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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 22, 2010 12:19:27 GMT -5
One woman I know actually leaves lard "licks" (chunk of lard on a plate) in the cage for her ferrets. And evidently, they use them. I've never tried that, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 22, 2010 15:04:16 GMT -5
Well I have to go to the grocery store today so I'll have to pick some up. AND I have some awesome news!!! Juno started eating soupie last night! I took the kibble out of the cage, and then made the ferts play hard for 3 hours. I guess she was hungry enough to go "wonder what my brothers are eating." She didn't eat a lot but it was a start. Loki also doesn't eat all that much. Asher on the other hand would be happy to never eat kibble again.
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 22, 2010 17:03:11 GMT -5
Oh, that is excellent news!!! You've found the way to get her going, and that's a really big step. Since Asher prefers the raw, you can step it up with him a bit. Try him with bits of meat, see how he does. For the other two, just keep on keeping on for the moment. If you like, you can also mix in wee bits of other meats as well, to get them used to a flavour change. The more they are exposed to, the better.
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 22, 2010 23:40:39 GMT -5
Husband is making a pork roast later this week (lots of fat). I'll have him cut off a chunk of meat and fat and mix it in with next batch of soupies. I will try little chunks of chicken with Ash soon. He still stashes his kibbles though, raw or standard. I'll just give him a couple of chunks so, if he stashes all of it, I won't have a ton of stinky meat to clean.
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 23, 2010 20:01:47 GMT -5
Some ferrets stash no matter what it is. I've never found a way to stop it, simply to moderate with feeding dens And no reason you can't use that type of fat in the soups on a regular basis!
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 24, 2010 14:52:17 GMT -5
I bought some lard for the days we don't have pork or other fat available. We usually have pretty lean roasts so I will probably have to supplement from time to time. I might put out a lard lick, we'll see. I'm about to make a new batch of soupies with ground chicken again. Should I weigh out the chicken and then add 20% of it's weight in lard? What's the proper ratio?
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 25, 2010 0:12:06 GMT -5
I have no idea how much fat the chicken breast would have in it without the skin. I'm guessing pretty lean. So I think I'd add at least 20% of fat/lard for them. They need about 30% fat at a minimum in their diet. They use fat like we use carbs. For energy, growth, etc.
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 25, 2010 1:13:05 GMT -5
I can check the packaging. I'm guessing less than 10% though. I'll add 20% + whatever else to make up for it. I need to start getting pics of them eating raw to post.
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 25, 2010 21:55:37 GMT -5
That would be really good(the pics)! So, they are all eating the raw soups now?
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 26, 2010 19:58:31 GMT -5
Sherry, Asher devours soup, Loki will eat it. Juno has tasted it but I am not convinced she's actively EATING it for a meal. Almost there though. I'm wondering if the extra fat from the lard will make it even tastier for her. One thing is for sure, they loooooove duck. I have some freeze dried duck S&C and they go NUTS.
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 26, 2010 23:55:29 GMT -5
Had our first soupie with lard in it. Forgot to thaw some liver so I didn't have that this batch. I did however add the freeze dried turkey heart. So far Ash loooooooooves this soup. June is sniffing and tasting but I haven't seen her chow down. Loki hasn't tasted it yet, but that's because I fed right after playtime and he immediately passed out.
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 27, 2010 10:50:09 GMT -5
Update: This morning Juno was chowing down. I think the extra fat helped. She seems to like it room temperature and not cold. Asher doesn't care, haha. I'm afraid to microwave it lest I heat it too much and cook it.
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 27, 2010 16:59:55 GMT -5
That's excellent!!! Go Juno I've got a few who refuse it cold as well. If I have to nuke it, I do 5-7 seconds, and that's it. For a soup that feeds 2-3 ferrets, that's enough to take off the chill, and bring it closer to room temp. Just make sure you stir it well after, and test the temp.
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Post by halblingefrau on Aug 27, 2010 17:13:15 GMT -5
Sherry, just how much soup should I be feeding? I have it frozen as a thick paste and then I've been adding a tiny bit of water to thin it out (I think that's why Juno started tasting it). Without added water, how much do you think they need per meal? Right now we're going with soupie for dinner, and then either kibble or ziwipeak left out in the morning through afternoon.
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 27, 2010 17:54:28 GMT -5
Since soup is so easy for them to eat, and they are just starting out with raw(bigger appetites, very quickly), I'd start with about 2oz of the thick mush per ferret, and go from there. If they eat it all fairly consistently, then increase the amount. If they leave it consistently, decrease.
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