|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Feb 14, 2009 1:28:06 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear about the layoff! That really stinks. Here's hoping you find a better job soon. I wouldn't stress too much about the heart. Any dark meat is taurine rich. The more a muscle is used, the more taurine it has in it. That's why so many of us go after the heart  ! After all- it's used all the time! But thigh/leg meat has a lot of taurine, too. I don't know if your kids will go for it, but after mine started eating ribs, then wings well, I'd cut the thigh bones in half lengthwise, along the bone. Then again in half crosswise. That way, the bone wasn't so intimidating for them. I also do this with turkey necks, since the brats will not eat an entire intact vertebrae! If you can, give this a shot, and see how it works. The main thing you need to work on in their diet is edible bone. If they take to the chopped thighs, or turkey necks, it would be great! |
|
|
|
Post by shea85 on Feb 16, 2009 11:11:55 GMT -5
Is it okay to leave bones in the cage once they eat the meat off? They like to play and chew on them. Bamf likes to stick them in his "house". I'll have to start cutting the bones and see what they do. They are eating very well still. And Bamf is still a little piggy! Thanks, I hope I find something too. Yesterday I sold one of my horses. In preparation for being laid off. She was my favourite mare.  But she is going to where she was born. She'll live out her life fat and raising babies. And...I haven't given up on finding heart yet...just have to wait and look when I go into the bigger cities around here.  |
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Feb 16, 2009 23:32:04 GMT -5
I'd remove the excess bone after 24 hours, anyway. The problem is with how they can stash meats. If the stashed bones dry out over several days, the worry is about them becoming brittle. I don't know that the heavier bones will do so quickly, but I figure, why chance it? I go around 2X a day, digging out stashes, and move my furniture weekly . I'm sorry to hear about your horse. I know how attached to them a person can become. I did with mine when I was a kid on the farm. |
|
|
|
Post by shea85 on Feb 19, 2009 0:56:35 GMT -5
I did try some sardines. They did eat most of what I gave them. More so Bamf. Letty is more of a dainty eater. Bamf is already bigger than her.  |
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Feb 19, 2009 9:28:41 GMT -5
Bamf is really growing fast, isn't he? You'll find him being on raw from a young age really makes a difference for his size and health. That's great that they liked the raw sardines! I'd try to limit it to once a week, though. Even smaller fish can have some pollutants, but not nearly as much as the larger ones! Lucrezia treats smelts like candy. We have to restrict how many she's allowed to eat, because she'll be enough of a piggy that she'll throw up because she ate too many . How are your guys doing with the cut up bones? Do they eat them yet? |
|
|
|
Post by shea85 on Feb 21, 2009 0:25:42 GMT -5
Bamf really is growing fast that's for sure. He's my lil chunk. And when he's not super hyper he's pretty darn cuddly. Fell asleep on my chest yesterday while I was on the couch. The bigger bones...if I cut them they will gnaw and eat them a lot better. Some Bamf will still carry and hide. LoL I went to a different store today...they had the usual stuff...and some tongues...livers...ox tail...intestines...but do you think they had heart? NOPE haha |
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Feb 21, 2009 10:46:42 GMT -5
Shea, can you get either quail or rabbit where you are? Or even duck? You and your guys are so close to graduating, but we need them to build up their jaw strength for the bones.
If you can get any of the above, it would be great!
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Feb 22, 2009 9:26:04 GMT -5
I'm going to pop in just to pop out again, I don't want to intrude you guys are doing so well, but I want to add my observations.....this post is in regards to bones and stashing. I allow my guys to keep their bones (at least for a day or two, they sometimes stash well and I find them running around with something I haven't fed in days   OOPS  ), this is one of the ways that I get my newbies to eat them. I know that it's difficult in what we know and think we understand but they really like the jerkyfied meat, especially when it's their own handywork. Once the meat dries out then to them there is no difference between the meat on the bone and the bone. I've seen no problems with following this proceedure and it's an easy way to get them to eat the bones. I've even seen them crack chicken leg bones to get at the marrow and they love the little knuckles on the end (they won't touch these if they're not allowed to keep their bones for a day or two) It's just my observations. Awesome job guys. Enjoy, I'm out of here  ciao |
|
|
|
Post by shea85 on Feb 22, 2009 23:32:22 GMT -5
I'm going to search harder. Being in the "sticks" so to speak...you think some stores would carry rabbit or quail.
Do you feed these cut up? Sections? Whole?
|
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Feb 22, 2009 23:52:05 GMT -5
For mine, I feed them cut up. Since you have trouble locating some of the more exotic meats, why don't we concentrate on using chicken for the bone. As you come across the others, you can always substitute  . It will take a bit for their jaw strength to build up to larger bones. Can you give me an idea of how much, and how often , they are actually eating the chicken bones? I know I seem to be harping on this, but I can't stress how important it is for them to get enough calcium and trace minerals that they only recieve from eating the bones. You guys are so close to graduating! If we use chicken bones, and get the variety through other muscle meats, that would be really great  ! They'll get the needed taurine from the dark meat of the chicken, and from the tougher beef cuts. Can you get turkey parts? Like the thigh/drumstick, or breast. I know I can buy duck at my local grocery store. And from what I understand, a number of Walmarts also sell meats that would be good. We're almost there, Shea! We'll get your little ones on a balanced raw diet yet |
|
|
|
Post by shea85 on Feb 25, 2009 1:18:28 GMT -5
Good news! Found someone who has rabbits they will butcher for me! I've been looking hard. LoL And a guy at work has TONS of deer meat and wants to give me some.
Bone wise...for an example...if I feed drumsticks and let them clean off the meat and knuckles...I can cut or smash the bones smaller and they will eat close to 3/4 of a leg bone each through out the day. Then Bamf hides the rest. LoL I leave the rest in the cage for the day and they will "graze" on them while I'm at work.
|
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Feb 25, 2009 9:35:23 GMT -5
Great news! Mine love rabbit, especially Lucrezia . And kudos on the deer meat. Just to make sure, I'd freeze it a couple of weeks to make certain any potential parasites are killed off. So, they will eat the bone if it's smashed up. That's wonderful ! Now, if I'm correct, they are eating liver and organ as well? And 3-4 different kinds of meat, as well as wings, and thigh and leg bone smashed/chopped up? Is that both of them? |
|
|
|
Post by shea85 on Feb 25, 2009 10:00:51 GMT -5
Yes. Both of them eat about the same. Bamf just eats MORE. LoL they have their faves though. Letty seems to like pork and beef more, plus wing tips and the knuckles of the leg bones. Bamf will eat anything haha but he actually seems to like the thicker bones.
The deer meat has been in this guys freezer for a month. It should be okay. The rabbits are still alive so I should freeze those right?
|
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Feb 26, 2009 1:04:32 GMT -5
The rabbits are still alive so I should freeze those right? Umm...I do hope you plan to kill them first??? JK . Yeah, it probably wouldn't hurt. Ok, how about you do up a menu of what they actually eat, and if you chop up the bone, say so. Then I'll get Heather to check it out! d**n girl- you're doing good!! |
|
|
|
Post by shea85 on Feb 26, 2009 3:11:09 GMT -5
I'll have to make up a new list with the rabbit and deer worked in. And I can get heart! From the rabbit butcher when he preps them. Will that work?
|
|
