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Post by tss on Nov 5, 2008 10:36:38 GMT -5
Hello! My name is Maria and I'll be your mentor! I currently own three ferrets, one albino female and 2 male marked DEWs or roans. I first got Weezer and feeding raw in October 2007(I had been feeding dogs raw since October '05), in November '07 I got Lillian and her sister Jillian. Sadly Jill passed away in April, most likely of DIMS (Disseminated Idiopatchic Myositis). I adopted Ravi in September of this year. Lillian and Ravi accept raw and whole prey, Weezer doesn't eat whole prey.
It looks like all ot your fuzzies are off on a good start. For Monster, get a chicken wing and some meat shears. Cut the wing at all 3 joints, you can then cut the tip into 2 or 3 sections. Take the "flat" section of the wing and cut it in half LEGNTH wise, you will then have 2 sections with bones. Cut each of those sections into two or three pieces then cut the drumette into two or three.
I know is sounds like a lot of work but it should get him started on bones, that is what I had to do with weezer. He now happily eats off of a 1/2 pound hunk of food without a fuss... I mean, he does start screaming if someone tries stealing it but that's another story. :-)
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Post by jackie on Nov 7, 2008 14:34:25 GMT -5
Hello Maria, it is nice to meet you. I have to go shopping today so I will pick up some more wings and give your suggestion a try.
I know some of them are eating bones...just don't know for sure who...
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Post by jackie on Nov 8, 2008 22:24:12 GMT -5
Found turkey necks real cheap at the store so along I picked up a good sized package along with their other meat today. Cut them up into rounds and then watched the fuzzies go nuts. Every one was crunching away.
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Post by tss on Nov 9, 2008 13:55:40 GMT -5
Wow!! Even Monster???
That was fast, all you've got to do now is feed 4 days of RMB's (chicken, turkey, rabbit, etc,), 2 days of boneless and 1 day of organ.. You've also got to feed atleast 3 different kinds of meat.. Once you work up to that point and post a menu showing all of these things you'll be ready to graduate!!
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Post by jackie on Nov 10, 2008 2:48:57 GMT -5
My babies are pigs...what can I say. Honestly they all love their meat, have since the first time I suckered them into trying it.
Even Monster...he just has to give me grief now and again (it's his privilege as the grumpy old man in the family). However I do think that with him i will have to keep a close eye and keep cutting stuff up (at least for a while) to make sure he is eating the bone. I think it is more work then he is used to and also that a lot of the time he gets full before he reaches the bone. I assume that cutting his food into bits that include bone will help with that.
Right now they eat....chicken wings/thighs/legs, turkey, lamb, pork, beef, chicken liver, chicken gizzards, chicken hearts, beef liver....
An example of their schedule is....
Monday - chicken wings
Tuesday - beef chunks or strips
Wednesday - chicken thighs
Thursday - liver(beef and or chicken), heart, gizzard
Friday - pork chunks
Saturday chicken legs
Sunday - lamb neck bones (which they really like)
I am trying to work more/different things into their diet. Have yet to come across rabbit at the market but plan on getting some mice/rats/rabbits for them when I place my next order for snake food.
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Post by tss on Nov 10, 2008 10:45:45 GMT -5
You probably will need to cut up his food for a while, thats what I needed to do for Weezer even though he was only about 2 at the time I switched him. He now eats 1/2 pound raw meaty bones without issue.
Your menu looks good, there is variety in it too!
I will PM Guili, she probably won't be able to review it until tonight... But it looks good to me!!
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Post by jackie on Nov 10, 2008 11:22:14 GMT -5
I sort of figured that I would be cutting his food up for a while. No problem there. I am just happy that he took to eating raw without too much of a fuss. I am very proud of my old man....
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Post by Forum Administrator on Nov 11, 2008 23:25:45 GMT -5
Schedule looks good! *beams with pride* Your babies did wonderfully! I am VERY proud of them. Its time to graduate! 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 toNaturalFerrets. I know forum is small right now, but that is because they are switching to the new forum from a yahoo! group. 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? www.NaturalFerrets.comYou'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. There is always lots to learn, and lots to share with the newbies on the site. If you feel comfortable offering the newbies advice, then by all means go ahead. The more help we can get, the better. If you'd rather lurk and not post, thats cool too, its just always nice to have our graduates stick around. We (your mentor and I) will run a detailed "check up" with you (via PM or email) at the 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 1 year anniversary since "going natural" just to make sure all is going well and that you arent having any issues. |
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Post by tss on Nov 12, 2008 11:37:37 GMT -5
Congratulations!! Your babies are on a balanced raw diet now. They will be much happier and healthier, you will be happpier too ;-) Cleaner litter boxes, energetic fuzzies and no musky ferrets. Your old man Monster will seem younger too. Give them kisses for me please!
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Post by jackie on Nov 12, 2008 14:53:55 GMT -5
Hooray for my babies!!!! I as so proud of them. Thanx for the help guys...
Jackie, Monster, Smoke, Bandit, Marley and Fritz
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Post by jackie on Mar 17, 2009 10:21:10 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.All the ferrets coats are much better...really nice and soft. All my babies are beautiful but every time I go in their room I notice just how beautiful Bandit has gotten lately and I think to myself (or tell Brent if he is in the room) that it is thanks to the raw diet. All the ferrets are insanely active...they have always had a lot of energy but now it seems like they are some relation to the energizer bunny...if it's not the diet then Brent is slipping a little something extra in the water bottle. They smell better. Bandit bites less. A lot less. This is a good thing. I chose to buy Bandit because she was deaf and a horrible biter (Yeah...I'm a sucker). After several months of having blood drawn I had accepted the fact that she might not be a people ferret. But now she will come and ask to be held, if you sit on the floor she will crawl into your lap for a cuddle...I never thought I would be able to cuddle her so I am completely stoked. 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)Don't think so, I will check it out when I get done here.
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: cornish game hens TUESDAY: chicken liver, heart and gizzards WEDNESDAY: chicken wings THURSDAY: beef chunks FRIDAY: chicken thighs SATURDAY: pork neck bones SUNDAY: frozen rat 4. Do you have any questions or concerns regarding your ferret(s) diet?Not at this time
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.
Not at this time
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 really liked the program. Although my guys were an easy switch so I didn't spend too much time in it. I can well imagine that if you had a difficult ferret (or ferrets as the case may be) that it would feel like a lifeline at times. |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Mar 17, 2009 11:48:03 GMT -5
I'm thrilled to hear that the babies are doing well on their diet.  That makes me really happy. I'm even happier to hear that you are keeping up with the diet and even incorporating some whole prey (frozen rat). Awesome! Thanks so much for updating. Its always great to hear how the babies are doing after the switch. |
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