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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 2, 2009 16:20:09 GMT -5
Hello again all! So here is what happened since last nights post....... The boys did not eat their chunky soup dinner. :-( Gracie ate anything I gave her + some lol. she woke me up at 2 AM whining and chewing on the bars of her cage. I wake up and give her a cube of chicken soup--great she was hungry and ate it all then went to sleep. This AM at about 8, I woke up to find her eating the corners of her sleep sack!!!!  She must have been very hungry! So I let the kids out and she ate the leftovers from the boys dinner last night!! Good heavens! I don't think she has a blockage, her poo from b-fast came out, and she has had other normal poo's so I don't know what to feed her OR how much to keep her satisfied so she won't eat fabric!! She had been doing that from the place i rescued her from--they only fed the poor little girl ONCE A DAY--whenever they got around to it...  As for the boys, I just had to give them their cubed meat. I mixed organ meat in, and they each had a little soup w/ground egg shells added. So as I was watching them eat FINALLY, I saw Tucker stash a few chunks under his blankie!!! LOL He had that look that said "just in case she tries starving us again"! LOL But at least they ate, and Gracie got a little unplanned "fiber" in her diet! So, now what.....  |
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Post by Heather on Jan 2, 2009 17:07:55 GMT -5
So what level of Reiki are you. I'm a practioner, I was going to go for my masters but decided for the price I didn't need that level  Yes, I run a small private rescue/sanctuary and hospice. All furbabies that are released to me have found their forever home, and are immediately switched to a raw diet. MN hmmm. You have lots of snow or is it just cold? We had tons of snow but most of it melted just after Christmas. Now it's just cold and raw with some rather dirty snow kicking around  Have you thought of leaving food in with your little furry mobile tummy at night? If they've been left to be hungry they quite often make piggies of themselves (I've had a couple of furbabies that have been so badly starved that they not only would eat everything offered, they would also eat until they made themselves vomit ). I'm only popping in because I have grave concerns with little furbabies eating their blankies, otherwise Suds I wouldn't have popped in and intruded. I will let you handle the "I'm not eating strike  " I'm sure you have some interesting ideas  If not I will pop in Good luck guys. Chat at ya later ciao |
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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 2, 2009 18:31:17 GMT -5
Hi Heather, I am a level 2. No $$ or time for Master Reiki. :-( Then I'd have to teach classes as well, Blah, blah, blah.......So My Reili Master and I are doing alot of things in Lev 2. Yup You are my neighbor to the north. We HAD alot of snow till it was 45 degrees (a heat wave) last Sat. AND it rained, then remembered it was winter and dipped below zero. So, we have *some* snow left over from 2 or 3 Dec. Blizzards, but LOTS of ice and everbody's driveway is literally a skating rink.....LOL YIKES! I just hate winter! I thought about leaving a bunch of food in Gracie's cage overnight. She has such a voratious appetite. She doesn't eat till she vomits (poor babies, I couldn't immagine ........) she knows when to quit. For lunch today she had 1/2 a chicken wing, and a drummie, and some beef heart chunks. Didn't have to cut or score any of the RMB's LOL she knew what to do instinctually. The boys even watched her eat, but had no interest in stealing her food...... LOL How much and what do I leave for her overnight. Right now she is eating every 3 to 4 hours. And let me tell you she SO appreciates her food and her full tummy she gives me kisses when she's done! Now for the stubborn boys... |
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Post by suds on Jan 2, 2009 19:19:07 GMT -5
Hi Deb its kind of funny normaly the girls seem to be me more stubborn then the boys especaily when they get very hungry. I dont realy like the starve method unless its the last resort . Gracie is still bye herself at night ? If she is I would throw in a few extra wings and drums with the meat chunks to keep her busy overnight hopefully this will curb the fabric eating. you could probly start giving her bigger wings . Now for the boys at night still give them the meat chunks like before coat them with a little eggshell if you have it . In the mornings if you can chop up the drumetts and wings as small as you can I know its not easy sometimes meat scissors work great and some times a cleaver works good give them the cut up rmb mixed in with a few chunks of meat they are used to . Try this for a few days dont panic