livers and a package of chicken gizzards and hearts. That will do for the "basics" for now.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 24, 2008 22:47:51 GMT -5
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horseyliz
Going Natural
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 144
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Post by horseyliz on Sept 25, 2008 5:58:37 GMT -5
Thank u for your meat sugestions i will get some stuff for them on friday, and i creatwed a photobucket account. so i will post some pics when i am all done with up loading them.
they ate a 1/4 cup in the last 12 hours and they ate 1/4 to 1/2 a cup yesterday while we were out. These meserment are added togeather.
Nilla seems to be eating more than mocha. i don't know if that is just because nilla was starved and needs to gain weight or if its just because mocha doesn't eat that much. But mocha is eating so i am not that worried.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 25, 2008 18:27:11 GMT -5
Some ferrets (just like people) have higher metabolisms. You are correct to not be concearned. Do keep an eye on Mocha though, make sure there is no significant weight loss.
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horseyliz
Going Natural
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 144
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Post by horseyliz on Sept 25, 2008 20:44:23 GMT -5
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 26, 2008 11:44:42 GMT -5
I'm not sure how much food that is, but its normal for an adult ferret (especially females, who are smaller then males) to eat about 2-3 oz of raw food each day. During the initial phases of the switch, they *will* eat a little less then normal and they might lose a little bit of weight. The key is a *little* bit of weight. If you suddenly see prominant ribs and hipbones, then you know there is a problem. But at this point I think your babies are probably just fine Just keep an eye on them.
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horseyliz
Going Natural
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 144
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Post by horseyliz on Sept 27, 2008 18:45:10 GMT -5
ive noticed that since we have been staying at my friends while i have been working they have been piggies on the kibble. she did not want me to feed them raw wile we are at her place. i do plan on bringing them home and keeping them on the raw. its hard for me to tell if nilla is to losing anythin as she was so skiny. all i know is she can not aford to lose an once. but she does seem to be keeping her weight where it is and her fur is getting nicer. Mocha is doing alright as well.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 27, 2008 18:48:55 GMT -5
I'm happy to hear that her weight is keeping and that her coat texture is improving Thank you for the update, its good to hear that all is going well so far.
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horseyliz
Going Natural
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 144
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Post by horseyliz on Sept 28, 2008 23:41:45 GMT -5
i bought beef steak, pork liver, and chicken thighs and cut them up for nilla and mocha. As far as i know they didn't eat the meat i left them. i left their door open and i beleive the cat ate it all but i could be mistaken. i think i might of lost a mouse as on e of my males got lost while i was cleaning the mice up tonight. if the kities do not eat him maybe the ferrets will or may be he will escape? i kinda feel bad that i wasn't paying more attention to him. Anyone have any ideas of what i should do to catch a mouse that is loose in your house, before your other pets get him?
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horseyliz
Going Natural
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 144
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Post by horseyliz on Sept 30, 2008 18:02:37 GMT -5
they ate a tea spoon of meat/baby food today. i think my girls are being reblious about having to eat meat.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 30, 2008 18:10:05 GMT -5
Dont' worry during the inital stages of the switch, ferrets often back track a bit. Just be sure they are eating SOMETHING. If you add a new food and they flat out refuse to try it, go back a step or two and slowly sneak the new food up on them. You can also try cutting the chunks up SUPER small (half the size of a piece of kibble), the sneakier you are, the more likely they will try the food. You must be like ninja!
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horseyliz
Going Natural
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 144
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Post by horseyliz on Sept 30, 2008 19:27:51 GMT -5
i decided it was better for nilla if i cut out the meat to night and gave her mushed up kitten chow. her ribs are geting more visable than they were. i would rather have an alive ferret than a dead one because she refuses to eat all togeather. Can i add ground up meat and decrese kitten chow till they r eating just ground up meat and then increase size?
i'm not sure but maybe that will work better.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 1, 2008 14:00:29 GMT -5
I think you made a good judgement call. Its absolutely important to have them eating SOMETHING. As for your plan: "Can i add ground up meat and decrese kitten chow till they r eating just ground up meat and then increase size?" Yes, that sounds like a perfect plan
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