jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 2, 2009 19:47:18 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. We actually made some good progress over the past couple of days. Last night, both Londo and Zoey voluntarily ate most of a bowl full of soup and ground chicken thighs. Bella doesn't protest much when we scruff 'n' stuff, but shows no interest on her own.
|
|
jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 2, 2009 22:00:05 GMT -5
... and Zoey ate ground chucken w/kibble - no soup!
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 3, 2009 10:13:29 GMT -5
Yes(happy dances all around)!!!!! Congratulations for both Londo and Zoey! And once Bella gets past her "I canNOT believe you are doing this to me! I may have to eat it- but I don't have to like it" phase, she'll be right up there with Londo and Zoey And then- Gkar!
|
|
jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 4, 2009 19:14:57 GMT -5
I've got a nutrition related question. I'm varying their meats, and giving eggs and organ meat weekly. They also get 8-in-1 vitamin treats most days. Is there anything else I should be doing to supplement their vitamins or minerals?
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 4, 2009 21:43:06 GMT -5
|
|
jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 5, 2009 23:03:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. It's about what I thought.
Zoey and Londo are eating thicker chicken mush from the bowl. They still crave kibble though.
And in tonight's news, we decided to put G'Kar in with Londo and Zoey. He wanted nothing to do with the chicken, so Laura did a scruff 'n' stuff. The next thing, and he was eating it off the spoon - mostly meat with very little soup. He's still got aways to go, but it's a start!
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 6, 2009 20:55:18 GMT -5
And he's the one you expected the most trouble from I love how they do that to us! Wow- just realized. ALL your ferrets are now eating some form of raw meat! I gather with the last three, you're still taking the kibble out a while before feeding the raw?(I know, I know, but I have to ask ).
|
|
jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 8, 2009 0:07:26 GMT -5
Yeah, everyone has had at least a few tastes. The kibble eaters are in a separate cage, so when I feed the carnivores their dinner, I put the kibble kinds in when them, and they get their own bowl of mush.
Zoey is the leader for the new kids. She no longer needs any prompting to eat mush, and Londo is not far behind.
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 8, 2009 11:26:42 GMT -5
So- Zoey and Londo are well on their way. G'kar seems to like it better than anyone expected. And sooner or later, Bella will decide this stuff isn't too bad after all . You've been able to bring them along much faster than I'd originally expected with a business this size! Kudos!
|
|
jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 9, 2009 23:21:10 GMT -5
We seem to have an over-success story. Meri. He was part of a 2 fetter brother team that we adopted about 6 months ago. He should be just about full grown, but unlike his brother, Pippin, he's a porker! He doesn't seem unhealthy - no masses or anything, but he's gained gained a lot of weight since we went to meat. Should I be concerned?
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 9, 2009 23:44:35 GMT -5
As I'm sure you know, some ferrets put on more winter weight than others. How old is he? How much is he eating(is he stealing everyone else's), is he getting some exercise, running, playing, etc.? If he's quite active, and not overeating a lot(they will eat a lot more for the first 2-4 months of raw) by stealing more than his share, I wouldn't worry too much. Also, if this is his first real winter, he will tend to pork up more now than at any point in the future. He should slim down fine come springtime My one little one is just a year old, and I continually call her my little fattie now, she's put on so much winter weight
|
|
jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 13, 2009 23:44:00 GMT -5
G'Kar ate ground chicken (with a tiny bit of crushed kibble) by himself today. Bella now prefers ground chicken over kibble. Londo is eating ground by himself too - much more willingly.
Also in the newsZ G'Kar (#1 bully) actually spent the whole night loose in the big cage with everyone else, and didn't get into any fights. Also, during out time, I found him asleep in a drawer with Mal (one of his former victims). We may actually, finally be 100% integrated!
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 14, 2009 17:58:29 GMT -5
That's wonderful! Both on the food front, AND the home front Not going to be long now before we can declare you graduated
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 21, 2009 10:43:42 GMT -5
Hey, jon? Could I get you to post a feeding schedule for them? Thanks!
|
|
jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
|
Post by jon on Nov 29, 2009 13:35:28 GMT -5
They are fed twice per day, and I leave the food out in between. There are rarely any left overs. Once per week, they get pork necks, once per week, livers, hearts and gizzards, Saturdays everyone (us too!) get eggs. I've tried beef several times - nobody likes it.
For the chicken, it's a mix of wings, thighs, necks, and backs.
They all get 8-in-1 vitamin treats daily, and ferretone once or twice per week.
For anyone looking for a meat grinder, I recommend the one that Northern Tools sells. We bought a smaller/cheaper one at a department store, and it fried itself after a month. This new one handles wings, and thighs without complaint.
So, is one day a week pork, one meal of organ meat, and an egg breakfast enough to diversify their proteins?
We're doing the once every week or two meal of kibble to make sure that they will still eat it (vet visits, etc), plus, there are still a few that will only eat ground - no scrubbing of the teeth.
|
|