Post by skizzy928 on Mar 16, 2009 16:51:45 GMT -5
1. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names, ages, genders, and do they have any health problems (this is VERY important)?
Bonsai- 4 months, female,she's deaf but..that makes no difference in her eating habits does it?
Samurai-8weeks,male. No apparent health problems as of yet.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
Bonsai eat's Zupreem
Samurai is currently eating Marshalls, I will switch him to Zupreem soon as well
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Raw. But not prey..just chicken and beef and such.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I have come to realize that it is much healthier than the cheap nasty kibble ferrets (and other carnivorous pets) are fed. I want my baby girl to be as healthy as possible
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
On the forum on ferrets.com there was a thread about it.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
I don't know her weight yet..she's not heavy though. She has a soft belly..but she dosn't look fat or super thin either. She appears to be pretty strong..i have no idea how to tell her muscle tone though.
Samurai- Although he's just a baby he is of average weight, seems to have some muscle on him.
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
From the glimpses I've seen. her gums are pink and healthy looking. and her teeth are a tad yellow
Bonsai- No picture
Samurai-
(Thank you to my good friend Marie for the pictures!)
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Soft, she's a roan blaze with a bib. and a bit of grey spots on her face
Samurai- Very soft, not much guard hairs. Very dark brown with a white muzzle that drips down to his chest. Under fur is grey.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
since Ive gotten her...maybe three times a day? I'm not sure.
For the past hours or so that I've had him he's poo'd twice.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Not bad. unless you get really close to it then it smells a bit
Samurai- I can barely smell it.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
I can smell her when I'm at the middle of the stair well..but it may not be her its more the bedding I guess.
Samurai- OH JEE. His smell is super strong, he smelled like sea weed before I bathed him.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
In her cage - 5
out of her cage, playing - 8.5
Samurai- 3-4 out of cage (being held)
9-10- while playing.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
I don't know..we leave the food out all day : \ (Imma try only putting it the required time)
Samurai- I havn't fed him yet (I will haha)
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
No
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
Bonsai-She's deaf and I've had her for 3 days ^^
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
17.
a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch atleast every other day?**
I'll try. Most likely I wont forget.
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's saftey during the switch?
Sure!
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explaination as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?***
Yeah
**Note 1: If you are unable to make it to a computer (such as on weekends) please indicate below so we know whether you just dont have computer access or if you have gone MIA.
***Note 2: If you would like to try the switch again and you are committed to making regular updates you ARE welcome to restart your thread. Failure to provide regular updates will result in the deletion of your thread.
Bonsai- 4 months, female,she's deaf but..that makes no difference in her eating habits does it?
Samurai-8weeks,male. No apparent health problems as of yet.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
Bonsai eat's Zupreem
Samurai is currently eating Marshalls, I will switch him to Zupreem soon as well
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Raw. But not prey..just chicken and beef and such.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I have come to realize that it is much healthier than the cheap nasty kibble ferrets (and other carnivorous pets) are fed. I want my baby girl to be as healthy as possible
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
On the forum on ferrets.com there was a thread about it.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
I don't know her weight yet..she's not heavy though. She has a soft belly..but she dosn't look fat or super thin either. She appears to be pretty strong..i have no idea how to tell her muscle tone though.
Samurai- Although he's just a baby he is of average weight, seems to have some muscle on him.
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
From the glimpses I've seen. her gums are pink and healthy looking. and her teeth are a tad yellow
Bonsai- No picture
Samurai-
(Thank you to my good friend Marie for the pictures!)
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Soft, she's a roan blaze with a bib. and a bit of grey spots on her face
Samurai- Very soft, not much guard hairs. Very dark brown with a white muzzle that drips down to his chest. Under fur is grey.
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
since Ive gotten her...maybe three times a day? I'm not sure.
For the past hours or so that I've had him he's poo'd twice.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Not bad. unless you get really close to it then it smells a bit
Samurai- I can barely smell it.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
I can smell her when I'm at the middle of the stair well..but it may not be her its more the bedding I guess.
Samurai- OH JEE. His smell is super strong, he smelled like sea weed before I bathed him.
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
In her cage - 5
out of her cage, playing - 8.5
Samurai- 3-4 out of cage (being held)
9-10- while playing.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
I don't know..we leave the food out all day : \ (Imma try only putting it the required time)
Samurai- I havn't fed him yet (I will haha)
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
No
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
Bonsai-She's deaf and I've had her for 3 days ^^
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
17.
a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch atleast every other day?**
I'll try. Most likely I wont forget.
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's saftey during the switch?
Sure!
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explaination as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?***
Yeah
**Note 1: If you are unable to make it to a computer (such as on weekends) please indicate below so we know whether you just dont have computer access or if you have gone MIA.
***Note 2: If you would like to try the switch again and you are committed to making regular updates you ARE welcome to restart your thread. Failure to provide regular updates will result in the deletion of your thread.