Hershy and JD switching

[suds]

1. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names, ages, genders, and do they have any health problems?

(2) Hershy 13 month's Female Jersdy Devil 2-3 years old


2. What are your ferrets currently eating? What Kind of diet do you want to switch to?
they both are eating Evo and zupreem mix

Hershy been eating them for 3 weeks was on marshals ferret before i got her

JD been eating them for a week he was eating dogfood before I him



3. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?

Hershy 1.4 lbls seems under wieght JD 2.5 lbs seems more fat then muscle


4. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
they both seem good but I am not a dentist lol and I an not get a regular pic thats not blurrry let alone of there teeth sorry


5. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Hershy dark cource guard hairs undercoat is white JD is very soft light color


6. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?

they seem to go about 4 to 5 times a day


7. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
JD's smell alot more then hershy but getting better since been eating evo and zupreem mix
Note I was using bio oder untill a week ago with Hershy decided to stop not sure how safe it is Mite be a reason Hershy's does not smeel as bad yet .



8. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Hershy is realy smelly ( they use bathe her weekly) JD I hardly can smell him



9. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?

Hershy 4-5 , JD 6


10. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?


not sure if its excitment or just curious they do always run to the blow when I fill it
hershy just checks it then leaves JD has to have several bites though .


11. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
Hershy is on the small side I still can feel her ribs but she is always climbing and jumping somtimes I wanta to change her name to Rocky the flying squerrel,
but I am worried to fast her in any way since she dont have much fat on her .
JD is a rescue I know very little about his backround other then he ate dog food and was given fruit as treats . but he is very fat
but not much muscle each seems he is getting stronger and climbing beter ( thanks to Hershy teaching him )
He did eat evo and zupreem the day I brought him he eats alot too almost 3 times


for the past week I been wetting there kible a little actually using the juices from meat we been thawing for dinner only do it when I get home from work so it dont get ranced I can not do it in the morning and leave wet kibble for 9 to 10 hours. but so far they try it and I change it before I go to sleep with fresh moistened kibble (onlky sleep 5 to 6 hours) Then put dry kibble in when I wake . so far they eat some of it but not much . tonight or tomorrow I get chicken broth and babyfood .

I want to do the slow switch I think its less stressful to them as well as me . With the intent on doing raw first then a combo of raw a whole/prey I would love to go too whole prey only but Its easer to have people feed them raw when i am traveling with premade meals .

I am excited to see the differnces in them more energy( although afraid JD has enough as it is lol as well as all the other great things evryone describes about

also would like thank all of you in advance for the help in the switch



a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch atleast every other day?**

yes I understand

b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (via private message) with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's saftey during the switch? (Please post below letting us know that you and your mentor have exchanged phone numbers or emails)

I will PM her my info after this update to the thread

c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explaination as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?***
yes I agree

[mustelidmusk]

Hi,
I'm a slow-switch person myself. One of the strategies I use is that I'll get the ferrets eating a small amount of something, and I'll start providing les and less kibble over time.

I never hesitate to offer something new without mixing it in. You'd be surprised at what ferrets may eat when you least expect it . If they show no interest in th new offering, I'll just mix it in!

For slow switching, the use of freeze-dried raw, balanced dets such as the Wyong Archetypal ! works very well. THe hredded bits f meat can be mixed in with dry kibble, and the e ferrets learn to chew on the big chunks. ouple with soup/moist food, you can take a two-ded approach. The freeze-dried is something that's not stressful to the ferrets and the owners as well. You may want to give it a try.

This week, Giuli is on vacation,so we've been short-handed. I'll check on you tomorrow to see how things are going.
-jennifer

[suds]

THANKS FOR THE REPLY JEN
I know you all have your handsfull I see this thread growing daily . Tommorrow I should have the Archetypal among many freese dry goodie's I ordered from stinkweasels ) I figured I would try a little of each to give them a variety and hopefuly see what they love , to what they hate.
So far they will not touch moisten or barly moisten kibble ( i tried 1 to 2 tble spoons of juices)I tried water , chicken broth and juices from meat thawing so I am hoping the Archetypal will get there attention and i can use it to get them used to moist foods .

