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Post by suds on Jul 5, 2009 12:33:35 GMT -5
if they like virgin olive oil you can put some on the treats to intice them . if that dont wotk then you can crumble some in with there kibble so they get to taste it a few times .
If you are going to stick with kible for now I would still use the evo and mix it with W1 sometimes and then with the WA2 it will help keep your cost down . When feeding kibble its best to let them have access to it 24 hours a day aspecialy have fresh water with it. Your water down verson you can giv it to them as a treat as many times you want . and keep trying new things such as stella and chewies freeze dried with them it will help from them imprinting on just a few foods .
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Post by vahl on Jul 6, 2009 21:29:53 GMT -5
Makes sense about the imprinting. And I will start them on the Olive Oil treats and see how that goes. Is extra virgin olive oil ok as well?
As far as eating today they did good. I used a lot less water this morning and straight tap water so it was not heated at all. I also added more of the A1 type that I just crumbled over the top of the kibble instead of soaking it in water. They looked at it funny at first but then sable dug right in and the other two joined in shortly there after. I left that down for about 2hrs then replaced it with a mix of the three types and they have had access to that all day. So far I had to top it off before dinner time so they are eating it and it appears a bit of everything. So all and all everything seems to be going well.
Ill start taking a bit more of the old kibble out tomorrow and see how it goes. I did get sable to take a chunk of the A1 as a treat and he loved it so that is a plus.
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Post by suds on Jul 7, 2009 6:35:44 GMT -5
yes WA1 most ferrets seem to love it once you get them to taste it shame its so expensive . extra virgin is good to use to . are you interested in getting them to eat raw duck soup as a suplement ? Its also good to have them eating it incase they get sick and you have to hand or suringe feed them . Just let me know I will be glad to help you . since they are eating warmed wet kibble it should be easy to get them to eat the soupy
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Post by vahl on Jul 7, 2009 22:22:02 GMT -5
Originally I was adding about a tablespoon of duck soup mix into their new diet transition but have failed to the last two days. They seem to enjoy the soup, and was thinking of using it as a treat, and perhaps getting them to eat their bene-bac powder.
Ok so today's feeding went well. With the past few days going soo good I bumped up the mix a little bit and even found a large piece that was mostly bone. I did not see who got to it but someone gobbled it up. They seem to enjoy the new stuff, especially Sable and the A1 as she will take the chunks, while baby and arnold still need it broke up to eat it. The EVO will be here on the 10th so I will start adding some of that when it comes in. They did not get any water mix today, so it was straight dry. I might just have to treat them with a good gravy mix tomorrow, or even try to freeze some and let em go at the ice cube. How exactly would I do that? Do i just mix it with more water and then freeze it? Or is there a special way to do it?
Thanks again for your help.
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Post by suds on Jul 8, 2009 5:51:22 GMT -5
you can add more water then freeze it in a icecube tray no real specail way just what ever works best for you and the fuzzie's
here are a couple of duck soup recipe's i prefer the first one but the second is good for kibble fed learning that soup is not poison
8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat) 1 tsp of crushed eggshell powder (take a raw eggshell. Rinse it out. Let it dry. Crush to powder) 1 raw chicken heart 1/2 raw chicken liver Water (use more to make it soupier, less to make it thicker)
Blend ingredients together. Some prefer it at room temp. Try putting a dollop of "soup" onto your ferret's nose and they probably will lick it off. I use my finger. Sometimes this takes a little bit trying to convince them that you're not trying to poison them I find within a very short time they're licking this off my finger. When I see that they're willing to eat freely off my finger then I use a small spoon to try and get them to eat from that. Try to get them eating the soupy on their own.
