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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 9, 2008 16:20:05 GMT -5
If you get him onto mostly raw meaty bones, your ferret food and people food will be the same thing lol  Sometimes I eat my ferret's food if we are low on groceries for us. I had some of their pork chops the other day. Mmmmmm! haha  |
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Post by pear2apple on Jul 24, 2008 10:39:02 GMT -5
Well if any of you are following my "I think Apple has ECE" thread, you will notice I am now searching for chicken-freen grain-free kibbles and frozen raw/freeze-dried foods. I am also considering adding more raw game meats to his foods. There is a local grocer around here that carries game meats, rabbit, lamb, pheasant, even bear! That would be great variety for him, plus maybe not so expensive if I buy bits at a time. Plus a whole rabbit will last a long time. I'm going to have to check around for costs.
So mustelidmusk is searching for appropriate kibbles and freeze-dried foods for me for Apple. Of course once Apple no longer eats chicken foods, neither will Kiwi. I know there are a few kibble options and then more than a few freeze-dried ones....hopefully anyway!
My general problem with feeding raw in the first place was Apple's reluctance to eat it, and then he never really finished the bones. Oh, and then my whole ant problem! I just wasn't sure I could give the kind of variety needed on my budget. But I guess I could feed rmb, commercial raw, and kibbles right? Kibble is just around during the day if they want to snack, but 3 times a day I feed the raw, and I expect them to fill up on that before the kibble.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jul 24, 2008 17:16:34 GMT -5
I add a small amount of water to the NV frozen as well. Try to not make it too soupy. Otherwise, Apple may not be eating enough to get enough solids/nutrition. One more think I wanted to mention...SInce chicken may be really bad for Apple, chicken eggs might be an issue for him as well. But, a little heavy cream can be used instead of some of the water. If Apple gets too heavy with the cream, you can use a small amount of goat's milk instead. Either of those can be frozen in ice cube trays if you get the trays that make small cubes. I think goats milk can be found in dehydrated form as well. And...a small amount of the KMR would not hurt either. This would provide a bit more nutrition with the extra liquid, but try to keep Apple from getting hooked on soupy food. A few drops of the salmon oil or flax oil and a bit of olive oil will also make the food a little creamier. not too much oil though since the salmon and flax oils are heavy on the fat-soluble vitamins. Per previous discussions, we don't want to OD on these. Also, Apple is the type of ferret that THRIVES on being spoiled, so he'll take advantage of all of this recent extra attention to train you to feed him the way he wants to be fed! -jennifer |
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Post by pear2apple on Jul 28, 2008 12:13:08 GMT -5
Good news everyone!!! Apple is back on track with his diet!!! YAY!!!
He is still taking the Metro, I mix it with KMR and he eats it with less of a protest, I still have to syringe it and hold him close to me. Scruffing him did not work as well as I thought it would! So instead, I stuck him between my legs, his bottom half is stuck, then his top half I just hold his arms down and keep him against my chest. Works like a charm!
Anyway, he is back to eating his rabbit and lamb. I'm planning on going to a local market soon to maybe get on some sort of list to order in game meats so I can give them both fresh meats a few times a week. Now I need to reclean out my freezer because I just bought myself some frozen foods and its all packed.
I'm going to try using the Pro-Zymes and Papaya (not together) for their meats during these transitions, for Kiwi as well. I'm going to keep giving him the KMR once a week or so after he is done with the Metro. I think I will add it to a soup. I need to buy more ice cube trays. Maybe some of those skinny tubes for water bottles would be good? We shall see, no more ferret buys til August!
