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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 30, 2010 19:24:48 GMT -5
Yes it is. As is duck, and rock cornish hen. They are all fowl, but all different at the same time.
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Post by otterwoman on Nov 30, 2010 20:42:46 GMT -5
Why do you continue to feed soup when they're eating all that other stuff so well?
Anyway, just off the cuff, how's this:
mon Bravo fowl/ chopped giblets & heart (come together in package in supermarket)/ salmon oil
tues Bravo other (non-fowl)
wed Bravo fowl, pumpkin
thurs Bravo other (non-fowl, and different from Tuesday)
fri Bravo fowl/ chopped beef heart
sat Bravo fowl/ salmon oil
sun Bravo fowl, pumpkin
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 30, 2010 21:14:52 GMT -5
If the Bravo fowl is all one protein, you'll have 4 of them there, so that's good. Obviously the more the better, but minimum is 3. If you like, you can always introduce more later on The only thing I'd really look at adding is some sort of bone they can eat, for dental issues. Although the giblets help with that. Otherwise, you'll have to brush their teeth, and/or have dental scalings done yearly. The reason to keep them used to some sort of soup is sooner or later, they will get ill, or just be feeling off, which will make them not feel like eating. It is a lot easier getting them to eat something easy, that they are already familiar with when they are like that, rather than trying to introduce what would essentially be a new food. Consider it sort of a back up plan for when something goes wrong
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Post by otterwoman on Nov 30, 2010 21:56:43 GMT -5
Yes, I'm still working on that. Now that I have the freezer, I can buy more things. I"m going to try some marrowbones, a pork chop, and see what else they have. I still have pieces of that cornish hen. I cut the hen into about 6 random pieces and along with the giblets, I've been defrosting a piece of it and chopping it up. It's got all the bones in it.
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 30, 2010 23:08:36 GMT -5
The cornish hen would be better for that. For the larger bones, you'll have to smash them, or try to cut them lengthwise if you can to expose the marrow.
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Post by otterwoman on Dec 1, 2010 18:49:58 GMT -5
How is the ratio of people who raw feed whose animals get insulinoma? Does it still happen if the animal is raised on raw?
Also I've read more than once that the older ferrets take longest to adapt to a new diet. Funny that my oldest, Blanket (>6) took to it fastest after the baby. He's been eating it with gusto.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 1, 2010 23:35:29 GMT -5
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Post by otterwoman on Dec 2, 2010 22:41:14 GMT -5
Three of my ferrets do tricks; before I started this diet change, they did it for petromalt hair ball remedy. So I guess now that's pretty bad for them. That article you linked to said I could use a lick of butter. I was just playing with Dipsy and I had a bottle of olive oil handy, and he he was happy to do his tricks for licking a drop of olive oil off my finger. what do you think of that? I don't know what else to "treat" him with; I bought some evo treats but they weren't practical as a treat reward (take too long to eat, distract him from doing tricks, and honestly he didn't seem that sold on them). I have to start working with the baby to see what he's capable of. He likes to lick my ear, so I'm trying to get him to do it on command.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 3, 2010 17:32:55 GMT -5
Olive oil is perfect for that! No, they don't gain nutrition from it, being a plant based product, but it certainly won't hurt them, and if it's extra virgin, it can actually help feed the good gut bacteria As for the petromalt, yeah- way too much sugar.
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Post by otterwoman on Dec 4, 2010 20:40:50 GMT -5
Two of them are going for the olive oil and two are not. Also tried the Ziwipeak today (finally; I had so much other stuff I never got around to it). The kids did not go for it at all. I got a small sample bag and a larger bag. They tried the sample, weren't having it, and now I have that whole big bag and I don't want to open it, I'm thinking they won't want it. So now we've tried everything that's available around here, and we're sticking with the Bravo. Also, I got a beef marrowbone the other day, in which they also showed no interest.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 4, 2010 22:16:51 GMT -5
For the olive oil, you can try mixing it a bit with the petromalt you have, just enough to give it a flavour, until they get used to it. I used ferretone for that, since they are both oils. Now, they'll take the olive oil on it's own. Can you return the larger bag to the store? I've done that before, and just gotten a store credit, which, let's face it, you can ALWAYS use with pets And they could certainly do worse than eat the Bravo So, how are they doing with chunks and/or bone in meats?
