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Post by mustelidmusk on Aug 10, 2008 18:35:29 GMT -5
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Post by wmella85 on Aug 12, 2008 20:06:44 GMT -5
okay, here it goes. feeding schedule as i understand it needs to be.....
MONDAY- organ meat mix
(beef heart, beef/calf/chicken liver, what else?)
TUESDAY- RMB- chicken wings and cornish game hen
(looking for rabbit source)
WEDNESDAY- Chunk mix (pork, chicken, beef, anything else?)
THURSDAY- RMB
FRIDAY- Chunk mix (pork, chicken, beef, anything else?)
SATURDAY- RMB
SUNDAY- RMB
Is there anything else i need? Like other organs? any other meats? I am looking for a source for rabbits. Im saving some money up to buy some whole prey. i have maybe another week, maybe less till i will have $200, to make a large order. What should i order? i need a starter list.
also, do i may not stick to this feeding schedule. i know that four days are devoted to RMB, two to chunks, one to organ. as long as thoes peramiters are covered then i should be okay. right?
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Post by josiesmom on Aug 12, 2008 21:41:28 GMT -5
Get some more fatty items into the mix. What will your RMBs consist of? You can use chicken hearts and turkey hearts too. Get some salmon into the mix. You don't HAVE to, but the ferrets think its a great treat even if it makes for gooey poos - SUndays are my heavy cream/ beaten egg mix days and also their so called fast day- they get the creamy egg mix in the morning and nothing else is offered until monday morning.
Besides your RMBs and chunks, introduce them to dehydrated and freeze dried meats. These can be offered as treats and also on the Sundays.
As for whole prey orders- do a decent mix of chicks, adult mice, some pinkies( not too many - feed these more as treats instead of staples) some juvenile rats and small rats. Keep in mind nutrient wise- mice pack more than rats do, but rats offer variety.
Check a regular butcher shop for rabbit.
If you don't want to offer a lard lick, at least offer them some oil every other day.
Don't worry about sticking to a rigid schedule. Offer them as many different meaty sources as you can. Experiment with things like tripe, head cheese, kidneys, chicken paws, beef tongue etc.
Cheers,
Kim
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Post by wmella85 on Aug 12, 2008 22:15:10 GMT -5
what is head cheese? and should i offer the white tripe i see in the store. i read somewhere to find the green kind. but i havnt seen any?
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Post by wmella85 on Aug 12, 2008 23:37:14 GMT -5
mine dont really like egg...how much heavy cream should i add to it to make it yummy???
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Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 12, 2008 23:38:53 GMT -5
1 tbsp  and avoid cream that has carageenan in it, it can cause tummy upset. Try and find organic cream.  It works wonders for weight gain. It helped De to keep her weight up after Sams passed away. |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 12, 2008 23:40:55 GMT -5
i read somewhere to find the green kind. but i havnt seen any? No, its been bleached and is pretty devoid of all nutrients. Green tripe is cow stomach and its a really good food for dogs. I dunno about ferrets though, Im still looking in to it. It stinks like a cow puked up its own feces  . So I wouldnt feed it unless we are sure its good for ferrets. I'll keep looking into that, but until then I'd skip tripe |
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Post by josiesmom on Aug 13, 2008 6:10:44 GMT -5
Head cheese is brains, hog brains. I don't feed these things because Ican't stomach them. But some folks can so they are always an option - besides, you never know what a ferret will like!
Cheers,
Kim
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Post by wmella85 on Aug 13, 2008 22:01:40 GMT -5
lol okay. i went looking at the asian markets that were close to me. i didnt find anything that i would want to feed the ferts.
i did find some lard and gave it to them. only baxter is eating it. surprise surprise! so i will find the organic heavy cream for them. until they take to the lard lick. i will also introduce salmon this week.
how long can egg sit out?
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Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 13, 2008 22:53:24 GMT -5
Meh, i'd say about 4-6 hours (less if its above 75 degrees in the house) Ah meant to ask can you get a little more specific about what RMBS you feed? You are *this* close to graduating, I just need to get some specifics on that feeding schedule of yours |
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Post by wmella85 on Aug 14, 2008 11:05:05 GMT -5
so far they are eating chicken wings like little champs and the have eaten half a cornish game hen (whose bones were suprisingly easy to cut up.) my mom is thinking about purchasing a farm, so i am trying to get her to raise rabbits for me. the only problem is that we are both wusses and wouldnt want to kill anything. and she is totally against me feeding live prey so she would want me to kill it before i left the property with it.  |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 14, 2008 20:40:03 GMT -5
Okay cool. I want you to start offering chicken thighs and chicken legs (higher in taurine then wings) still offer wings but mix it up. One day wings, one day game hen, one day legs, one day thighs. Get the idea? Thighs are pretty meaty so instead of feeding one per ferret I make my guys split a thigh.
Everything looks good here! I hope that farm works out, that would be an awesome resource!
