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Post by Jaycee on Jun 10, 2008 20:55:12 GMT -5
I went shopping today and bought chicken to try to transition my guys over. So far, not too many interested in the slimey goo in the bottom of their bowl. "where's my crunchies?" they ask with their innocent (yeah, right) eyes.
It is going to take a while, I can tell.
Wish us luck!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 10, 2008 21:09:23 GMT -5
Hooray! I am so excited for you! How did you introduce them to the chicken? Did you cut it up into kibble sized pieces, dust it with finely crushed kibble and offer it to them after putting them for a 12 hour fast? Or did you just take away their kibble and give them the chicken? There are many ways to approach the switch to a natural diet, could you let me know which one you are doing (or planning on doing)? I am glad you realize it might take a while, but this seems like something you are really interested in, so Im very thrilled. Hopefully you push through it "if the going gets tough". On a side note, I am such a loser lol. On the wall of my bedroom I have a different index card with each "new switcher's" user name on it. Then below the index card I put little post it notes with each person's ferret's name on it. As the newbies go through their switch I write notes on each of their ferret's post it notes like, " Gidget:Currently eating chicken wings. Has graduated to eating bone. or Chaos:Diet switch started, however refusing to eat chicken Day 1 I've currently got seven little post it notes on my wall with (literally) your ferret's names on them. I'll be following your furkids transition closely. When you update us on their progress be sure to let me know how EACH ONE of your furkids is progressing. This way I can better moniter their progress and offer suggestions where needed. Stay strong and    |
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Post by quill on Jun 10, 2008 21:16:49 GMT -5
Hi Jaycee, I just started the switch with Chaos. It will be interesting to read along with your experiences as you start the switch!
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 11, 2008 16:04:47 GMT -5
Well, I am a big softy when it comes to my little guys. So...I am probably doing this all wrong!! I did just remove the kibbles, and put the kibble sized pieces of chicken in the cage. I would have pulverized the kibble to coat the chicken, but I couldn't find anything to pulverize it with. I'm going to be searching again tonight. I was thinking about putting kibble between two paper plates and beating it to pieces with a hammer (the one my husband has currently misplaced). I don't know if I will have the heart to take the kibble away for good...I can't stand the idea of them on a hunger strike. One of mine has always been a tiny little thing, and I don't want her to go without any food. Jax licked the meat last night. I didn't think I could get so excited by the thought she might actually try it. But there she was. Licking. And me? I was holding my breath the whole time. Then, she huffed and left the cage. That was the end of the meat tasting. This morning I checked, and no chicken had been eaten  I'll let you know how it goes. I am going to coat the chicken tonight...wish me lots of luck. I would love for them to transition over to eating mostly meat. But like I said, I am a big softy! They are spoiled little buggers! |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 11, 2008 16:16:17 GMT -5
1. Please continue to keep posting the progress about your kids in this thread. I am going to sticky this thread as well so that people can follow you along your journey into raw.
2. You could always use the soup method that chaos is doing right now. Put some cut up raw pieces of chicken in a blender with some crushed kibble and a little water, and voila! Soup! Take all kibble out of the cage and only offer soup. To make the soup more enticing you can warm (but not cook!) it every so slightly.
3. Hang in there! It will be okay. I've never switched 7 ferrets at once, the most I have ever switched at once has been 2. But I am here for you and we can create a method that you feel comfortable using, okay? If you dont feel okay about fasting, try the soup method. Its worked wonders for my 8 year old ferret, De (who is switching right now) and little Chaos as well!