if at first they still turn there nose up to it . I hopeing if you stay consistant with it they will realise its a daily menue they will start eating it . In the mean time keep looking to see if you can get small game hen or quail they just mite not like the chicken and trying a diffent type of rmb mite do the trick. Another thing you can do is play tug a war with a wing with them it mite get there interest peaked a little . another thing you can try is Chicken backs are really great for bone training if the ferrets don't like the cartilage. The backs can be cut into stips with kitchen scissors , a big knife you don't care about or a hunting knife. The bone in chicken backs is pretty soft, and it crunches up just like kibble, which is more familiar sound and texture. It just depends on the ferret. Stay tuff the little bugers know how to tug our heart and make us worry knowing we will cave and spoil them  Heather I dont see you as looking over my shoulder or intruding at all It takes a village to raise a child and I highly value any input you mite have and thank you for you it |
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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 2, 2009 22:12:39 GMT -5
Hi Frank! :-) Yes Gracie is still in her own little cage--Have only had her for a few days, and I want to get her litterbox trained at least IN the cage B4 I move her in with the boys. Right now she just goes when she has to and it doesn't matter if there is a corner or not! The FN 142 is a bit large for her to find her way to the box from "upstairs". The boys are VERY litter trained w/99% accuracy, they go in their box or a kitty litter box. :-) I thawed out some regular sized chicken drumsticks to throw in for the overnight for Gracie. The Boys are going to get what you suggested, with some organ meat chunks too. Chicken backs huh? Never heard of that....I'll figure that out and try that. I don't really have whole chickens right now tho. I'll order the quail if my butcher can get it, and the rabbit too, as long as they cut it so it doesn't resemble "Thumper" I will be able to feed it. LOL  I'll keep you posted on what I feed to the little monkeys.......AND Seeing how you all represent the "village", I'd LOVE to meet the whole darn village too! LOL :-) Thanks so much for everyones help. There can never be to many suggestions. And Frank I like your suggestion of the feeding percentages. I want my babies to get a "balanced eating" plan with all the nutrients they need to lead long healthy lives! Now If I could only do that for myself! LOL :-) |
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Post by suds on Jan 3, 2009 7:09:30 GMT -5
Hi Deb , They key to a raw diet is variety and balanced nutriten the percetages are based on a whole prey diet that polecats eat in the wild . Its funny we all do our best to make sure they eat the best diet while we dont take the time for our own diets too lol . I am corious on how Gracie will do with the bigger drum stick , the bone mite be a little to think for her at first , but she probly will have a blast attacking it all night lol. As for the backs your Butcher mite be able to give them to you if they dress chickens . My butcher actually gave them to me as scraps the backs where left over from when they cut up chickens for premade meals . Believe it or not almost 80% of the meats , rmb/s and organs i get for free or low cost as scraps from a couple of differnt butchers in my area . 1 always gives them to me free because I opend him up to new way to get rid of scraps and out of date meats . they now have a freezer dedicated for pets hang in there I know it can be frustrating at times and we are here for you even if its just to rant keep trying the cut up wings and drummetts for the next 3 to 4 days . if that dont work there are a few more tricks we can try , Being so young they realy should not be imprinted on any food and are just being stuborn spoiled brats like trying to get a kid to eat his vetgibles lol oh I ment to ask . How big are the meat chunks that you feed them ? |
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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 3, 2009 15:42:24 GMT -5
Ha, Ha....Hi Frank! :-) Yup, my kids eat healthy to a point.....They just want it on THEIR TERMS.....Little brat monkeys! Last night, I stocked Gracie up on her evening bedtime meal. She got 2 drummies, a wing, and meat & organ chunks-about 5 or 6. The meat chunks (for all) are about 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. Sometimes bigger. Gracie did really well. Actually ate most of it, left only a chunk or 2. :-) No Fiber today! YeeHaw! :-) She then had some of the boys leftovers, a drummie & a wing. PIGGIE! LOL The boys on the other hand decided they didn't like the egg shell powder on their meat chunks.....  So not much of their chunks were eaten. I did give them drummies for b-fast, and I did what you said and played tug-o-war with the drummie with them. Yup, it was great fun for them. Yup, they wanted it, TO STASH! Little buggers. lol Even if they tugged a little chunk of meat off they stashed that little bitty chunk. I think I'm gonna look for quail or game hen...... So, how do I upload pictures? I got a few of us playing tug! :-) Cut /paste? Because it isn't working..... :-( |
