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Post by mustelidmusk on Nov 29, 2010 22:58:16 GMT -5
I would watch the two while they eat.....you may want to offer two bowls. If Koda shows no interest, you may want to separate them again and check on whether or not he eats a little later. if he still hasn't eaten, you can try a few drops of his favorite oil. I've had ferrets go through phases where they just didn't seem to be that interested in eating. My current kids are just pigs. You can try a different mix of food at the next meal.
-jennifer
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Post by katt on Nov 29, 2010 23:35:26 GMT -5
I knew I would run into this issue eventually. I just didn't think I would have to worry about IF Koda was eating, just WHAT he was eating. The problem is, that Koda is on an odd eating schedule. He is used to eating whenever he feels like it, not necessarily when I first give him food. He usually eats in the middle of the night when I sleep, and in the morning while I am in class or at work. Naturally. Kenai eats non stop. lol He has already doubled in size, can you believe it?!?!
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 29, 2010 23:47:43 GMT -5
This may not have anything to do with Koda's not eating, but it is something to keep in mind, since these guys are so like toddlers in many ways. Frequently, when a woman has a new baby, the two year old will insist on having his formerly neglected bottle back again. Simply because "baby" has it. In other words, Koda "may" have regressed because another baby has come into the household!
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Post by katt on Nov 30, 2010 0:56:50 GMT -5
This may not have anything to do with Koda's not eating, but it is something to keep in mind, since these guys are so like toddlers in many ways. Frequently, when a woman has a new baby, the two year old will insist on having his formerly neglected bottle back again. Simply because "baby" has it. In other words, Koda "may" have regressed because another baby has come into the household! That same thought occurred to me. I try to make sure Koda still gets lots of loving, and I have been hand feeding him. I don't want him to become dependent on the hand feeding though. Should I stop and just make him get hungry enough that he will eat on his own? I don't like that he lets himself get so hungry he gets the shake and tremors though....
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Post by katt on Nov 30, 2010 5:19:42 GMT -5
Koda is acting so strangely! He won;t eat his food, he won't eat it out of his dish in his feeding den. When I hand feed him he will lap it up and then take it to his den to eat it. After only a few small pieces, he will start stashing and not eat more. Thinking he might need some extra attention, I let him out while Kenai slept in the FN (Koda's cage). He went to Kenai's little cage and started digging at the corner. I let him in and he ate some meat (from last night or this morning I think that fell out of the bowl into the corner) something or other. Not much though it was just little bits. Then I showed him the food dish thinking he might eat. He ignored it. Then when I was back on my bed, Koda ate a gizzard out of the dish (this is Kenai's dish, jsut to clarify), just in front of Shiiva's cage (my snake). Normally I don't let them eat outside of the cage because I don't want meat stashed. But I was happy he was eating on his own so I let him be. Well he then started to wander off so I showed him the dish again and he grabbed a heart and tried to stash it so I put him in his cage by his den so he could stash it in its proper spot. He then of course, would not eat it (or any of the plentiful meat and soupies in his dish). So I gave him a bit and he crawled up to sleep. I let him out again, and he scratched at Kenai's cage again so I opened it up. Well, Koda sniffed in the corner for more fallen meats but ignored the dish, Then he grabbed a piece of wing and darted under the bed before I could snatch him! I thought he might eat it so I was like, ok, not a big deal at least he is eating! Well did he eat it? NO! He came back looking for more, so I put him in his cage again and showed him his food dish. He looked at it with total disdain, and went back to the top level to sleep... I have him and Kenai both in the FN and they are both sleeping. Near each other for once but not together. I don't want to have feeding "times" because Kenai eats like a pig and needs the food to grow (he is growing so fast! And eats a ton! lol) Also, Koda is used to being free fed so I don't want him to not get food all day...no to mention my schedule makes feeding times difficult. If I want Koda to eat and have the competition to inspire him to eat and yadda yadda....how can I do that with free feeding? What if Koda doesn't eat?
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Post by katt on Nov 30, 2010 5:24:22 GMT -5
Kenai is now (in the FN) eating "Koda's" food, and Koda doesn't even care. He looked at him and slumped off to sleep. I am starting to worry - could he be depressed or something?
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Post by katt on Nov 30, 2010 5:36:45 GMT -5
javascript:add("%20 %20") Idea! This will only work for a few days to weeks though I think. Better than nothing though. As I was typing my baby questions, I realized...I don't have ramps between the shelves, and Kenai isn't big enough to get on the selves! On the bottom level of the FN, I moved the feeding den so that Kenai can use it as a step to the shelf and it works pretty well. But top level shelf though, he cannot get up to! I could set another feeding den up there for Koda! The only thing is that Koda is so used to eating on the bottom level. That is where his food always is. HE has his own little stashes occasionally, but nothing too big - most of it stays in the feeding den. I wonder if that would throw him off and not really help the issue any? Also, with Koda not eating much, should I let him get hungry, or give him mice? He is still enthusiastic about eating mice. so perhaps that will get him eating? But then he won't eat the chicken.... *sigh*
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Post by mustelidmusk on Nov 30, 2010 12:08:15 GMT -5
sometimes ferrets like their food slightly warmed ( I use defrost on the microwave - if the food cooks even a tiny bit, my brats will NOT touch it ) You can also try hand feeding one or two bites only to see if that gets Koda started. He may want to be babied You can try the den on the top shelf. Also, my brats do not like chicken - I think it's too bland for them, and with bland food, any supplements will be more noticeable. be sure to not eed supplements. Also, you can try a little heavy cream with the food. Most ferrets like Heavy Cream. You don't want to spoil him with too much cream - quite a few ferrets can and will get picky if you let them Koda may be depressed and confused about having a little brother. I know that the arrival of Shaman was a shock to my 3 brats. I really think it took about 6 months for Shaman to settle in at the bottom of the pecking order. -jennifer
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Post by katt on Dec 1, 2010 22:10:22 GMT -5
Well, Koda's poop is back to square one again. Looks like Chicken will have to be a few days on, few days off thing. Darn it!
