Post by ccretarolo on Mar 29, 2009 22:28:40 GMT -5
So, the foster option fell through (kind of long story that I don't want to talk about)... This was originally meant to help my boyfriend realize that ferrets aren't evil little demon creatures that are bent on total destruction of their humans' possessions (in other words, a white lie to help me get my way ^_^) in addition to doing something good.
Because of this, I've decided that I'm going to get my own baby. I was originally planning on going to a breeder but the only one in my area doesn't allow neutering before the ferret is a year old. Since I'm an advocate of early sterilization, I'm going to have to end up supporting the evilness that is Marshall Farms.
The Petco near me is willing to at least try to get me a little sable boy who will only be shipped to the store with one other ferret. I'm also going to try and arrange to bring him home with me the same day that he comes into the store. Of course, I'm planning on ordering bedding and buying my other cage supplies from independent providers.
Now to my actual question: What is the best way to switch a baby to a raw diet? I'm planning on giving him a gruel of ground raw (I grind it already for my cats and it's always eaten within 3 days of being ground), EVO kibble, and some homemade chicken stock for the first couple of weeks he's with me. I'm then planning on gradually taking the kibble and chicken stock out until he's just eating the ground raw and then I'll make the switch to slivers and then chunks of meat. I'm planning on this process taking at least 3 weeks from the time I bring him home.
Since I won't be getting my new baby for about another month, I want to see if I need to take a different approach.
I make 3 different kinds of ground raw for my cats right now and I plan on mixing all 3 of them for the ferret. The first one is a chicken mix that includes liver, small flexible bones, heart, and leg and thigh meat. The second mix is whatever kind of pork I find on sale. I tend to mix the chicken and pork together to even out the liver and bone content in the chicken.The third is beef heart which I can't mix with the others since Calypso is allergic to beef. This is for small meals and snacks for Hermes. I'm working on getting my cats off of the ground but it's a definite challenge since Calypso doesn't chew very well and has a tendency to throw up. Since the process is so slow for my cats, I know I'll have some ground for my new baby.
In any case, any feedback is appreciated.
And for anyone who might be curious: I already have a cage and I'll be getting the rest of the supplies once my tax rebate comes back. After bills and ferret necessities, I'll have a little nest egg of $400 (which my BF will be adding to) for medical expenses. I'll also be starting to work again within the next couple of months so this little fuzzbutt will want for nothing.
Because of this, I've decided that I'm going to get my own baby. I was originally planning on going to a breeder but the only one in my area doesn't allow neutering before the ferret is a year old. Since I'm an advocate of early sterilization, I'm going to have to end up supporting the evilness that is Marshall Farms.
The Petco near me is willing to at least try to get me a little sable boy who will only be shipped to the store with one other ferret. I'm also going to try and arrange to bring him home with me the same day that he comes into the store. Of course, I'm planning on ordering bedding and buying my other cage supplies from independent providers.
Now to my actual question: What is the best way to switch a baby to a raw diet? I'm planning on giving him a gruel of ground raw (I grind it already for my cats and it's always eaten within 3 days of being ground), EVO kibble, and some homemade chicken stock for the first couple of weeks he's with me. I'm then planning on gradually taking the kibble and chicken stock out until he's just eating the ground raw and then I'll make the switch to slivers and then chunks of meat. I'm planning on this process taking at least 3 weeks from the time I bring him home.
Since I won't be getting my new baby for about another month, I want to see if I need to take a different approach.
I make 3 different kinds of ground raw for my cats right now and I plan on mixing all 3 of them for the ferret. The first one is a chicken mix that includes liver, small flexible bones, heart, and leg and thigh meat. The second mix is whatever kind of pork I find on sale. I tend to mix the chicken and pork together to even out the liver and bone content in the chicken.The third is beef heart which I can't mix with the others since Calypso is allergic to beef. This is for small meals and snacks for Hermes. I'm working on getting my cats off of the ground but it's a definite challenge since Calypso doesn't chew very well and has a tendency to throw up. Since the process is so slow for my cats, I know I'll have some ground for my new baby.
In any case, any feedback is appreciated.
And for anyone who might be curious: I already have a cage and I'll be getting the rest of the supplies once my tax rebate comes back. After bills and ferret necessities, I'll have a little nest egg of $400 (which my BF will be adding to) for medical expenses. I'll also be starting to work again within the next couple of months so this little fuzzbutt will want for nothing.