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Post by pear2apple on Jul 28, 2008 12:19:28 GMT -5
If you get him onto mostly raw meaty bones, your ferret food and people food will be the same thing lol Sometimes I eat my ferret's food if we are low on groceries for us. I had some of their pork chops the other day. Mmmmmm! haha Oh and I don't eat a lot of meat anyway...I don't like to touch it! IRONY! So not really, and what I do eat is chicken and thats a big no-no for Apple! My diet consists mainly of pasta and fruits and veggies. Our diets are polar opposites! |
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jul 29, 2008 1:01:43 GMT -5
Hi Pear, Here are some options for dry foods.... Stella & Chewy's freeze-dried steaks for DOGS: ================================= * Beef * Lamb My brats approved of these products this weekend. These are complete/balanced diets www.stellaandchewys.com/site/products_dogs/index.aspStinkweasels carries them. POTENTIAL ISSUE - CHICKEN EGGS ZiwiPeak Daily Cat Cuisine: =================== * Venison * Lamb www.ziwipeak.com/Products/ZiwiPeak-Cuisine/Cuisine-Family/POTENTIAL ISSUE - BONE? calcim source may not be bone. Further Investigation required for the following - Kibbles: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Royal Canin IVD perscription diets (Duck, venison, llamb, rabbit www.royalcanin.us/products/productdetail.aspx?ID=95Natural Balance Allery formulas - cat I'd try one of the ziwipeak and one of the Stella & chewys products to start. I'd add some to the kibble and stat phasing out the kibble ASAP. (Brak up the food into kblle-sized prices. I need ore time to wor this though - the difficult partis th dry foods. We can easily add meats and meat diets. But thi will get you started. -jennifer |
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Post by pear2apple on Jul 29, 2008 8:17:41 GMT -5
Do you think it will be ok to still feed Evo Red Meat bites? I was hoping to keep that since it has no chicken in it. Though it may have chicken eggs.
I won't be able to start the new kibbles yet for about 2 weeks because it takes about a week for them to be shipped to me. But I have completely taken out the Evo Ferret. Adding new kibbles shouldn't be too hard, almost any kibble Apple loves to try, its the wet stuff that is tough!
Thanks!!
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jul 29, 2008 8:47:23 GMT -5
Hi Pear, it's really tough to get away from chicken, grain, and chicken egg. I'm hoping the chicken egg is OK. W'ell just have to try it and see how it goes.
The freezed-dried options might be a good option for you coupled with frsh raw diet. I know the freeze-dried i not cheap, but it will offer balanced diet that Apple will probably accept pretty quickly while we figure out what works best for you and Apple. (Yes, I hate having to order food and wait!)
-jennifer
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Post by pear2apple on Aug 13, 2008 9:37:09 GMT -5
I have decided to wait to buy any new foods until Buckeye Bash, hoping that I can buy anything I need there. Jennifer is so nicely bringing me some foods and I am trading her everything I have with chicken in it. I am hoping to find anything else I want at the Bash. I am SO excited to go and check out all the good stuff.
Recently Apple has FINALLY started eating the mouse POgOs! I've had them for months and I think he just figured out what they taste like! I gave him one and he ran it over to his shoe, then he starts shaking his head like its alive and he's trying to kill a real mouse! Good for him! Now I really want to buy a few mice for them to kill! Maybe I will do that tonight. I guess I don't need my boyfriend here with me....!!!!
If I do the mice tonight I will try to take video for you guys and post it. Video is easier than photos because my camera has a longer delay than it should, I dropped it a few months ago and I am waiting for like 2 weeks in a row where nothing is happening that I want to take photos of before I take it in to be fixed!
Apple is eating only the NV raw frozens and some Vitalife dehydrated duck strips I just got in the mail. He is also eating *some* kibble as a treat during play. He has his Foamy Fries, but no NBones I guess. I didn't realize those had chicken in them!
I am thinking I will take away all kibble after this and ONLY use fresh raw, NV raw frozen, dehydrated meats, or freeze-dried foods. It will be a good change for them.