[mustelidmusk]

Hi!

Good to hear that you're getting ome of th Archtypal I.

Do your ferrets like any type soup recipe - suh as turkey ir chicken baby food with a bit of water and a small amount of ferretone in it???
Some ferrets learn to like chicken or turkey baby food when it's thinned out a but (get rid of the "stickiness"). and that can mak a good soup base as well.

If you're adding a bit of broth to kibble, do your ferrets like broth to begin with??? will they drink the broth without the kibble?? If not, they may look at the broth as though somebody has peed oon their kibble !!!

Also try putting some of the soup on their noses/mouhs to they ave to lick it off. One thing hat woked well for me is to play with them on the floor. During play time, put tasteson their noses several times. This will beome a positive experience (not just a "poisoning" experiece at dinner time !!!

You may want to try some water on the kibble instead. and try putting the water on the kibble (enough to absorb into all the kibble )overnight so it 's comewhat consistent n txture. I never had any luckwith soaked/wet kibble. Once that stuff is wet, my kids avoid it like the plague

Experiment wth some of this, and let me know how it goes!

Have fun!!!!
-jennifer

[suds]

I tried water started with just a tablespoon they would not go near it , tried soaked kibble they would not touch, hershy thinks its poison I put it on her nose she runs and cleans herself under the towels its funny to watch ,JD will lick it off but will not eat wet kible. Today I purade chicken breast with chicken broth to help make it more liquid and put it on JD's nose he licked off and took a few licks from my finger but wont go near the bowl or spoon, Hershy I wont take it from my finger even with ferretone on it , I put it on her nose and she thought I put acid on her lol. so I tried the seringe method to get her to at least taste it she swolled some then when I put her down she spit out what she could ran to the towels and cleaned herself was funny to watch actually . so I put some heavy whipping cream and tryed that got the same results so left the dish in here cage so they can at least get use to it being around them. >
I have not tried babyfood I did get a few jars of chicken and beef they did not have turkey I try some tomorrow . They both love chicken treats specialy Hershy why I was a little surprised she would not at least try the purree it was warm. Tomorrow my shipment should be in so I will play with them like always on the floor and see if I can get them to eat some Archtypal They know if they play good with no nipping they get a treat . If they wont take it as a treat I will slowly ad to there kibble like I did to change them to evo. freeze dried is still much better then kibble and should be more easy to switch to
My plan is each night during play time to introduce them to somthing differnt as well switch up where I hide there treats with other freeze dried foods . And will keep trying to get them used to wet foods slowly. Still cant help but to laugh at Hershy's reactions too funny. but I needed to learn how to use the suringe as well as get Hershy and JD used to it incase of illness . So practice with getting them to taste wet foods using the suringe is not a bad thing With JD it was easy to make a game out of it ,Hershy thinks I am killing her lol

here is a list of my arsinal I should have it all tomorrow.

1. Stella & Chewy's Carnivore Crunch Chicken

2. POgOS Freeze-Dried Treats Rabbit

3. ZiwiPeak 'Daily-Cat' Cuisine-Venison

4. Wysong Archetype

5. AFS Country Fresh Real Beef Freeze-Dried Mini Patties

6. AFS Country Fresh Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Mini Patties

7. AFS Freeze-Dried Majestic Sprinkles-Carnivore Diet

8. POgOS Freeze-Dried mouse

[mustelidmusk]

Hi,

Sorry I missed yesterday - life has nbeen nuts
I'm so glad to hear that you love to gt down on the floor and play with your kids - in my experiemnce, switching older ferrets (non-kits) involves a LOT of enrichment. I strongly beleive in introducung all knds of smells, whether it be food smells, dirty laundry after working out, citrus friuts, martinis, marigolds, stinky limberger cheese, whatever. We need to stimulate their curiosity about thiings that smell different, and we need to make this a positive experience through play. So the periodic "tastes" of wierd things become a form of attention during play time.

