Letty and Bamf's Switch

[shea85]

1.How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names, ages, genders, and do they have any health problems (this is VERY important)?
I have a 2 year old silver blaze girl. I just got her yesterday, still thinking of a name. She is deaf. But healthy otherwise.

2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
8 in 1 chicken blend with taurine kibble.

.3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Raw. Than once we get that down perhaps some whole prey.

.4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I try to eat healthy myself...most of the time. I don't like eating things where I can't pronounce what's in it. I think the natural would be much healthier. And the pet stores here don't sell quality ferret food. I'd have to drive an hour or more to buy some. (live in a very small iowa town)

.5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
I've heard of the natural diets before. I just know I feel better and even happier when eating "real" food and not something out of a can or fast food. I expect animals would feel the same.

.6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
She is probably close to 2lbs. Seems she is a healthy weight for her size. Muscle tone seems fine.


7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
I will try to get a picture later. I'm using my blackberry as my laptop is busted. Her gums are pink and teeth white.


8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Seems normal. Not overly coarse or oily. Mixture of white and black hairs and her white blaze, bib and mits are bright white.

9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
At least a few times between naps.


10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Slightly. But only if you are very close.

11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
Mild. A lot of guys at work smell worse

12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
7.5. She is pretty laid back so far. An 8.5 when she really wants to play.

13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)? I always have kibble in the bowl so I guess she doesn't get excited.

14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
No

15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share? I've only had her for a day but really glad I could give her a home. She is deaf but not skittish. A real sweetheart. But probably will tourment my bulldogs once I get them more used to eachother.

.16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
Hard to do from my phone...I will once I can get to a computer.

17. a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch atleast every other day?**Yes
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's saftey during the switch?
Yes
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explanation as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?
Yes
Note 1: If you are unable to make it to a computer (such as on weekends) please indicate below so we know whether you just dont have computer access or if you have gone MIA.
Note 2: If you would like to try the switch again and you are committed to making regular updates you ARE welcome to restart your thread. Failure to provide regular updates will result in the deletion of your thread.

[Jen]

Hi there shea85,



You're making a wonderful choice for your fuzzy. I agree with a lot of what you said about feeling better eating more natural food. I can also emphasize about the lack of quality kibble (same reason I switched- all I could find in town was that cheap 8-in-1).

I'll just offer a few ideas that helped me get started with the switch. You can try cutting raw meat into tiny little pieces and stirring it into the kibble. If she'll eat duck soup or moist kibble, add some warm water to the kibble before mixing in the finely chopped meat. You can also try offering raw meat with crushed kibble sprinkled on top. Beef, chicken, pork, duck, lamb, cornish game hen, and veal are all good, healthy choices. Meaty bones are great; liver should only be offered once a week.

I hope that helps and wish you both luck with your switch. Please reply here or PM one of the mentors if you need any help. It might take a little longer with the switch since older ferrets can be more stubborn about trying new foods, but you just have to be persistant.

Another thing that will help is to take her kibble away for a couple of hours before offering raw meat. A slightly hungry ferret is more likely to try a new food than a full ferret.

Oh, and remember to put any uneaten food in the fridge if you want to save it for later. Wet kibble should be refrigerated within 4 hours and raw meat should be refrigerated within 6 hours.

Let us know how it goes

[shea85]

Hope that pics work...

Thanks Jen for the advice! I'm going to let her finish the lil bit of kibble left in her bowl then wait awhile tomorrow to try feeding her some chicken in kibble crumbs. Its probably going to take some time but I know it'll be worth it.

[Jen]

Aww... She's adorable. That's a really sweet picture. Let us know how it goes

[sherrylynne]

That is a sweet pic! Like Jen said, try the tiny pieces of raw, coated in crushed kibble, like breading chicken. If she doesn't take to that, you could then try raw soupies. That's the way I had to switch mine. Just put some raw chunks in the blender with a bit of water to thin it. If you have to(and you probably will ), scruff her, and put some on her nose, or a bit on her tongue, so she gets the taste. You will probably have to do this several times. Let us know how it goes!

[spiritualtramp]

Aw what an adorable picture. Fast friends huh??

I'm with Jen and Sherry --- trying teeny tiny bits of chicken 'breaded' in crushed kibble. I first tried the soupies with my kids but it was actually the 'breading' technique that worked best with mine when I switched.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[shea85]

So I was eating chicken yesterday and tried giving her a piece (was for me so it was cooked). Ignored. Lol

Today I cut up tiny pieces of raw chicken and breaded it in kibble crumbs. Put in her bowl along with a few pieces of kibble. She ate a couple chicken pieces! Hope she keeps eating it...