1 cup of moistened ferret food, moistened with fresh chicken broth or water. Not canned broth as it has too much sodium. 1/3 of a tube of Ferretvite or Nutrical 1 jars Gerber chicken and gravy baby food #2 8 oz. water 1 tbs ground egg shells 2 Tablespoons of Nupro or ferretvite 4 chicken thighs meat. dark meat is higher in calories, but any chicken or all can be used. Also note, you can use 2-3 more jars of the chicken baby food in replacement of the chicken
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Post by vahl on Jul 9, 2009 21:57:05 GMT -5
I will keep those recipies in mind and try to get the ingredients this weekend if possible. They both sound great but still looking at the raw aspect so it would be very seldom they would get that to be honest. Sorry I did not post last night I was stretched way too thin this week as it was, but had a crisis with ARK and was in the midsts of trying to save some kittens and two dogs all of which where about to be euthinized. Long story short we had no other choice but to foster two cats (one mom and one kitten) while we found a home for two kittens who might have luekemia but had to arrange for transport to the Miami area (which was not an easy task). The dogs also found some fosters so all is well on that front. As far as my furby's they are doing great. Did not have time to mix any gravies for em so everything has been dry but they are eating a good mix of the three types. So far I have am mixing 2tbls of old with 2tbls of arch type 2 and sprinkling 1tbls of archtype1 over top. This mix is getting eaten up rather quick and everyone seems to be enjoying it. Now I am not sure if the food could be making a difference already, or if Sable is just feeling better, but today while in their play area (the hall way and my room) Sable was actually chasing both Baby and Arnold all over the place, and engaging them both in wrestling matches. Although He has been playing more, it usually pertains to the other two starting it, or jumping him. So I was happy to see him starting the fights and giving chase to the other two. Question time: I know for sure Arnold is doing this but can not tell if the other two are or not (as they use the litter box's well) but Arnold appears to be peeing more than usual and the stench in the cage and playpen is getting terrible. 1hr after scrubbing the play pen area (and litter pan) it was back to stinking terribly. Is this normal with a diet change such as this? I have read where they go through something like this when switching to raw, but would this diet switch to another type of kibble do it as well? I know the moister level in the arch2 is higher but still. And from what I have gathered between the 3 ferrets they are drinking about 2 - 2 1/2 cups of water a day. Not sure how much is the norm but incase that gives you the info you need for this question of the excess peeing there it is . Thanks again for your help suds.
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Post by suds on Jul 10, 2009 5:41:54 GMT -5
switching to raw the moister content overwhelms there systems at first and its not uncommon for increased urin. but with switching kibbles its not normal as far as i know. the stronger smell would put a red flag up to me for some kind of infection . post this problem in the medical section and see what others have to say it could be just the food change but its always better to error on the caution side.
Sable is getting used to his new suroundings and more trusting i am sure he also is getting more energy from the better wysons nutrition. soon you should be able to get rid of the old kible compleetly.
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Post by vahl on Jul 10, 2009 23:04:51 GMT -5
Ok so I found out where the smell was coming from, under the litter pan in the cage i found a puddle of pee (which can not be healthy). I did not get a chance to change the cage around today but for some reason arnold has chosen the one corner in the entire cage that does not have something in it as a bath room. I am going to get a differnt litter pan tomorrow and see if that will help. As far as the amount he is peeing I am not so sure if its a lot or just the fact that he's not using the litter pan. i ran into this with sable and posted the pics on the medical forum when I switched over to straight newspaper in the litter pans. The smell (and amount of pee) was crazy bad but with out the litter to absorb the pee and its smell I do not know. I will keep an eye on them and if nothing changes by monday as far as the amount he is peeing I will take him to the vet just in case.
Now for the diet. The EVO I orderd finally came in so I added some of that to the mix tonight. Sable took to it right away straight from my hand so he would probably do great taking the old kibble out at this point, but I will give it more time before I go that route. The energy level from them all is increased as they are not napping as long as they used to, although it does take Sable a bit longer than the other two to get up and about. All in all its going pretty good. Tomorrow they are getting a good soupy mix (which they all seem to enjoy) as a treat for their great work this week. Also time for their bene-bac powder so this is the easiest way to make sure they all get the right amount. Still need to work on arnolds litter training and baby and his nipping but all in all they are doing better.
Question time. I remember you saying something about EVO red so I asked the pet store that orderd the EVO for ferrets if she could get it. She said the EVO red is for dogs; is that the same EVO red you are talking about? Is it safe to give that to ferrets? Just currious as that really through me for a loop. Thanks Suds.