I recommend that you read the Thread in the newbies switching section called Toby's Mindy. Toby has been radically stubborn with the change. I think you'll get a kick out of some of his antics,and you'll get a good idea on how the enrichment helps to slowly change the most stubborn of ferrets. The thread is not a terribly lengthy one, and Toby's mom is happy with his switch to the Archetypal I.

The dry switch is much easier in my opinion, although a small amount of the wet stuff druing play time is a good primer for the raw. This will take patience, but, if you use the switch as an opportunity to bond more closely with your ferrets, you'll find it enjoyable even though it gets fruustrating at time.

Let me know how the dry food works - go ahead and off each ferret a smal chucnk during play - you nevere know...they may jump right on it! Continue playing with wet food, and start sprinkling in the freezed-dried crumbs!!!

-jennifer

[suds]

I tried thinned baby food JD ate some Hershy thought it was poison lol ( sorry but I have to laugh at her reactions its to cute) . so I will try the water bowl method you described in Mindy's thread

I tried to give a piece of mouse pogo and Archetype as a treat during playtime they both smelled it but would not take it from my hands . So I crumbled a little Archetype and put it in there kibble bowls they ate the kibble with Archetype on it . I will increase it a little every couple of days untill its 50/50 then will try and remove the kibble all together.

I have a question about the freeze dried pogo's .
1. when they are open how long will it be before they spoil in the recealed package ?
2. should I put them in the freeser to keep them fresh for longer ?

Every few days I want to introduce them to diffent freese dried foods . first try to hand feed them a small peace as a treat during play time and put a few small peaces in there hidding places as well put a little taste in there food bowls, even if they dont eat them they will be exposed to differnt smells and one day get corious enough to try them .but would like to keep the unused portions fresh for as long as possible .

[mustelidmusk]

I livei n a dry climate, so I've left bowls of the Arhetypal I out for ber week wit no issues wen I travel (My sitters just have to check on my kids, and I put out enough Archetypal for the entire time I'm gone

To keep the Arcetyapal I freshest, store the unopened bgs on a cool plcae You can refriferate or reeze it for opitmum freshness. Once opened, you can stor t in the fridge or feezer as well. I don't bother to do so since I feed quite a bit of the stuff.

Any treats they don't eat can be crumbled into the kibble. I think the freeze-dried method works easier since yo can sneak it in very slowly. Plus, when it's moistened at later stages fo the switchc, it doesn't get all gummy like wet kibble.

Hopefully the flavored water will work as well. It helped my kids learn t like the soups.

You can see from Toby's thread that some ferrets get VERY stubborn about their food, and little Toby certainly has quite the personalty - he has no trouble expressing his opinions . He's such a cutie

Anyway, have fun playing and experimenting - your kids will be enjoying themselves with all te nricjhment - and if it takes a while to switch them, the Wysongs is a balanced diet, so there's no worry or need to rush the process. That makes to whole switching experience much more enjoyable!

As always, please let us know how its going and/or if you have any other questions.
-jennifer

[suds]

so its been a busy weekend I layered the Archetype in Both bowls JD I see eat all the time but I rarely see Hershey eat ,Then last night I discovered She is a night eater around 1130 lastnight Hershey was eating she tries at first to pick around the Archetype but gave up and then went the other bowl and just ate it had the same amount as the other bowl. today I seen her eating with out any problems to so at least she seems to be accepting the new dry food.

yesterday I tried a egg yoke . JD tried it several times from my finger then I showed him the bowl and he took several licks of the yoke Hershey did take 1 lick from my finger and did come back a few times to smell it its way more then I expected at least she seems interested in something wet I will try it again in a few days. I did leave the bowl with half a eggshell in there cage most of the day so they could get familiar with it at least .