Also, I smelled Apple's coat yesterday. He doesn't smell anything like a ferret! In fact he doesn't really have any smell at all! I like his soft ferrety smell, but this is good too! His coat is incredibly soft and fluffy. He would make a great pillow! He also walked on my shoulders last night! I think he's been watching Kiwi do it and thought, hey, I can do that too! He'll get to walk all over the house with me once he masters it.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Aug 13, 2008 19:15:29 GMT -5
Awesome - I'm so glad to hear the kibble will be going away...with a sensitive tummy, the raw stuff is definitely much better for him - and Kiwi too  Also watch Apple closely while he's on your soulders - he lokos like one of those "lumbering cuddle-bear" ferrets that expects YOU to make sure he doesn't fall... My Tonto is like that - they're too much fun to cuddle -jennifer |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Aug 13, 2008 21:33:28 GMT -5
You know hearing that you plan to go all raw makes me VERY happy |
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Post by pear2apple on Aug 14, 2008 7:43:33 GMT -5
You know hearing that you plan to go all raw makes me VERY happy I'm nervous and excited about it! I've been putting off a trip to the local grocer because thats where I'll be finding all my "exotic" meats: not chicken, beef, or pork! I'm really nervous about what to ask for. How does rabbit come at the meat corner? I'm going to a grocery store, not a butcher. I have no room in my freezer for bodies of frozen/raw rabbit. Does it look like any other steak? I was thinking I could buy some raw, and then freeze most of it, but also dehydrate some of it as well. My friend just bought a dehydrator and its already worked well for several non-meat items. I thought perhaps making jerky (unseasoned of course) for the ferrets would be nice. Plus I have some Dogswell Vitalife Duck breast jerky that the ferrets have been fighting over. So I think that will go really well for them. Plus clean the teeth right? If you can't tell, I don't buy meat often! This place also gets in tons of game meat: alligator (which is so good btw), bear, beaver, buffalo, kangaroo, pheasant, rattlesnake, venison, turtle, wild boar, wild turkey, rabbit, lamb. How great huh? Its all by special order though. Not sure how to manage that, I don't want to order 1lb of buffalo meat and thats it, you know? I wonder how expensive that is! What all can I feed to the ferrets? I mean I know they will never take down a bear or buffalo in the wild, but would it still be ok to let them try it at some point? Most of their local meats are free-range too. This is where I am looking: www.dorothylane.com/Departments/Meat/index.htmlDo you think turkeys would be safe for Apple? Or should I stear clear? What about pheasant? That sounds like it would be a good meal for them. Whats vaccuum packing meats do? Does that keep them fresher longer? Is that something I should consider for meat I won't use right away? But then when I open, isn't the bag useless? I think I'll post some questions in the raw/newbie section about ordering raw meats. So Jennifer if you can't answer all these, its ok I'm probably going to repost a lot of these questions somewhere else so I get more exposure! No idea what I'm doing here! LOL Thanks! |
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Post by mustelidmusk on Aug 14, 2008 19:09:18 GMT -5
If Aplle is getting picky about eating chunks of food, here's something to try....put the chunks of meat (same size as he was eating before on a flat, open dish (like a tupperware lid or saucer). Spread them apart so he can easily pick each on up individually.
Do this with half of the food he's eating and give it to him first. Then try the same with the rest of the food. If he stops eatingt chunks for the esecond half of the meal, make the rest the way he likes it!
-jennifer
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Post by pear2apple on Aug 14, 2008 22:24:00 GMT -5
I just bought raw frozen rabbit (3lbs of it!) from the Market. Unfortunately, thats how they were selling it, 3lbs chunks! So now I have all that. I picked rabbit because that was all they really had besides beef, chicken, and lamb, and that was all fresh and I won't be giving the raw this weekend yet. Also, they eat rabbit every day, so they *should* recognize the flavor and enjoy it. I hope.
Tomorrow Apple is having a live mouse or 2. We'll see how Kiwi feels about live mice!
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Post by mustelidmusk on Aug 16, 2008 12:13:07 GMT -5
The fresh rabbit will be interesting. If you're interested in dealing with something that's larger and will require thawing, portioing and re-freezing, you may want to conider the whole ground rabbit from Hare Today - it's perfectly balanced since it's whole, ground rabbit. It's probably the best way to fed rabbit to a small number of ferrets. The one part that sucks is the shipping, BUT, if you price it out by the ounce, it may be no worse than buying the NV locally.
Do NOT be surprised if your kids treat the fresher rabbit like a new food! The NV rabbit formal was all rabbit at one time, butthey use pork fat and organs in the Rabbit now since they could no longer get these itemd from their supplier.
Kiwi might jmp on that mouse like there's no tomrrow. eems like the girls that accept meats reaily will take on anything.
Good luck with Kiwi and the mouse... I'll be curious to hear!
Also, just to let you know, I'll be working 12-hour days fro the rest of August. And I will also have limited access to the web on the weekends. If you need help, please feel free to PM any of the mentors or Giuli if I seem to be "missing in action"!
-jennifer
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