And now its time for you to graduate!!!!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 14, 2008 20:41:24 GMT -5
Now there is one last thing I want you to do (and then I am moving this thread to the "newbie switch archive": If you havent already, it might be a good idea to start popping in to the yahoo! group NaturalFerrets. I know yahoo! lists suck (the format) BUT there are many many senior raw feeders on there and it would be wise to make use of their knowledge. I try and advise all my "completed switchers" to get on there and post a bit. I still want you to say on HF, but I want you to "broaden your horizons" by getting a bit of NaturalFerret's info as well. Sound good? pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalFerrets/You'll probably run in to the Holistic Ferret Mentors on there. This is where THEY go to ask THEIR questions on natural diet (I do too). Let me know if you get any good info out of here. and....... Now that you've completed the switch, have had your feeding schedule reviewd, and been advised to check out NaturalFerrets, its time to retire this thread to the "newbie switch archive"!  No one (yourself included) will be able to post in this thread anymore once its been moved to the archive. Please begin posting your diet-related questions in the "whole prey" "raw" or "general feeding questions and discussion" area. We encourage EVERYONE that is archived to continue posting. Feeding a natural diet is a learning PROCESS, there is much to learn after making the switch. We (your mentor and I) will run a detailed "check up" with you (via PM or email) at the 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year anniversary since "going natural" just to make sure all is going well and that you arent having any issues. Feel free to jump in and help to answer newbie questions. One of the ways you can learn is through teaching. We hope you stick around so that we can celebrate the 1 year anniversary of starting your kids on raw with you!  |
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Post by wmella85 on Nov 26, 2008 22:59:08 GMT -5
3 Months Since the Switch- EVALUATION #1: 1. Since switching to a natural diet, what are the most noticable changes you have noticed in your ferret(s). Please be specific.since we have made the switch: Matilda- is basically the same, i dont know if it was the switch in diet or just getting older, but she has become much more cuddly and laid back. probably it is the lack of sugars. she also is more interested in trying new foods. for example, this eveing i was making deviled eggs. i offered her a bit of the boiled egg white and she took it and ate it! four months ago that would not have happened . i am attributing this success to the diet. Baxter- hmmmm..... i guess he is bigger, maybe? Oliver- umm he is still deaf. seems pretty happy. i dont think his life was changed for the better by the diet. the silly kid will eat anything now though. he has decided that he is candy fiend. dont leave your sweets laying around! they will disappear. Penny- Pen had some pretty bad anxiety issues, she was a big foot biter and really hated being held by anyone. she would hiss and flip out. Now, she ( i guess), gets her aggrivation out by shreading her food. now she is a sweet girl and love giving her mommy kisses. 2. Have you filled out the "Natural Diet Survey"? (If not, please do by going to the following link: holisticferret.proboards80.com/in....play&thread=241)yes 3. Please post a "sample weekly feeding schedule". Basically, give us an idea of what you feed your ferret(s) each week. This way we can review it (again) and let you know if you need to make any changes to ensure proper nutrition. Post your schedule in the following format: MONDAY: various chicken parts (this always includes bones) TUESDAY: pork WEDNESDAY:various chicken parts (this always includes bones) THURSDAY:various chicken parts (this always includes bones) FRIDAY:organs (liver, heart, gizzards, brain) SATURDAY:pork SUNDAY:beef 4. Do you have any questions or concearns regarding your ferret(s) diet? iam worried that i am not feeding them a variety of organs. All i can find in my area without having to drive 45mins to an hour are Beef heart, chicken livers, and pig brains. ive checked all the asian markets around me, none of them carry anything other organs. ive called around havent found anything. im in line to recieve deer organs if my friend ever kills on while hunting. 5. Do you have any new "diet goals" for your ferrets that you would like us to help you with, such as: adding whole prey to the diet, diversifying the types of meat fed, or incorporating freeze-dried or commercial raw foods? If so, please specify.my next step is whole prey. my problem is that my freezer is TINY. i have a side by side that i share with three other people and they dont feel okay with dead rodents, chicks, etc. rediculous i think. but whatever. okay so back to it being tiny, shipping is an arm and a leg and i would have to buy a boat load of product to make it worth my time and cost effective. i need to find a feeder farm. i would like to feed only whole prey and maybe some chicken only. i dont think i could do live prey, i just dunno. 6. How was your experience with the Holistic Ferret Mentor Program? What did you like about the program? What didn't you like? What can we do to make our program better?i love, love, loved the mentor program. my experience was great. wouldnt change anything. |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Nov 27, 2008 1:08:29 GMT -5
You are just fine with the variety of organs. Liver (IMO) is the most important organ to feed. Hearts are a great source of taruine (in raw feeding terms they are technically a boneless muscle meat, not a secreting organ, but I still feed hearts with my organ meals and I count them as organs and muscle meat ) Pig brains is a nice change of pace, and an interesting organ. If you are super worried about organ variety (and you feel comfortable ordering food online) I highly recommend Hare Today, Gone Tommorow (google it). They carry a wide assortment of "hard to find" organs. That is where I buy all my organs (except for chicken livers and gizzards, which I buy in the supermarket). Your schedule looks perfect. Just be sure you are varying the cut of beef or pork that you feed. Each time you buy your pork and beef make sure you get a different cut. Animals vary in nutrient composition based on what part you feed. Take advantage of sales, and sometimes you might have to bite the bullet and get a more expensive cut of meat (I'm not talking filet mingon here, don't get me wrong lol!) I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the mentor program, and I'm also happy to hear that your kids are still on raw and that they are doing well. Sounds like you've got everything in order and I'm happy to hear from you! |
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