Today I put a little babyfood in the play area water dish today It was half gone .I had a birthday pool party here for my 10 year old cousin .so I was not able to see who was drinking it (its Hershey favorite place to drink so hopefully it was her) I will continue to try the babyfood and increase it a little every 3 days .

JD I think will not be too stubborn he seems to at least try everything He even stole a small chicken bone from me just 15 mins ago I let him have it for about 5 mins he was playing with it but it was cooked so I took it from him didn't want to take a chance of splinter's from a cooked bone:)

Hershey is going to be the "problem child" to wet foods I am happy she showed interest in the egg yoke so I do at least see signs from playing with her with different smells is starting to work , yesterday I was eating a steak she came up to me smelled what I was eating I put some juices on her nose and she didn't go crazy, but used the rug to rub it off as soon as she got the chance instead of licking it off. I also noticed after she eats or drinks she also goes to find a towel or blanket to rub her mouth and face in it to clean it such a dainty proper little girl she is lol

I think by next weekend I will have them just on the Archetype and no more kibble , then I will start to put a little of shredded pogo's in with the Archetype every couple of days or so with a different one each time then use the other freeze dried stuff I got also so hopefully these different taste and smells will open Hershey up to be more ready for wet foods once Hershey is eating at least duck soup I will then concentrate on getting JD on raw foods hoping Hershey will see it and be tempted into trying it on her own.

So Basically my plan is to continue with the enrichment of freeze dried foods , different smells and continue with the babyfood in the play area water dish this will take a long time but with Hershey it seems like the best way to go .any other recommendations are always appreciated .

and always thank so much for all your help I learn something every day from this site such a great group of people here

Frank ,Hershy and JD

[mustelidmusk]

Wow!!!
This is great progress - I'm glad their little noses are getting into the smells already. It sometimes takes ferrts a little time to undersand that you'll be offering a lot of interesting experiences, and they had better pay attention of they may miss out on something really cool !

I'm glad Hershey is willing to lick the egg yolk a few times. It sound like he may have enjoyed the favored water as well....here's a hint....you may want to put the bowl of flavored water int a shallow large plastic pan in case they like to make messes like mine do! I got a plastic rubbermaid-like container that's about 2 inches tall and square - it's meant to hold scrapbook pages and supplies. I found it at hobby lobby. It controls the water mess my kids like to make!

It sounds like you have a good plan. the wysongs is great since they can't avoid eating it when it's in their kibble , and it's a subtle enough change that even the most stubborn of ferrets learn to like the freeze-dried stuff.

One more ting...Hershey may prefer eating in a private den...Please read the post under enrichment about feeding dens. If she'ss eating at night, she may not be comfortable eating in the daytime with her brother. A de can be be a card board box wth the 3 flaps folded in so the ferrret cancome and go as she pleases, but it offers a dark, safe place for eating.
If you think about it. Crunching on food/prey in a wide open space would be a very unnatural thing to do. By nature, ferrets are crepuscular, which means they're most active at dusk and dawn, which is when there prey is most active. I notice that my ferret preer to eat during these same hours. But that might just be my brats!!!

You're off to a great start! Keep us posted , and as always, please ask questions and raise any concerns you may have.

-jennifer

[suds]

I am lucky both of them dont dig in there bowls or water (so far) and the water bowl I use is a big heavy old ashtry they can not tip it over . but that is a great Ideal about the plastic pan thanks .
As far as feeding dens they have 2 shoe boxes in there cage that JD takes food to eat in all the time . and I keep plenty boxes in there play area they can use to . you can pay lots of money on toys and the silly ferts prefere to play in the boxes and penuts that the toys come in lol plus I hide treats in them once in a while and they do check them many times a day

Hershy just seems to be on a 12 hour shcedule she seems to eat around 11pm and 11am . Thats what I have seen the past 3 days, I been watching her closley because she been sneezing alot . at first I thought it was coughing and worried about blockage but her poops and energy are ok and I finally seen her sneeze lasnight it was the same sound I been hearing once in a while from her . She is a climber and investigator and finds every dustball in the house lol.