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Post by otterwoman on Dec 5, 2010 5:53:39 GMT -5
The Ziwipeak I bought at a store an hour away, so I think by the time I drive there and return it, it might not be cost effective. Maybe I'll feed it to the cats! I have ferretone too, I'll mix that wth the olive oil. good idea! The chunks I feed them are so far when I cut up the beef heart, gizzards, or the cornish hen. They will dissappear when I leave them overnight but I wonder if it's all just one or two ferrets eating them. The marrowbone didn't go over, nor the chicken wings. Jut the chopped up hen. Any other ideas?
I've noticed that the ferrets seem thinner but not skinny- different, but not in a bad way. They also seem to want more playtimes- instead of two playtimes a day, like three or four. That's normal for this diet change? But so quickly?
My oldest, adrenal one, who took so quickly (and eats so much) is becoming subtly symptomatic- a little weakness when he first wakes up, he's so fragile looking I sometimes hesitate to pick him up.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 5, 2010 12:18:01 GMT -5
The raw diet normally does start to affect them in the first week or two. Think about it. You eat McDonald's all your life(or the next best thing ), then suddenly start eating salads, smaller portions of meat, etc. Even we will feel the difference very quickly from a healthier diet! And yes, extra energy is one of the benefits. Now, instead of going like mad for an hour or so then crashing, they've got the resources to sustain them for longer periods of activity, instead of just "on" or "off". With the chicken wings, don't give up just yet. Try segmenting them, cut the middle between the bones, and try to cut along the bone in the drumette, so the marrow is exposed. Fresh marrow is a LOT different from the dog's marrow bones you'd pick up in the pet store. As for "skinnier"- they aren't getting all those carbs . Very shortly, they'll start packing on the muscle, and become much more solid feeling. Is your adrenal boy on lupron or some such? If not, it would be a good idea to start him. It makes a world of difference for them.
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Post by otterwoman on Dec 5, 2010 13:17:46 GMT -5
I'd gotten another pair of cornish hens. I let one get half defrosted and just finished cutting it up into about 3/4 inch x 3/4 inch (if you can call that mess an exact measurement) chunks, without regard to bone or how you're supposed to cut up a chicken. I used a knife and a saw and just hacked it to 'cubes'. I put the pieces into baggies and back in the freezer, so I can give them a bagful ...once? or twice? a week (let me know). If that counts for 'bone in meat,' they'll get that. It certainly is bone in meat, and the internal organs that they stuff together inside, I just left them there when I hacked away (it was semi-frozen, and easier to cut, and I was surprised how easy it was to just slice it all into hunks and to cut through the bones). I'll add that to their weekly regime. Blanket (the name of the adrenal boy) is getting melatonin- I take it myself because I'm working the night shift right now, and I am just giving him 1 mg/ day orally. Being a nurse and having had many cats, I don't have trouble giving anyone a pill [or, they don't give ME trouble! ] but I know that an implant is another option. Can you tell me how long does an implant last, the approximate cost ($100? $200? just a ballpark), and is it an easy procedure to put in, or does the guy have to be anesthetized? Thanks. I've been wondering if the implant might be easier on him than having Nurse Rachet stuff a pill down his throat every day.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 6, 2010 10:00:29 GMT -5
As for the melatonin implant, I've no idea how much they cost, but they do not have to be anesthetized for it. It's injected just under the skin with a needle. From all I've heard, it doesn't seem to bother them getting it. If that quits working for him, lupron(monthly,3 month depot, 4 month depot), as well as the deslorelin implant are other options. I know what you mean about being able to "pill" an animal I've not yet pilled a ferret, but 3 dogs and two cats later, I've gotten fairly good at it And yes, cornish hen is certainly a good bone in meal for them! Give it a couple of times a week for the chewing action and it will help take care of their teeth It might take a bit before they are good at chowing down on the bone, but they'll get there! Let me know how they do with it
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