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 11, 2008 16:44:44 GMT -5
Ok, ok. I just got done reading the post on Chaos. So I decided to do the soup method instead. I actually went into the kitchen and used a food processer to blend the kibble and chicken together. I am no homemaker...never have claimed to be. My sewing skills are best done with tape and glue. So, for me to use the food processer FOR THE FIRST TIME is big for me! I blended the two together, then added some chicken broth (low sodium) to it. I have no takers on the new menu yet, but they are all napping (or faking it to avoid the new slop I just put in the cage). I will let you know how this goes! My kids (the furless ones) told me with all seriousness that they were in no way eating what mommy just made in the blender.  |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 11, 2008 16:54:07 GMT -5
Bwahaha! I love the last sentence of your post! Give em a little time to try the soupie (the ferrets not the skin kids lol   ). Like I said you can warm it slightly to make it more appealing. When they wake up put a little blob of soup onto each of their noses. This should cause them to lick their nose and they might just realize, "Hey! This is good!". Worst case scenario if no one will touch it, you can go to Walgreens and pick up a small syringe. Get one that is like 10 ml. Or wait? Do you have no cash left after you shopping spree of diapers, milk, and ferret toys  No but seriously (haha), if you have no takes you can use the syringe to squirt a little food into each of their mouths and make em try it. I'd be very suprised if no body touched the soupy. |
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 11, 2008 21:15:31 GMT -5
No voluntary takers yet! Stubborn little guys. I food processed the chicken/kibble/broth mixture and put it in the cage and removed all the kibbles. Harley had a stach of kibbles, and ate that instead. Then, in the search for more kibbles, stepped in a nice pile of poo which he proceeded to track from cage to the rest of my house! Sassy and Angel licked some from my fingers willingly, but not from the bowl. The others would turn and twist in every way possible to avoid the soupie (boy are they ever flexable!!) They are standing their ground for the time being. I think I am going to add some more broth and make it soupier than what it is. Right now it is pasty/chunky. We'll see what happens over night!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 11, 2008 21:37:23 GMT -5
Hang in there, it will get better!
If they will lick it off your fingers, then by all means let them do that! This is good progress! Once they get used to eating it off your fingers, they should willingly eat on their own from the bowl.
Leave some soupie in their cage overnight, you can change the consitancy if you like, or sprinkle some crushed kibble on top to make it more enticing.
Like I said, worst case scenario if they STILL wont try it, just go buy a syringe at walgreens (it costs less then $2) and use it to put some of the soup in their mouths.
You'll get them to try it, dont worry. Just give them some time. Keep working with Sassy and Angel though. Let them lick all they will eat off of your fingers. If you get them to see that its yummy, they might be able to convince the others!
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 11, 2008 21:40:50 GMT -5
I managed to get Harley to just now eat some off my fingers. This was after a good long period of sulking in his cage! He put on quite a show....laying their staring at the place where the kibble once went. I may sprinkle a little of the kibble on top tonight. What about ferrettone or vite. Does that seem to help in this instance? I would hate to have to force them into eating it with a syringe...had to do that with Piper back in January after she had surgery to remove a blockage. It was a tough week!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 11, 2008 21:46:22 GMT -5
Yes! Use tone or vite to bribe them into trying the soup! It can work wonders! Just be careful, tone is high in vitamin A, so dont put TOO much in the soup. Try this and let me know how it works. So right now Harley, Sassy, and Angel are all licking soup off your fingers but not out of the bowl? Correct? And the others want nothing to do with it?
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 11, 2008 21:54:04 GMT -5
Yes, Harley, Sassy and Angel have licked it off of my fingers (with some persuasion). None from the bowl . I have crushed up some kibble, and am getting ready to add some tone before I head off to bed (got to work in the a.m.  . I will let you know how it goes! Thanks for the help!!! |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 11, 2008 21:57:10 GMT -5
No problem. Be sure to leave them with a batch of soup tonight. Before you go work tommorow be sure you leave a big plate of the raw soup in their cage (no kibble!). The soup can sit out for about 8 hours and not spoil. Just replace it when you are done working and start working with the babies and encourage them to lick it off your finger.
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 11, 2008 21:59:16 GMT -5
I meant to say I crushed the kibble onto the soupie and added tone as the "icing" to the meat cake I have just created! I will put fresh out in the am before heading out!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 11, 2008 22:01:40 GMT -5
Sounds like a good plan! Good luck!
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