BTW since I got JD and he has been eating better kibble his energy level is very high . always dooking , dancing he wears me and Hershy out playing as it is , I am scared to see his energy level on raw it is going to be insane ! He gets stronger each day and his tummy is getting smaller its so kewl to see how much and fast a better diet affects them already ! I am realy excited to see them on raw !!

[mustelidmusk]

Yes, it is really fun to see the change in behavior when diet improves - Fall will be fun for all of you newbies when the winter coats start coming in all thick and soft too!!!

I'm glad they like their feeding dens. If you haven't read the posts about the foraging cups, you'll get a kick out of that one too....my brats actually enjoy working some of the the parrot puzzles to get their treats!!! I started with this foraging cup thing when I went to a bird show and saw one - the cup came home with me, and it was an instant hit!!! That is one toy work buying! If you read to the very bottom of the thread (last post), I made a simple foraging cup from an cow hoof - they love the thing because it smalls in addition to dispensing treats. All you need is a hoof section and something to hang it with. There's a desription on the thread.

Another thing to consider - for soft coats and Omega 3's & 6's, a couple drops of salmon oil per ferret every day or two will make wonderful fur. Since one of your kids eat the Marshall's food, it will probably be well-accepted.
It will also be good for variety - freeze-dried fish and ssalmon are good treats for variety too.

-jennifer

[suds]

Grrrrrrr!!! I just said they never dig in there food or water ,Today I come home from work and find food flung all over the place .I am not sure if they had a food fight or just rebelling about the freese dried food in there bowl or being in the cage I had a 3 day weekend and they had the run of my room the hole time.
Funnything is when they both came out of the cage, they went directly to the play area bowl and ate almost the hole bowl and mind you it had very little kibble in it mostly Archetype , so I think after I clean up the mess I will only put Archetype in the cage and no kibble and see what happens.
I added more babyfood to the water today to waiting to see if Hershy still drinks it so far she hasnt touched it.

[mustelidmusk]

They heard you - sorry for laughing about the mess - I'm not laughing because they made the mess, I'm laughing because I know exactly what your room looked like - it looked just like mine!!!! Now, about those shallow pans....I have the bowl of archetypal I in one pan and a water dish in another one. I also have water bottles for them in case they completely dump their water (But hey, at least they now dump it into another pan, which they cannot tip over. And the shop vac will become your best friend!!!

I think your kids might be like mine were - when the archetypal I arrived, they immeditately loved it and lost interest in kibble. I think putting the kibble in one bowl and putting the Archetypal I in another is a good idea. I'll be curious to see what happens.

In the meantime, continue with the flavored water during play time. You can continue to moisten the kibble, but it they like the Wysong, I'd be shocked if they touched wet kibble!!! You my also want to offer some soup with the baby food and raw chicke/meat. thin out the baby food so it's not as sticky but it's watery either. (they're most likely to go for the Wyaong, so you don't nee to off a lot of soup.

I want to see what they eat, and we'll tweak our recipes and strategy depending on what gets eaten.

Have fun!!!
-jennifer

[suds]

no worrie's I was laughiung about it a hour later .I should know by now that the ferts always keep you on your toe's!
expect the unexpected lol

ok I left only the Archetype in there cage bowl today no kibble ,When I got home there was no food on the floor and was half empty so someone is eating it . Hershy came out and played like normal today after about a hour she went to the play area bowl ate I did not see her picking out the kible so hopfuly once that bowl is empty they will be switched to Archetype (providing they dont have a kibble stash I dont know about). Then I can start adding other freese dried foods in there bowls.

I tried eggyoke again jd ate some on his own Hershy took one .lick then wanted nothing more to do with it .

tommorrow I will try the thinned babyfood and thaw a soup cube to try again to with her+.