Animalfarm2006's Switching Thread

[AnimalFarm2006]

Lots of Updates!

I made head way yesterday. I did not feed meat since the last time, but I did think of a new way to feed the meat. Here is my plan.

1. Squash the meat so it's soft and kind of like mouse meat.
2. Serve up mousie bits with the meat.
3. Show them that there is mousie bits.
4. Watch and see if they eat the meat without realizing it is not mouse.

Now isn't that smart? I may of found a new way to trick the little buggers.

I also made head way in my ferret tree walk way design. I spent the day sitting in the ferret room using my laptop and trying to keep my pens near me at all times. I looked up ferret things and thought of how I could maximize the space in my room. Here is the plan.

1. Make a small ferret tree that has level that are close to each other for an easy climb.
2. Make a carpeted walk way around my wall that is easy to get on from the tree.
3. Create a like box tunnel for them to go through haft way around my bed.
4. Acualy do the plan.

I made geeky pictures that illistrated what I wanted to do for my dad. He called the my levels for the tree wind sheild wipers.

I figured that a walk way would be great for the ferrets and it would be over my bed so it's not such a bad fall if one is to lose his or her balance.

Do you know anyone that has done that for their ferrets?

Here is a few Domestic updates.

1. The two ferrets in the hamster cage went to the "highest" bidder.
2. Ripplys owner is giving me her cousins ferret who is just like Dakota. He is a big boy who needs to be rehomed but she can't take any more after her four. I for some reason am realy excited about him. I am getting hit with the ferret math big time or something because after Ripply, I just want to get one..Dakota...just...one more, or wait no...Two more. A store bought baby that I am saving up for, and the cousins ferret boy if I get him.
3. Chrismas presents are in. I cheated and poped out their new clear tunnel from ferret.com. ^.^ I am thinking of using the big box, and putting paper, or something fun in it for them to tear apart like a chrismas present. They also got a chrismas outfit that...:grins: I adore but they aren't so thrilled about it.

4. Money is very tight, but with the addition of this ferret walk way. I am thinking of painting the ferret room funny, bright, colors with ferret pictures on the walls. ALSO, Does anyone recomend replacing carpet for thoes stick on floor peices? I asked my parents and they said they didn't care what I did to that room.

[Heather]

You've been busy
You're idea about the meat has merit. Let me know if it works. I've heard of grinding up the mice in a blender but never mixing finely cut meat added to the mice. Interesting. I will be fascinated to hear the outcome of that.
Your idea about the room is interesting. I've been toying with some ideas on how to make use of the empty space (walls and such) in the ferret room. There was an interesting video on utube I think, where they raced ferrets on a tunnel that was actually attached to the walls so that people could see the whole race. The actual set up fascinated me as they used plexiglass so you could see the ferrets racing (actually playing) and some interesting mazes that would absolutely fascinate the ferrets. It would provide tons of stimulation for them. Make sure in creating your runways and such that your guys can't fall off and hurt themselves. Even a fall to the bed can cause spinal injuries if it's too high. Ferrets being ferrets they will get wrestling along the pathways and throw each other off. Porthos injured himself just falling off my bed when he got into a wrestling match with Attila. Porthos was a smaller male and Attila was the largest ferret I had. The injury wasn't one that lasted but Porthos was a little sore for a few days.
Ferret math....make sure you don't get yourself in over your head. Vet bills can add up really quickly (speaking from experience) They're never planned and if surgery is required....ouch You will have to post some pics of your new furbabies. Good luck
ciao

[AnimalFarm2006]

The ideas was a mess. I had everything nice and minced up. The mousie cutting made me feel bad because I did the killing by breaking the neck area. Lelloo & Jack were too smart and ate the mouse. Monster ate a few pieces of meat after I offered it to him. Tonight I gave everyone some pieces of meat and two pinkies.

Update on the new ferrets. I picked up a little female! She was on sale, and is about four months old. She is albino like my jack jack and is super cute. What is the latest I should wait for her shots?

I will post pictures and such in the Ferret photo section. ^.^ I did a Christmas picture shoot with each ferret and different things with them.

Do you think i will have issues with switching the little one? She is four months - five months. I tried giving her a piece today but she wasn't that into it.

[Heather]

I saw the photos of your little ones, they're really cute. Love your new little girl. She shouldn't give you too much grief, just keep pushing the raw at her. Once you get her to taste it, she will probably switch easily. Kits do.
Great work, it wasn't a total failure your guys are trying the meat that's what counts. I don't think I could break the little ones necks. I'm a coward, I just feed them to the ferrets, they're really merciful compared to a cat and the kill is usually very clean.
I can't answer your question about shots....I don't vaccinate, ever. I don't believe in it but others can help you if you post in the health section. There are quite a few who do, so you should be able to get your answer fairly quickly. The shop where you bought her didn't give you any ideas? Is she a Marshals? They've always had one set of shots but I don't think the vets recognise them (they're given too young and are therefore not effective as the little ones still carry mom's antibodies)
Great work, talk at you later
ciao

[AnimalFarm2006]

I am really interested in the whole going REALLY natural with the shots and such, but i am not sure even where to start. I got the feeding raw and such down, and a lot of the cleaning area at least. How do you deal with fleas, Heart worm, Rabbi's, Distemper, and other things like that? I would love to go natural with shots, and everything.

The newest one actually shows interest in the food, but I don't think she realty knows what it is. Also, her poops are looking great so far, and I am watching for her missing the mark. Are kits normally bad at missing the litter box?

