Post by Heather on Apr 12, 2010 23:38:24 GMT -5
Name:
HF Forum Username: Elizabethrae
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
On the ferret.com forum while researching about the best diet for ferrets
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. Be sure to include if you are interested in feeding whole prey (live or frozen-thawed) and if you are wanting to FULLY switch to a natural diet or PARTIALLY. If you are unsure what kind of diet you want to put your ferrets on, please express that and we can help you find the best type of natural diet for your ferret.
I would like to fully switch to a raw diet and am willing to feed whole frozen
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I want Percy to be as healthy as possible
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?
I'm ready and willing to make the commitment
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
I have one 5 month old male named Percy. He has a cauliflower ear as chronicled in health and is a healthy weight
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
Living World Premium ferret
Science Diet Kitten Food
Ferretone
Chicken/Egg Dog treats
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
No
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I split my time between two households during the week. Percy travels with me. I am also tentatively looking into getting him a companion.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
At the moment.. 3 or 4 times a week but hopefully I will soon have constant access
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
Hi
I'm Heather, and we're going to be working together for the next little while trying to convince your furbaby to change to a healthier diet
I've been feeding a raw/natural diet for a little over 10 yrs. I have a small private rescue/sanctuary/hospice where all ferrets turned into me are switched immediately over to a raw diet that consists of ground raw/whole meats or frankenprey/ and prey diet. At present every ferret eats this full range of diets. I don't keep kibbles in the house All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 12 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 2 yrs to my present senior citizen, Mad Max who is coming up on 10 yrs
You can try to get him to eat a raw soup immediately. You will need a blender/food processor, and the following raw items:
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.
Most ferrets will willingly eat the food once they actually TASTE it, so the only struggle you *should* encounter is them not wanting to taste it. With your little one being not much more than a baby you shouldn't find it difficult to convince him to eat his food once he's started tasting it.
Each time you make your soupy, use a little less water to make it thicker/chunkier. Replace soup with fresh soup every 4-6 hours. You can make a large batch if you like and freeze into ice cubes or cupcake trays. Then you just thaw a portion and serve. OR you can put a frozen "cube" into their bowl and let it slowly thaw.
I use this method to switch all my furbabies and I've personally switched approximately 30 ferrets of my own in the last few years.
Anyway, if you have any questions or qualms, I will check in with you tomorrow and hopefully will answer your questions then. IF you like you can also prowl through the various mentoring threads where you can read over the various methods that have been used, think about what you would like to try and we will get this whole raw thing started. Please remember that there are many different ways of switching ferrets, probably as many ways as there are ferrets and ferret slaves
ciao
HF Forum Username: Elizabethrae
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
On the ferret.com forum while researching about the best diet for ferrets
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. Be sure to include if you are interested in feeding whole prey (live or frozen-thawed) and if you are wanting to FULLY switch to a natural diet or PARTIALLY. If you are unsure what kind of diet you want to put your ferrets on, please express that and we can help you find the best type of natural diet for your ferret.
I would like to fully switch to a raw diet and am willing to feed whole frozen
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I want Percy to be as healthy as possible
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?
I'm ready and willing to make the commitment
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
I have one 5 month old male named Percy. He has a cauliflower ear as chronicled in health and is a healthy weight
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
Living World Premium ferret
Science Diet Kitten Food
Ferretone
Chicken/Egg Dog treats
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
No
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I split my time between two households during the week. Percy travels with me. I am also tentatively looking into getting him a companion.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
At the moment.. 3 or 4 times a week but hopefully I will soon have constant access
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
Hi
I'm Heather, and we're going to be working together for the next little while trying to convince your furbaby to change to a healthier diet
I've been feeding a raw/natural diet for a little over 10 yrs. I have a small private rescue/sanctuary/hospice where all ferrets turned into me are switched immediately over to a raw diet that consists of ground raw/whole meats or frankenprey/ and prey diet. At present every ferret eats this full range of diets. I don't keep kibbles in the house All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 12 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 2 yrs to my present senior citizen, Mad Max who is coming up on 10 yrs
You can try to get him to eat a raw soup immediately. You will need a blender/food processor, and the following raw items:
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.
Most ferrets will willingly eat the food once they actually TASTE it, so the only struggle you *should* encounter is them not wanting to taste it. With your little one being not much more than a baby you shouldn't find it difficult to convince him to eat his food once he's started tasting it.
Each time you make your soupy, use a little less water to make it thicker/chunkier. Replace soup with fresh soup every 4-6 hours. You can make a large batch if you like and freeze into ice cubes or cupcake trays. Then you just thaw a portion and serve. OR you can put a frozen "cube" into their bowl and let it slowly thaw.
I use this method to switch all my furbabies and I've personally switched approximately 30 ferrets of my own in the last few years.
Anyway, if you have any questions or qualms, I will check in with you tomorrow and hopefully will answer your questions then. IF you like you can also prowl through the various mentoring threads where you can read over the various methods that have been used, think about what you would like to try and we will get this whole raw thing started. Please remember that there are many different ways of switching ferrets, probably as many ways as there are ferrets and ferret slaves
ciao