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Post by bigsis7 on Nov 2, 2008 14:59:42 GMT -5
Ok, so I am going to try and get a mouse tomorrow and see how Oliver likes it. I'm just a little worried about the actual feeding...I used to have pet rats, so I'm still a little attached to rats. Not mice, but I'm a little worried I won't be able to stomach it. I'm gonna get the ones with red eyes, so it's not totally cute , but how do you guys do with it? Watching a mouse get killed and then seeing it ripped up...Haha I'm such a baby
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Post by animalsgetrevenge on Nov 2, 2008 15:08:35 GMT -5
I haven't tried LIVE mice yet, but I know everyone told me to work my ferrets up to adult mice. Since my ferrets have never hunted before, they might not be ready for an adult mouse. I was told to start with young mice and work up to adults if they are successful with young.
I don't know if you are in the same situation with Oliver, but you might be able to get young mice at a pet store (pinkies, hoppers, weanlings), but probably not at PetSmart or PETCO, both have policies against breeding, but not all follow.
I hope this helps!
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Post by suds on Nov 2, 2008 19:37:13 GMT -5
you gonna let chewie try to ? I am a sqeemish to such things to I did try it once though it was not easy at first I put Hershy in the tub with the mouse first and she just ignored it . then I put JD in the tub with Hershy and the mouse after a minute JD figured out it was prey and he dispatched the mouse pretty quickly it was no where as bad as I thought it would be My biggest fear was to hear the mouse scream or not dispatch quickly and I would have to do it myself so have chewie near to . the goodthing is Ferrets generaly dont play with prey live like cats do and go directly for the kill fast then they play with it after or in JD's case prance around with proud showing his prise. I should mention the mouse was a hob not full grown. goodluck it is great enrichment for them
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Post by bigsis7 on Nov 2, 2008 20:00:26 GMT -5
I think I'll let chewie try too. I haven't decided yet cause Oliver is very possesive of food and toys.
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Post by Heather on Nov 3, 2008 0:35:15 GMT -5
I let my guys hunt and a word of warning, be prepared for a tuscle between ferrets if you don't provide enough mice. It can get really rough and very vocal. I've got guys who will gladly share tender tidbits but will not share if it's furry. If your guys have never hunted it might be best to start with smaller mice. My fellows hunt the silly stuff that comes into the house, small, large they don't care. Merlyn the cat taught them all about prey Now of course he's totally depressed, he likes to play with his food, the ferrets kill it and eat it. He has nothing to play with. Personally, I like it this way....I hate it when Merlyn catches a mouse and plays with it for hours, it's cruel, but I never have to worry about a furbaby not knowing how to hunt. He's taught every one of them. He brings them the mouse just like a momma cat would one of her kits. Just some thoughts ciao
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Post by luxuriousferret on Nov 3, 2008 10:10:41 GMT -5
Can you just do whole prey, live without raw as a stepping stone??? I may be able to do that.... And good luck!!
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Post by pear2apple on Nov 3, 2008 13:30:25 GMT -5
I love feeding mine live prey. I love to watch their instincts kick in and then they problem solve and figure out pretty quickly what to do! I stick the mice in the bathtub and watch them hunt as I cheer the ferrets on! LOL
Hearing it is pretty gross, but I know they will eat the mice, as long as they are small enough for them to bite and they can actually taste them. But if they can't get thru the fur, they won't eat it. So keep that in mind.
I would get a few pinkies your first time. Very small pinkies just so if they kill one and eat it, they might still be hungry and it will be a nice surprise to give them another!
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Post by Heather on Nov 3, 2008 14:23:58 GMT -5
Once your guys figure out there's food under the fur you won't have a problem with size. My guys will take on a full sized domestic rat (sorry to those that have them as pets), they know that it's food. Lady "B" was quite put out the other day because the puppy stole her live mouse before she could kill it (Merlyn the cat brought it upstairs). She literally stole the thing back out of the puppy's mouth and took off and ate it under the sofa....that way the puppy couldn't take it from her. I think the poor mousie drowned, the dog hadn't a clue It doesn't pay to be prey in my house ciao
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Post by bigsis7 on Nov 3, 2008 15:32:05 GMT -5
Well I couldn't bring myself to buy mice for them to eat. I know I'm such a wimp, but I couldn't do it. Some other time I guess....They did get birthday cake though as it's Chewie's b-day today if he owner was telling the truth. It was ground chicken with blended pork, raw egg, egg shell, and chicken liver on top!
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Post by luxuriousferret on Nov 3, 2008 16:20:58 GMT -5
they are on kibble, so they wont know theres food under it..
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Post by bigsis7 on Nov 3, 2008 16:47:17 GMT -5
I know this will sound gross, but get a frozen mouse and cut it a little bit, so that they know there's meat under the fur.
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Post by fuzzymom on Nov 4, 2008 1:31:08 GMT -5
I have snakes so feeding live or frozen/thawed is no issue for me. As far as feeding mice, you have to distance yourself from the mouse. Don't think of it as a cute little mouse. Think of it as a steak or chicken wing. This was hard for me to do at first since I'm vegetarian (now vegan) and I see all animals as individuals with thoughts and emotions. I distance myself from those rodents destined to be feeders. I don't handle them, give them names, or even look at them other than to feed and water them.
Watching a ferret tear apart a mouse is a bit ugly but you get used to it. After the first shock of "holy cow, that is gross!" the shock wears off and it like watching your dog eat out of its food bowl.
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Post by luxuriousferret on Nov 6, 2008 8:29:49 GMT -5
even though they have never eaten meat before?
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Post by harrisi on Nov 6, 2008 8:37:39 GMT -5
K, so I got a question now...say the ferret eats from the stomach area...and dosent dispatch the mouse itself what do you do then? I have given mine live rats, mice and once somebody gave them a guinea-pig (wich, I might add, was dispatched as soon as the boys caught it) and everytime I have had to kill it? I never leave them more then 3 seconds once they have caught it if the mouse is still live (this is the falconer kicking in) so I was wondering if any of you guys have had to dispatch food yourself or do you leave the ferrets to it?
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Post by Heather on Nov 6, 2008 23:57:11 GMT -5
I've only had to step in once The rat that I gave them was too big for them to get a good death grip on. It's the only time I've seen them botch a kill . Attila tried a couple of times to get a good grip on the rat (Attila's a big boy) but he couldn't get that solid hold on the rat....so then the business started to just tear it apart. I couldn't watch or listen....I put an end to it. It's one of the reasons why I only feed frozen rats now. I might try again later, but with mice my guys have never done a cruel kill. It's always been swift and efficient. Some times theres a bit of a juggle as they get a better grip but I've never had them rip into prey before it was dead (except that rat ) My cat is by far a much more cruel killer, as he plays the poor things to death. I usually find a ferret if Merlyn brings in a mouse to play with. It's just how I work it ciao
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