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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 23, 2009 0:00:49 GMT -5
We got our two foster ferrets in today, and they look and smell like typical kibble fed ferrets. They've got literally half the energy and muscle strength of my four, and they are only two years old. Now, I was told I could supplement with raw, but they still have to be able to recognize kibble as a food. I showed them a raw soup, and it is going to take some work. Mind, this is their first day here, and everything was new, so I'm hoping once they settle in, I can get more interest out of them ! The problem is I have no idea how to just supplement . I was thinking ideally, they'd have kibbles for one meal of the day, and raw for the other. I know that's a touch more than simple supplementation, but what they don't know.... Or do you think I should simply stick with getting them on raw soupies? Ideas? Opinions?
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Post by jojodancer on Feb 23, 2009 9:52:25 GMT -5
It's been my experience that they always recognize kibble as food. It was what they ate for 2 years, and that has been imprinted on their brains.
I am also uncertain about feeding them kibble once a day, I don't know if that would play havoc with their digestive systems. And I don't know if they would either skip the raw or the kibble meal, and just wait it out until the food came that they are used to. How about kibble every 3rd or 4th day instead?
And what exactly do they mean by kibble? Can you put ziwipeak or AFS niblets in food bowl, with some kibble mixed in every once in awhile?
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 23, 2009 10:50:44 GMT -5
Unfortunately, it has to be Totally Ferret. That's what all the foster kids eat. But I do like the idea of kibble only every 3rd or 4th day. Even better than having to give it daily
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Post by spiritualtramp on Feb 23, 2009 11:01:47 GMT -5
Would kibble only a couple times a week break the fostering contract, or are you planning on keeping that on the DL? I do think allowing one kibble meal a day would be hard on their tummies, and like Jojodancer said I'm pretty sure they'd always recognize it as food --- though whether they'd choose kibble over raw, well that's another story.
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 23, 2009 12:01:38 GMT -5
That's where I'm having a problem! I truly don't know how to just supplement. The main concern voiced to me during the walk through was that they need to be able to recognize kibble as food. The amount of supplementation wasn't really discussed. I know they have no problem with raw soup, but beyond that?
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Post by Heather on Feb 24, 2009 0:23:11 GMT -5
I would offer them kibble once or twice a week. They said they only need to recognise and eat kibble, they don't have to eat it 24/7. Teach them to eat raw and create a diet for them, use the kibble to supplement occasionally. If your little ones get a new forever home then give their new people a copy of their diet, a list of raw support sites and suppliers. If you make it easy for people sometimes you will get people to follow up on the diet that their furbabies had at home. If you can show people that they poop less, smell less and have cleaner teeth and softer fur they might just keep feeding raw. Just an idea ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 24, 2009 9:41:31 GMT -5
It's worth a shot, Heather! Later on, I'm going to post in the mentor section! I've been trying them with the raw soupies, but no luck at all. I'm going to take their kibbles out tonight, see how it goes in the morning!
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Post by jojodancer on Feb 24, 2009 14:59:21 GMT -5
really? no luck with raw soupies? Have you tired a 75% soggy totally ferret blended with 25% wysong or AFS sprinkles? Put a little on your finger and let them lick it off. you might have to put your finger right up against their mouth until they try it. Usually they will eat off of a spoon after 3 or 4 finger feedings.
I have also found that the more soupy (watery) the soup is, the more apt they are to try new stuff. Then you can start putting less water in, and/or changing the ingredient percentage.
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 24, 2009 23:17:41 GMT -5
Actually, jojodancer, that's what I tried . No takers at all! Not even for regular soupies . I'm thinking they just weren't all that hungry. We'll see how it goes in the morning!
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Post by jojodancer on Feb 25, 2009 12:41:14 GMT -5
How did it go?
BTW, I leave the raw soupies out during play time and they go and slurp whenever they want a bite to eat. Athena is finally going over to the bowl to sip, but the soup has to be watery.
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Post by jojodancer on Feb 25, 2009 12:45:14 GMT -5
You know... maybe the fosters need to have crunchy TF in their soup. How about covering the TF with a little soup and see what they do. Or even offer them TF dipped in soup.
HAHAHAHAHA - sounds like chocolate dipped strawberries - but we're talking soup-dipped kibble *smile*
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 26, 2009 1:01:05 GMT -5
Actually, I got them to have a few licks(with some coaxing) this morning. I had a meeting tonight, so I couldn't try it. Maybe I'll do the soup coated TF tomorrow, as well as the finger feed. Thanks! Oh, and they are taking a bit of Stella and Chewy's in the kibbles!
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Post by spiritualtramp on Feb 26, 2009 11:55:31 GMT -5
I've found the freeze-dried route is often more accepted than the soup method! Good luck with the kiddoos!
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