And I've decided to name her Letty.

[Jen]

Good job Letty! Congrats mom! Once she eats the kibble-breaded chicken readily, you can gradually make the pieces bigger, reduce the amount of kibble, and introduce different meats the same way (in whichever order works best).

We're happy for you both Keep us posted

[spiritualtramp]

Well that was fast!! Congrats Letty

[sherrylynne]

. For now, just keep going the way you are. You're doing great

It looks like I'll be your official mentor for the switch!
Ok, a little about myself. I'm 50yrs old, and am owned by 4 ferrets, and 4 cats! I have my own business(cleaning), and live in Calgary, Alberta! It's a beautiful place

My fuzzy crew are Boris(sable) and Vincent(albino), a pair of 1yr old brothers. Then along came Sinnead, a tiny 2 3/4yr old surrender girl. She's my major kissy-face! And then there is Lucrezia, named for the infamous Lucrezia Borge . She had the kids in the pet store terrified to handle her. She's also a deafie, and was a major biter. She's the one I had the least trouble switching to raw, because she was so young . Vincent and Sinnead weren't too diffucult, once I convinced them raw was food(other than a little incident with Vincent-he scared the bejeepers out of me one night! Was eating like a piggy, and a piece of meat got stuck, so started coughing like mad. He coughed it up, was fine, but had to take a couple steps back for him).

And then there was Boris. Every single time I tried to give him raw, whether tiny cubes, or in soupies, I was poisoning him . Talk about a major little drama queen !

But, the important thing is to persevere. One day, when I had Boris on my lap, he suddenly decided this was good stuff, and we haven't looked back!

Now, their teeth have no build up whatsoever. They are lean and muscular, have loads of energy(but not the spikes of frenetic energy, then crashing). They can keep going for 2-3 hours sometimes . Even the vet was surprised. She'd seen them in May, and told me the three(didn't have Lucrezia then) would need a dental cleaning soon. Then when they had their shots in Oct/Nov, she was amazed at the change in them. No tartar, and in her words, "Are everything a ferret should be. Lean, long, and muscular" . I credit it the their diet.

I've actually become quite passionate about it. Especially after finding out what's actually in most kibbles .

Oh, and I'd also take her kibbles out about 6 hours before you give her the kibble breaded cubes, and see how she does with that. Let me know, and we can go from there!

[shea85]

sherrylynne,

Glad to have you as my mentor! You have quite a crew it seems.

Letty is still a little unsure about the breaded pieces but will eat a few small pieces a couple times a day.
How much meat should they get a day?

[Heather]

Hi Guys, just popping in to let you know I'm your mentoring mentor So, if you get stuck or in trouble I'm in the background:) I have total convidence in your mentoring style Sherrylynne but I'm here if you need me.
Great work, Shea...your little girl looks like she's on her way...good luck
ciao

[sherrylynne]

It really varies. Mine, once switched, were eating between 1.5-3oz per day each. The girls less, and the boys the larger amount. Now, they are little piggies . Between the four of them, they'll put away about 12 ounces a day. From what I understand, they will cut down again after they've been on raw about 6 months. Or in the spring. Whichever comes first!
Once your girl is fully on raw meats, she'll probably eat about 2-3 oz a day. I found a small kitchen scale to be my best friend when I was switching them. I was wondering why they didn't seem to eat everything I gave them, as I didn't think it was that much. Turns out I was giving them about double the amount they would eat. I was shocked when I actually weighed out the meat, on how little 2-3 oz really was!
Have you tried taking out the kibbles for a few hours before you give her the raw?

[shea85]

I've been waiting to offer her kibble after she's eaten some meat. Just now I put a few pieces of raw chicken in her bowl. One piece "breaded" and two naked. Lol she ate the two plain raw chunks and left the one with breading. Seems she wants this new diet too! Lol

I will have to pick up some different meat and she what else she will eat. Let me know if there is anything else I should be doing.

[sherrylynne]

What a smart little girl! She knows the good food when she sees it I think for a couple of days, try sticking with the chicken, just to get her used to the texture, then introduce a new meat. And give her about an ounce or so, see how she does with it. Sounds like this little girl just may make her switch easy on you