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Post by mustelidmusk on Dec 1, 2010 22:30:39 GMT -5
try whatever seems to be easy on Koda next to get him back to normal. If you have a mouse perhaps? Lets see how quickly we can get him back to normal. Also, it may be possible that Koda's tummy was starting to bug him because of the chicken -so this might explain his reluctance to eat this past week. I know it really sticks when the easiest and cheapest thing to get has to be fed on a very limited basis -jennifer
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Post by katt on Dec 1, 2010 22:39:31 GMT -5
try whatever seems to be easy on Koda next to get him back to normal. If you have a mouse perhaps? Lets see how quickly we can get him back to normal. Also, it may be possible that Koda's tummy was starting to bug him because of the chicken -so this might explain his reluctance to eat this past week. I know it really sticks when the easiest and cheapest thing to get has to be fed on a very limited basis -jennifer I gave him and Kenai mice this morning. I think Koda might have "helped" Kenai with his mouse. The quarreling and tug of wars over the One "tastiest" mouse this morning was highly amusing. I found a huge chunk of lamb something or other (Quarter or leg or chest or something? lol) so I will give him that along with some rabbit tonight.
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Post by katt on Dec 1, 2010 23:33:38 GMT -5
After eating lots of chicken this morning, AND a mouse, Koda's poop is already looking much better than this after noon. (I imagine it is the mouse catching up). I will still give lamb and rabbit tonight. But maybe I will be able to do chicken every other day, or even every 3rd day. That would be okay with me! If he can handle every 2nd or 3rd day I will be very pleased.
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Post by katt on Dec 4, 2010 13:52:41 GMT -5
Koda still does not have much of an appetite. I did see him eating though, so that is good. He has been getting lamb leg chunks, and ground rabbit. I have been mushing in some pumpkin, flax, and a little olive oil as they have both been itching a LOT. Koda's coat is starting to grow back! It is a Lot darker, but I can't decide if it is "fluffy," or short and thick "seal" fur. It seems the same to me. It still has some growing to do though. But he definitely doesn't seem like he has put on much weight. Should I maybe try him on some duck? I think (unless the duck would be good and I can find some) that I want to try pork again as the next meat. I have several pork organs in my freezer (I was VERY excited to find pork spleen! Normally liver and the occasional pork kidney is all I can find for organs). I do think I will need to start doing an extra feeding time for Kenai, away from Koda, so that he can get a more varied and balanced diet. Where Koda would never (consistently anyways) eat right when I put the food in the cage (he wanted to PLAY!!!!), Kenai eats like an absolute pig. He eats 4 times what Koda eats so it is no wonder he is growing so quickly! With Koda I could never do a set feeding time (still can't) because he won't eat right when you want him to. He is more like me - he's a "grazer." lol Anyways, I think that for now, while Kenai is still growing anyways, I will not have too much trouble getting Kenai to eat when I put food in front of him! haha So I am thinking that if I can get Kenai to eat one (or more when I have time) meal(s) of chicken then he will eat less of "Koda's" food, and get a better balance in his diet. Also, you mentioned before that your IBD babies would often just Not eat foods that they were sensitive to, or not much of it. So I wonder, if I provide enough lamb and rabbit for Koda, but also put other meats in there as well (for Kenai mainly, but Koda too) if that would somehow work. Like if Koda would preferentially eat his safe meats, and only a little of the other meats. I am picking up some beef and pork tonight for MiniMite Kenai. I want to get him eating a variety now even though Koda can't just yet. I don't want to bypass the food imprinting period! lol
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Post by mustelidmusk on Dec 4, 2010 22:34:41 GMT -5
give it a try....Koda may select what's best for him.
Regarding the itchy skin...are you feeding enough animlal fat? meats are trimmed pretty well these day. Ferrets need quite a bit of fat in their diet. the wysong archetypal 1 has 30 percent fat. Also,my brats HATE chicken breast - it's just too lean for them. fats have a lot of flavor. Koda's appetite may pick up a bit with a little extra fat in his diet.
Duck is very good - it's typically fatty as well. fatty as well. You may want to see if Paw Prince carries the Stella and Chewy's "Duck, Duck, Goose". I really like that product because duck tends to be very expensive when you find it. And Goose - I've never seen it around here. Another thing you may want to try that may be different enough from regular chicken is cornish game hen. (great for edible bones too)
Also, here is what I do when I cook....I rinse all the meats I'm preparing for dinner in cold water and pat them dry. I then trim any fat and gristle off of meats and save these scraps for the brats before I season and cook the food. I sometimes collect an amazing amount of "goodies" for the brats. I put them all in a little small sour cream container (or whatever) in the freezer if I'm not feeding the scraps immediately.
-jennifer
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Post by katt on Dec 5, 2010 2:11:43 GMT -5
I don't cook meat often actually and when I do it is usually lean meat or like sausage. When I do cook it though I buy lean and only make enough for Shane and myself and gve the rest to Koda. Or did. School has been a bit draining lately so I haven't really been cooking much of anything. Haha we eat at Shane's house most nights and his mom cooks for us. Ah the joys of having a bf who lives at home and has a wonderful cook of a mom. haha I could ask her to save scraps maybe, but she mostly cooks using moose which is very lean. On another note, when I go visit my family for the holidays I will have access to my Mom's big fancy dehydrator. And vacuum packer! So I can make a ton of jerky treats. What kinds of stuff would be good to dehydrate?
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