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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 4, 2008 14:29:35 GMT -5
So how are they doing? Any improvements? I'm anxious to hear how things are going.  |
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Post by cristina on Oct 4, 2008 23:00:17 GMT -5
well I am in the process of getting pics of them eating raw lol, im always either at class, work or asleep and then I look and the bowl is empty  ! haha Tomorrow is "meat cutting day" (I usually cut up 4 thighs every 4-5 days and keep them in tupperware and freeze one and leave the other in the fridge) so tomorrow is re-up on the meat lol. I will be cutting them a bit larger tomorrow. Right now they are at the size of a fingertip (tip to the first crease), so tomorrow they will be cut to about double that....they dont seem to mind the larger chunks (actually boomy goes for the big ones! ;D) everything is going pretty well so far....ill update with some pics as well! |
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Post by cristina on Oct 6, 2008 14:36:46 GMT -5
I have a new addition to my ferret children, Mimi!!! Shes a baby (just under a year)who I adopted from a shelter, who is right now eating a puree of raw meat and kibble over her kibble.
So shes started on the path to raw and already loves it!!!!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 6, 2008 20:48:09 GMT -5
Hooray! Welcome Mimi!!!!  As a baby, she'll be a breeze to switch (as you are quickly finding out). I'm happy to hear that Boomer and Penny are doing okay with the chunks. Just keep working on increasing the size of the chunks (and be sure to supplement with eggshell, via syringe if you absolutely have to. This is VERY important). You might even luck out. If Mimi starts getting all excited and freaking out over meat, then Booms and Penn might say "hey...I want some of that!" and then they'll all get on board (hopefully). Keep me posted. |
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Post by cristina on Oct 7, 2008 11:50:23 GMT -5
So the 2nd day Mimi found out how good the raw meat was that her siblings were eating and switched all by herself! She will only eat Penny and Boomers raw meat now, so that was easy!!!
She even likes the bigger pieces! So tomorrow is "meat cutting day" again and they will get a bit bigger again....and I will try to get "raw eating" pics later on tonight after work!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 7, 2008 17:51:52 GMT -5
Yay pics! I can't wait! |
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Post by cristina on Oct 12, 2008 19:47:27 GMT -5
 and heres Boomy eating, he usually takes a piece of meat at a time and brings it under the dresser to eat, so I had to follow him! haha  And Mimi's eating pic is on the way, even though shes the pig, I havent been able to get a good pic of her eating! |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 13, 2008 13:23:51 GMT -5
Wonderfu picturesl (BTW- I got your PM about the banner. My computer is currently being repaird but as soon as I get it back I will make your banner. Hang tight and please be patient I will get it as quickly as I can).
So how is everyone doing with the meat? On bigger chunks yet?
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Post by cristina on Oct 13, 2008 14:40:27 GMT -5
The chunks are about half the size (long ways) and thickness of my thumb....they are getting there! Thanks for the banner...dont worry I am patient especially after this change!!!haha ;D ;D  |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 14, 2008 20:05:05 GMT -5
Wow! The chunks are bigger then I thought! Sweet! You are getting there, I'm so proud! Once you get to thumb sized pieces then it will be time to slowly introduce bone! How exciting! |
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Post by cristina on Oct 15, 2008 20:25:24 GMT -5
well I have them eating a mix of turkey, chicken and hearts and livers (in proportion of course)....and the chunks are getting bigger day by day (but I still have the powdered kibble over it) but if you want to give me some starting tips on bone I could at least see if Mimi will try it, she tries anything (she even tried to grab a pickle out of my sandwich the other day!) I have no idea how to feed bone so I'll need a lot of help with that! ;D ;D |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 15, 2008 21:15:54 GMT -5
The way you'd get them onto bone is first you get them eating the "thumb sized" pieces of meat (btw I didnt know they were eating liver, heart, AND turkey! That is awesome!). Then you take a raw chicken wing, you break it into 3 segments (at the joints). YOu then gut gashes into the meat, so there are some pieces of meat hanging off the bone (so they can learn to get a grip). Then you put these into the cage and with a little coaxing you try to get them chewing on the meat that's ont he bone. Once they are eating meat ON the bone, they usually figure out that they can eat the bone too. Sometimes ferrets can be a bit stubborn learning to eat the bone, but no worries. First step, get them eating the meat on bone-in-meat, well worry about bone eating after that. If you give Mimi the segmented chicken wing, she'll probably figure it out on her own pretty quick (especially if that is all she gets to eat for the day, meaning you dont feed her boneless chicken/turkey/liver/or heart first).
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Post by cristina on Oct 22, 2008 21:00:45 GMT -5
ok I need to have this conversation to ease my nerves... I feel like Penny and Boomer arent getting the proper nutrition right now, they really dont eat that much  , they seem to look much skinnier (even though I weigh them and havent lost too much weight) they just look thin and feel pretty thin too. Plus (it could just be me :  but I kinda noticed Penny is looking a bit weak in her hind legs, I feed them the egg shells but it seems to go right through all of them (their poop is egg shell pieces and birdseed like poops  ). I have also noticed (since the switch to raw) that Penny and Boomers coats are a bit thinner and much more course (not fluffy or smooth at all, just hard and course). Now I just need some reassurance because Im really starting to worry about their health (my vet hasnt said anything but Im uneasy since I know how they were and I can tell the difference now) So if you have any insight I would love to hear it and it would make me feel alot better! Thanks for all your help and patience! ;D ;D |
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 22, 2008 22:20:03 GMT -5
It could very well be that they arent getting enough from their diet right now. Since they havent lost too much weight I wouldnt freak out thinking that they are seriously ill. What I WOULD do is place an order with Hare Today, Gone tommorow straight away. I would order several of the fine ground meat/bone/organ mixes. Ideally I would get duck, turkey, chicken, pheasent, and rabbit (with fur). But if you can only afford 3, that is okay. By ordering these "complete" mixes and by getting a variety of flavors, you will be able to increase the nutriant intake, and hopefully they will start to look healthier. You can simply mix in bigger hunks of meat into this ground mix (that way you arent back tracking). Hare Today actually has VERY decent pricing on their meats, and on their shipping. I just placed an order through them and I'll be getting it tommorow. The ground mixes come in 1, 2, 5, and 30 lb increments. I would advise buying the 5lb one, but get what you can afford. The food should be shipped to you in 1-3 days after ordering, so it will be at your doorstep FAST! Now, the dull, dry coat could be because its shedding season. Mizu (my b/f's ferret's) coat is looking quite ragged, but he is about to shed, so I am not worried. I think the best thing we can do for your sanity and your little ones health is to get them eating the ground raw foods. You also have the option of purchasing a grinder and grinding your meat/bone/organ mixes yourself. If this interests you, PM ferretpalooza and ask her for info about the grinder she bought. Let me know if the Hare Today is an option for you. I really would feel better to have them on the Hare Today, but if you can't afford it, we'll work something out. www.hare-today.com/ |
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Post by cristina on Oct 29, 2008 20:09:40 GMT -5
ok so I just got my shipment of the meat you suggested in (5lbs. of all the animal meat you listed), the only problem.....Penny and Boomer arent too fond of it (of course the 2 who need it most!) ;DMimi was a wild beast when I first got it  , she was trying to drag the huge bags under the dresser (where many of them stash and eat their random pieces  lol) and she dug holes to get to the meat  !!!! she loves it all raw and natural, so I couldnt be more happy about that, except for my two absolutely spoiled rotten babies! I will just have to force them to eat it, just like feeding brussel sprouts to children! haha ;D |
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