I will try and give them some meat today, or tomorrow. My meat has to last till next paycheck.

[Heather]

Before you start making decisions about not vaccinating you should do some research and start checking out what types of risks you're willing to take. No matter what way you play the game, vaccinate or not it's a gamble. If you don't vaccinate, then you will have to be prepared to deal with the high costs if your furbabies come down with one of the dreaded diseases or the fact that you could loose not only one but all. Rabies is a mandatory vaccine in most places mandated by law but many of us make the decision not to vaccinate. Again, you should be aware of the risks of not vaccinating. Just make sure that you're aware of what problems you could encounter with the law by not following their mandate. Heartworm is not a big deal where I am, so I refuse to pump poison into my little ones on the possibility that they may encounter this problem. I also don't allow them to play outside at dusk and after dark.
I deal with fleas by keeping their bedding clean, flea combing and bathing when they need it. We had an outbreak fo fleas this summer, but with due diliegence we seem to have brought the little suckers to their knees and haven't pulled one off any of the ferts in a couple of months.
I don't know much about the babies, other than being consistent and repeatedly stuffing those little fuzzie butts in litter boxes when you catch them not using the litter box. Napoleon and Nicodemus were my 2 babies and they learned very quickly. Pandora used to scruff Nico and stuff him in the litter box, she was very meticulous about her litter box habits. Little Mischief felt he was responsible for Napoleon and helped me with his litter box habits. The babies learn from both you and the adults that they play with. Consistency is the biggest thing.
Good luck
ciao

[AnimalFarm2006]

I acualy went back to my first page and read through my old posts. Did you know It has been more than a year since I started raw? I came upon the post from me back last september. We went to the big car show again this year. I also can't beleive how far in the food chain they have gone.

Update- I put some of their favorit baby food, and bits of meat on a plate. The new baby is a big baby about it. The only thing I can get her used to is the oils I provide. I am going to start over with her and try to get her use to the soup, and than bits of meat etc.

I do have good news. Ripply who I have been taking it easy with acualy ate some mousie today. She has been realy interested in the mice since lee and jack started eating them. Today she finaly ate off the mouse before lee was a real and snatched it from me.

My new plan of action is to get lee, and jack to eat full grown mice, and start back on meat. Ripply to adjust to eating mice. Monster just does what everyone else does. And, I am going to work at bonding with the little one, and turning her. I don't think she trusts humans.

I also have been letting everyone out for atleast 8-10 or more hours at a time every day, or every day for three days, and skip a day to clean etc. Monster and Jack are on pepto once a day untill the middle of this month.

[Heather]

Sounds like you've got just about everyone eating mice. That's good. It's probably a good idea to let the little one start from scratch. You can also play chase the mouse with her or tug. She might enjoy that and she will be getting a taste of mouse too.
How are your guys doing with the tummy issues? Getting better? No more grinding teeth? That's great that they're getting more out time. They will like that a lot.
Good luck with your little one. Keep me posted
ciao

[AnimalFarm2006]

Update- No meat in two days. I have been stressing over college and exam week plus work has really killed my mood. I keep running in circles trying to figure out what to tackle first. Also, My next paycheck is going to be shot. Hopefully we will get some kind of bonus from work that will help me.

Monster doesn't grind his teeth that much anymore. It is a rare thing for him unless I really aggravate him.

I was reading the e book of Ferrets for dummies and something came up about large livers. When the vet had felt monster, She commented on that his large liver, but also said it wasn't too much to worry about as it is common???

[Heather]

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling that stressed but it's common when one is in school I can remember getting ready for exams but you're almost done for the season so you will soon be able to relax again soon
I"m glad that monster is starting to feel better. Did your vet make a remark about an enlarged liver or spleen? I've heard of both but the enlarged spleen would be caused by Monster's ulcers and will probably go away once that is under control again. The enlarged liver is permanent and is probably congenital (he was born with it).
You're going to have to get your little ones back on meat soon or you're going to find that you have to step back a couple of steps and start over with some of them.
Good luck with your exams, you will be fine
ciao

[AnimalFarm2006]

It might of been the spleen. I don't remember which one now that i think of it.

I am going to give them some yum yum tonight if I can remember to do it without being too lazy. I have work this afternoon and usualy I get realy lazy between going to work because I don't want to go. I need to clean anyway before they get out into the ferret room.

[Heather]

Remember if you're going to convince these little ones that this is food you have to be consistent about getting it to them even when you're feeling tired and stressed.
Good luck
ciao

[AnimalFarm2006]

I made them some food. Lee & Monster were eating the bits. The little one is a real pain in the butt. She doesn't stay still, and just has a bad additude. I have not gotten her to realy eat anything, but I am keeping up with scruffing her.

Monster is looking kind of weird. I think maybe his coat hasn't come in yet because he is a little sparse in it. Yesterday I noticed he has a few thining spots between his shoulder blades, and today they are on his tail. Do you think it is just him finaly shedding, or should I be worried? He isn't thinning on the belly or legs.

[Heather]

It could be shedding but I'm wondering adrenal. Keep a close eye on him. He's also been on meds and that sometimes can cause them to shed coat.
Keep at it, persistence is the only way. What else is your little girl eating?
ciao

[AnimalFarm2006]

I noticed monsters legs are now looking like he's getting ready to shed. Not bald, but thining to where his under coat is.

She realy isn't eating anything. I am trying to get her to take to the baby food. She does like oil. I made sure on the first day she got introduced to it since it is my nail clipping weapon.

I am off today so I am going to spend some time with them to switch them today.