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Post by Heather on Apr 21, 2009 15:12:54 GMT -5
Are you feeding any bone yet? Should really be trying to get him to eat some boned meats or adding some egg shell to his diet. They need quite a bit of calcium to stay healthy. Hmmmm ferret math here too I just finished talking with another new ferret momma and she's thinking of adding a little one too. I will check in with you later and see how things are doing. You might consider putting together a weeks menu so we can see where we need to work on Rascal's diet. ciao
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Post by michysweets on Apr 21, 2009 19:30:19 GMT -5
the ground i buy from hare today has everything in it its meat bone and organs all in it ground in if i should put in some egg shells that is fine i just find it to be easier to have it preground
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Post by michysweets on Apr 21, 2009 19:34:53 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Apr 21, 2009 23:06:13 GMT -5
Fantastic...I've heard some great stuff about haretoday, no problem. You don't need to add some egg shell. Like myself you referred to it as meat. Unfortunately, when mentoring you can't assume that there is bone included in that word "meat"....so sorry . You're doing great. I don't think you need to add anything. How many different types of meats have you tried? Does he have any favourites? As he's eating this very well, perhaps adding some chunked meats might be the next step. Either that or adding some chicken necks, quail pieces...just a couple of suggestions. This will start to give him a taste for bone in meats and learning how to pull at meats making him work his jaws. I wouldn't use a whole lot, just a piece to give him...say...overnight to chew on. Just a thought ciao
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Post by michysweets on Apr 22, 2009 13:04:34 GMT -5
we generally stick to chicken duck and occasionally rabbit becuase it is more expensive um thought about the meats what should i give him i look forward to the new baby, looking to get him a roommate and move him in trying to figure out how to approach the baby search i want him to choose his friend that way they get along and loves eachother baby rascal looks your lady b just alot chunkier he may be going on a walk this morning but i am currently going btb zzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Post by Heather on Apr 22, 2009 23:19:12 GMT -5
The idea is to try and use a minimum of 3 proteins sources. They don't always have to be the same 3, in fact the more different protein sources you use the more you're likely to cover all the essential nutrients that your ferret requires. That way you can avoid expensive and often artificial supplements. You don't have to add whole meats if you don't want to. Your ferret can live quite comfortably on just ground meats but...it's better for their teeth and the muscles in their jaws and necks to eat whole meats (a better workout). You should probably clean his teeth yourself if you feed only ground. As far as different types of whole meats most people feed chicken necks, wings, legs and thighs...you can feed boned in breasts too. I've fed pork riblets, turkey and duck wings, quail quarters, rabbit (both whole and pieces...it's well liked). This leads to feeding whole prey, once again it's very much your choice. Your furbaby will reap huge benefits just by eating raw ground instead of kibble, the benefits increase but marginally as you add whole boned meats and even further when you add prey. My Napoleon was chosen by Little Mischief. The store where I got him from was very pleasant and allowed Mischief into the cage with the baby ferrets. He then chose his little friend. This pic was taken at the store check out. Mischief was quite protective of his little charge. Napoleon continued to search out his little friend even after Napoleon outgrew Mischief. They were inseperable until Mischief death about a year later. This pic was taken in one of the many sleepboxes, Mischief is the tiny ferret sleeping on Napoleon. That's Napoleon's tail that's wrapped around Mischief. ciao
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Post by michysweets on Apr 24, 2009 18:01:40 GMT -5
what cuties um he is doing ok need to give him more time outside the cage but trying to finish my homework
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Post by Heather on Apr 24, 2009 23:29:22 GMT -5
It's difficult trying to balance homework, and other responsibilities. You're doing fine ciao
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Post by michysweets on Apr 28, 2009 14:52:01 GMT -5
hes doing ok i had to add a bit more water to the ground as he seemed to be throwing more food in the litter box than he actually ate (was he telling me it tasted like crap?!!!) lol neway hes doing better since i did that getting a bit more time out of the cage its good gtg bye
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Post by Heather on Apr 28, 2009 16:51:16 GMT -5
No, for some reason it's a great stash box... a little disgusting for us but for them....litter appears to be a ... flavour enhancer or maybe breading Actually if you read up about weasels and minks they quite often pee and deficate on and around their stashes so that no one will steal them I'm glad to hear that he's getting more time out to romp and play. Keep up the good work. I will check in with you later ciao
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Post by michysweets on May 1, 2009 15:02:14 GMT -5
everything is doing well he has been lacking time out this time becuase of the move everything is almost done hes been eating good still stashing neway hes doing good
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Post by Heather on May 2, 2009 0:42:23 GMT -5
Good luck getting your moving done. Everything sounds ok, when you're finished you can send me an update as to what exactly Rascal is eating and we can see if we can make any changes to work him closer to graduating . ciao
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Post by michysweets on May 4, 2009 13:04:54 GMT -5
currently he is still eating the haretoday water down quite a bit no baby food or anything else
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Post by Heather on May 5, 2009 1:05:43 GMT -5
Sounds good. What different meats is he eating? I would start adding less water to his meats...not a whole lot but just changing the consistency a little so that eventually you're not adding any water at all. Write up a weeks menu that Rascal would be eating. I know he's still eating a soupy type mixture but let's see how he's doing in the variety dept. He should be covering a minimum of 3 protein sources. You are doing great. I will check in with you tomorrow. ciao
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Post by michysweets on May 5, 2009 1:38:10 GMT -5
right now hes just eating chicken becuase they come in 5lb packages
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