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Post by eddiesmom on Nov 7, 2008 7:48:53 GMT -5
I was told the best diet is a raw diet for my 10 week old baby boy Eddie. He's neutered and descented (a Marshall Farms ferret) if that makes any difference. He is currently eating the food he was on (Path Valley) and I'm try to choose what food I want to switch him to before going all out and buying everything. How do I feed raw? I know nothing about this.  Thanks! |
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Post by bigsis7 on Nov 7, 2008 7:57:53 GMT -5
Hi! Welcome to the forum! A raw diet and a whole prey diet are the best thing you can feed your ferret!! It's natural, has many health benifits (easier to digest, can prevent diseases like insulinoma), and since your ferret is young she'll probably grow larger than a baby ferret on kibble. Since you are new here are some links around the site to help you out: Post all questions about natural ferret diet here: holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=newbquestWhen you are ready to make the switch to a natural diet, fill out one of these forms: holisticferret.proboards80.com/in....play&thread=822and start a thread in this section (copy/paste the filled out form into your first post): holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=newbiePost all questions/updates on the progress of your ferret's diet switch in that one thread. After making your initial post we will help you start the switch and we will assign you a "Holistic Ferret Mentor" to assist you and monitor your progress. PM me if you have any questions! |
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Post by pear2apple on Nov 7, 2008 8:11:36 GMT -5
Hi I suggest you get a better kibble, or at least get a few freeze dried options. If you're not sure about jumping into complete raw just yet, than thats one way of moving along.
Freeze dried options: Ziwipeak (like kibble but real meat), Stella & Chewys freeze dried steaks. Also S&C can be soaked in water to make a soupie so it has double uses. Also real meat in Lamb, Beef, or Chicken so its a good diet as well. I feed S&C and Ziwipeak in between raw meals.
However, he's so young you should be just fine!
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Post by Heather on Nov 7, 2008 12:19:17 GMT -5
Ohhh dear, here we go. Don't even bother changing kibbles....just go to the sections that were given to you by bigsis7. You've got a baby...he will take all of 1 or 2 weeks to switch. Once there he will never look back. It's not worth the aggravation to switch him to a different kibble  Napoleon was eating garbage kibbles too when I got him (or at least was trying, he was approx 7 weeks and hadn't got the hang of eating kibbles yet) He sure knew what to do with raw. That's been 4 yrs ago...he's the ferret sitting on my shoulder in my intro pic. If you have questions please ask, but if you really want help...get a mentor. We will help you from day one and you won't regret it  The only thing you have to decide is the methods that you want to work with and how far you want to take this I hope I will see you and your little furbaby around, I'm really looking forward to seeing some "pictures....  " I love pictures of babies, I don't often get any babies as I do rescue, so I live vicariously through you guys good luck ciao |
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Post by Jen on Nov 7, 2008 13:07:20 GMT -5
Will he eat moist kibble? If so, I'd finely cut some raw (or even slightly boiled just to start with) chicken, beef, or pork and stir into moist kibble. You can add more water to make soupy or even add a little FerretVite/Ferretone if that will encourage him to eat it in the beginning. Whatever he doesn't finish though should be refrigerated when he's finished or tossed after about 4 hours.  If this works, then gradually cut the meat pieces bigger, stop cooking the meat, and add less kibble. Or you can go cold turkey- take his kibble away for about 2-3 hours then when he starts looking for his food offer him a piece of raw meat (you may want to keep him locked in his cage for at least 30 minutes so he doesn't drag the meat into a hidey hole). |
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 7, 2008 18:52:08 GMT -5
Hi, there! Nice to see you over here! At his age, he really won't take long to transition. You could offer Eddie little kibble sized pieces of chicken or turkey, or even ground, at first. Maybe warm it up just a bit, so it's not cold from the fridge(none of mine will eat anything cold, spoiled brats  ), and see how he does with that. |
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Post by spiritualtramp on Nov 7, 2008 20:09:00 GMT -5
Hey Michelle! It's great to see you here!
I agree with Heather, being that Eddie is still so young, switching him to eating raw will not only be easy but he'll grow bigger and healthier from the start! It's a great time to switch if you want a big boofy boy!!
Getting a mentor is the best route, however, feel free to continue browsing and asking questions before "taking the dive." We're all here to help!
Try offering him some tiny cut up pieces of chicken or turkey and see if he takes it. If so, great! That's the hardest part and babies usually do the best at trying new things.
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Post by eddiesmom on Nov 8, 2008 4:21:44 GMT -5
Wow! I didn't realize you got so much attention and help here on THF, mentors and everything!! That is awesome! You guys have really built something great here!
I'm running out of the Path Valley "doo doo" so I went out and bought him Ferret EVO the other day and started switching him. I'm going to be feeding him the EVO while I do my raw feeding research. Didn't want to run out and buy another crappy bag of PV! Plus he'll probably be getting some EVO in addition to raw. I have just enough to do a slow switch. I'm still feeding him the food softened, he can't eat it dry yet.
I took note of everything you said jen, sherry & spirit, thanks for the straight up advice! Though I am now very afraid of finding raw meat in hidey holes!! LMAO!!!!
He is a piggy, so hopefully he'll still be a piggy if I start the switch, and it won't be to hard!
I'm very excited about him growing bigger (and of course healthier) than he would on kibbles!!! I really want him to be a big boofy boy!
Well I'm off to take your advice bigsis and start posting some Q's where they belong! Believe my I have tons!
Thanks again guys!! Pictures will be coming soon, no worries Heather! 
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 8, 2008 11:29:33 GMT -5
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Post by pear2apple on Nov 8, 2008 19:24:01 GMT -5
I fed fuzzy mice on Thursday. Today Apple is carrying a dead one in his mouth out from behind the couch! And I thought he ate that one! Good thing he brought it out, I never would have looked for it!
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Post by eddiesmom on Nov 9, 2008 3:52:38 GMT -5
GROSS!!!!! I know one thing for sure, I won't be feeding prey...I had a snake once, and felt so bad for the mice, even when they were frozen thawed that I had to rehome him :/
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Post by suds on Nov 9, 2008 10:02:37 GMT -5
haha chriss you mite not have looked for the mouse . but adventually your nose would have found the mouse  |
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Post by pear2apple on Nov 10, 2008 8:58:36 GMT -5
haha chriss you mite not have looked for the mouse . but adventually your nose would have found the mouse Don't I know it!! We have dead mice at work and it smells AWFUL! |
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Post by spiritualtramp on Nov 10, 2008 12:41:32 GMT -5
haha chriss you mite not have looked for the mouse . but adventually your nose would have found the mouse Haha reason numero uno why I have to check stash spots every day... having no sense of smell is a problem sometimes (a blessing other times!) I've been trying to get my kids to use feeding dens - it's a slow process lol. Diesel and Pilot will, the others... well they don't quite get it. |
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Post by suds on Nov 10, 2008 13:03:48 GMT -5
I guess I am lucky they wont eat unless they have a place to go and hide to eat . they each now need there own box . Its funny to watch they grab a peace of meat and run to there box with it and so far thats the only place I seen stashing of any food.
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