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Post by suds on Jul 11, 2009 8:41:13 GMT -5
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Post by vahl on Jul 12, 2009 23:19:59 GMT -5
Ok I took your advice and took out the old kibble. They currently are getting a 50/50 mix of Wysong A2 and Evo with Wysong A1 sprinkled over the top. They are eating it up. Still cant get Baby or Arnold to take any treats but the Olive Oil is starting to work on Arnold. Baby is just being a BOOB about it all the way around. I have noticed their poo is really runny or really small amount. At first I thought perhaps a minimal blockage and being a worry wart I went ahead and gave them all some ferrelax just in case. They also got their first real outdoor experience today. While i was cleaning out their cage and play mat, I set up their playpen directly on the ground. Then like a dummy I placed a nice tub of water for them snorkel in. Well we all know what happens when you mix dirt and water but add a furry little fuzz ball and WHAT a MESS....lol But they loved every minute of it. Unfortunatly even with the water bucket I did not let them stay out too long as its getting hot quick here in FL. They did get about a good hour in though this morning before I put em back inside. On a positive note Sable is still improving more and more every day. I do not see him crawling as much and is actually spending more time walking and even got in a little jumping match with Arnold today which was great. Hard to believe what a change a diet can make (and having an annoying playmate that wont leave you be . Thanks again for all your help.
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Post by suds on Jul 13, 2009 8:25:01 GMT -5
because the new kibble has much more nutrition there body can absorb you have smaller and wetter stool's. you wil find they probly wil pick out the WA1 first then eat the evo after . Its good Sable is starting to come around the better nutrition helps but he also needs more time to adjust to all the new changes and gain some muscle n stamina . Try putting there treats in there normal food bowl see if they eat it then . they mite need to learn its food and ok to eat sometimes being put in a place they know is for food works. Keep up all the good enrichment your guys are lucky to have such a good ferrent doing great things for them .
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Post by vahl on Jul 14, 2009 21:44:17 GMT -5
Thank you Suds for the kind words. Everything is going great with their eating, there is no more old kibble mixed at all. So far to help the WA1 last a bit longer I am only giving them some on Tues, Thursday, and Saturday (Saturday being soup day). I will be placing an order for a case of it this friday but it will still take a while to get here. (that or pay extra for shipping directly which is just a waste). As far as the treats go I actually started doing that on Sunday. I broke up some and put it in their soup, and have been doing a little in their food dish in small chunks, but I am not sure who is actually eating them. I know if sable finds em first they would all be gone (he can not stay away from his goodies).
Now for the next task. I got a call today from the Animal Rescue place I have been working with (A.R.K.) and she wanted to know if I could foster a ferret. Of course i said yes but now my concern is having to change this one over to a new diet, and not knowing anything about this ones past (and apparently no way to find out either as the lady just droped her off and left). Any suggestions? I am supposed to pick her up from the vet tomorrow afternoon after she has a chance to look her over (and give her a clean bill of health). Shoot honestly I dont even know if its a he or a she lol...guess I will find out tomorrow.
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Post by vahl on Jul 16, 2009 22:00:01 GMT -5
Ok everything is going great. All the fuzzy's are eating straight EVO wet and dry (including the new guy who dove right in). I am not sure if everyone is eating the WYsong 1 or not but I am sure everyone is getting their share on soup day. Still working on the treats and getting the little ones to try new things, but they are starting to come around. I do believe it could be a trust thing as they are starting to atleast lick things I offer, even if they are not taking it right away. The Olive Oil I think helped with that (well that and the soup). Thanks again for the help suds.
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Post by suds on Jul 17, 2009 7:05:23 GMT -5
for fun enrichment and bonding you can take a little 1on1 time to play with each fert during play introduce them to a new smell use your imagination . i day use vanella , another orange peel , dirty towel , flower, differnt perfumes . once they start looking forward to what new things daddy will bring them you can then do the same with differnt foods .
goodluck with your new rescue .
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Post by vahl on Jul 18, 2009 23:31:27 GMT -5
Everything is still going great. Sorry I did not post yesterday but things got a little hectic. Everyones eating the evo great and Spanky (the new guy) had his first soup yesterday which he gobbled down. I have the EVO red on order and more wysong Arch1 and 2 on the way. I am hoping this will be a good enough balance of diet to aid in a healthier life for them all. Maybe once School is over (or I win the lottery) I will try for a full raw diet.
I did see a recipie for slightly cooked chicken cubes which I might be willing to try out. It called for cubing boneless chicken and just browning the outside leaving the inside pretty much raw. Time will tell though and that will still be a bit down the road. This would be more of a treat as I understand it would be missing the true balance of a full Raw diet. Thanks again for your help suds.
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