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Post by rmzsuzuki89 on Dec 22, 2010 22:47:30 GMT -5
I brought my new little guy home last night, and he still hasn't eaten. At least I'm pretty sure he hasn't. I tried just offering raw last night, but he wanted nothing to do with it. Then this morning I tried the scruff and stuff method, but he would chew a little and it would come outa his mouth. Now I just have a bowl of kibble in for him, but I don't think hes had any. He sniffed around it a little at first, but didn't eat and just started jumping around again and wanting out. I left the bowl in with him for a while, but it doesn't look like he had any of it...The kibble is Zupreem if that matters.
I'm really getting worried. Is this normal behavior, and how can I get him to eat? I just want him to eat anything at this point.
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Post by Heather on Dec 22, 2010 23:43:39 GMT -5
I would be making a soupy for your little one and hand feeding him. What type of kibble was he on before? ciao
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Post by rmzsuzuki89 on Dec 22, 2010 23:46:49 GMT -5
I would be making a soupy for your little one and hand feeding him. What type of kibble was he on before? ciao I'm not 100% sure, but I wanna say Marshals. Probably should have gotten that, but Where I went they were out. I'm gonna make a soupy now...Is there a way to make it without a blender? My parents don't like that Idea lol.
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Post by Heather on Dec 22, 2010 23:54:04 GMT -5
Do you have any ground meats? This is my raw meat soupy, you can make a quick mix by using ground meats or you can chop the meat really fine (tip of your fingernail thick). This is my switching recipe. I use preground meat and bone mix and leave out the eggshell but you can use ground chicken if you like...at least to start out.
8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat) 1/2 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 or broth(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. It might pique their interest.
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. Don't be surprised if your furbabies' initial reaction is to gag, spit and look at you like, what are you trying to poison me with But don't let them get away with it The hardest part is to insist and be consistent. Please also be aware that after years of kibbles they aren't aware that what you're offering them is indeed food. Once they willingly eat from your finger and spoon, work to try and get them eating this out of a dish or plate.
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.
ciao
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Post by rmzsuzuki89 on Dec 23, 2010 0:09:56 GMT -5
Do you have any ground meats? This is my raw meat soupy, you can make a quick mix by using ground meats or you can chop the meat really fine (tip of your fingernail thick). This is my switching recipe. I use preground meat and bone mix and leave out the eggshell but you can use ground chicken if you like...at least to start out. 8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat) 1/2 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 or broth(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. It might pique their interest. 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. Don't be surprised if your furbabies' initial reaction is to gag, spit and look at you like, what are you trying to poison me with But don't let them get away with it The hardest part is to insist and be consistent. Please also be aware that after years of kibbles they aren't aware that what you're offering them is indeed food. Once they willingly eat from your finger and spoon, work to try and get them eating this out of a dish or plate. 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. ciao I'll go ahead and mix that up, I'll just substitute thy meat for wing meat since that's the only chicken I have.
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Post by rmzsuzuki89 on Dec 23, 2010 12:10:49 GMT -5
Ok I think I've chalked it up to he just doesn't wanna slow down to eat. He wont take, raw, soupy, or even kibble. I tried putting the soupy on his nose, but he squirms so much when I go to do that I just miss and get the side of his face or something lol. I also need to make a better soupy though, my dad said if he sees me making ferret food in the blender that I'm outa the house lol.
At only 4 months old, I don't think he could have already imprinted on something, could he have?
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Post by rmzsuzuki89 on Dec 23, 2010 12:13:22 GMT -5
Maybe I'll try finding out the exact kibble he was raised on and try to get some of that. At this point I just want him to eat period.
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Post by rmzsuzuki89 on Dec 23, 2010 12:35:53 GMT -5
Ok I got him to slow down enough to eat his kibble. I feel so much better now lol. I had to put him back in his cage because he kept finding a way through my barrier blocking off my entertainment center. Then I filled his kibble bowl and he started sniffing and eventually munching. Maybe he wanted his bowl completely full instead of halfway lol...But I feel a lot better that he's eating now. It may be kibble, but it's better than nothing at all.
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Post by Heather on Dec 23, 2010 17:21:55 GMT -5
I'm glad to hear that he's eating . Catching up with the little ones to get them to eat, especially when they're out of their cage playing is often difficult. ciao
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