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Post by suds on Jan 3, 2009 19:16:27 GMT -5
Hi Deb yep they can be buggers thats for sure. And its good they had fun playing tug with the wings even if they just stash the torn peaces keep doing it for a few days you are teaching them how to tear meat off the bones with out them knowing it . Sneeky huh ? plus its good enrichment and when you can make something fun they stay more interested in it. As for the meat chunks start out with very very little eggshell and over time increase the amount. since the boys are being so picky you wil need to sneek in new things gradually before they realise it is happenning. The next thing I want you to try and do is slowly increase the size of the meat chunks . you need to do it slowly every couple of days make them a little bigger part of the problem is they mite be intimdated with the drums and wings because they are so big compared to there meat chunks. so we want to slowly encrease them to idealy about palm size peaces .It will take a few weeks ...time is on our side and nothing happens over night so paitents is needed Be prepared you mite have to take a step backwards at time's to gain a few steps forward .other benifets of feeding bigger peaces 1. prep time much faster to just give bigger chunks then cutting them up smaller. 2. it works out there jaws and helps strengthing them so they can handle bones easer 3. ripping and tareing meat apart cleans there teeth much better ok other things you can do for enrichment since they are stuborn on trying new things is each day pick them up and play with them while playing introduce them to a new smell simple things like dirty smelly socks, a orange peel, some dirt from outside, perfume sprayed on a shirt or towel , differnt foods at first they willl look at you like your crazy but before you know it they will look forward to seeing what new thing you will bring them, make it fun they will learn to trust you and its a great bonding experince for all. you can also try and sneek a small peace of bone in there mouths if your sneeky enough. Jen (mustelidmusk) had me do this with Hershy when she was helping me switch I really think it was the main reason I finally got her to eat raw and she was as stuborn as they come  here is the tech link for posting photo's holisticferret.proboards80.com/index.cgi?board=support&action=display&thread=38You have to post the photo's on photo bucket then transfer the link its easy to do and free let me know if you have any problems and I will be glad to help you. I will PM you my email and number incase you need it for anything. Frank |
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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 3, 2009 19:55:20 GMT -5
Cool, that would be great! :-) I had a feeling I had to do the photobucket thing....LOL So, we play the "what does Mom smell like today" game.....OK I tried to hand feed like that. They take the food and push me away so they can stash it. LOL Guess I have to be sneaky like them......Teeheehee I see your point about the chunk size. I agree. It is a pain to do, and takes time away from PLAYING! :-) Meanwhile a tugging we will go........ And I will try the photo bucket thing too. D. |
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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 4, 2009 0:32:24 GMT -5
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Post by suds on Jan 4, 2009 10:09:58 GMT -5
great pics!! You go Gracie !!! If only all our ferrets where that easy to switch to raw I am glad with the extra wing and legs she stopped chewing on the fabric. She will probly eat like a little piggy untill she is about 8 months old like haveing a growing teenage boy in the house with a bottomless gut . I love the first pic of tucker with those squinty eyes . I can never get good photo's of mine eating raw because they refuse to eat anything out of there feeding boxes the best I can get is photo's of there bum sticking out of the box lol 1 time tried to be smart and cut the top so I could open it and see how they where doing when they where eating when I opened it they both look up at me with the look as how dare you invade my pricacy and then refused to use those boxes again silly guys they can be lol. |
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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 4, 2009 13:40:43 GMT -5
Hi Frank....That made me laugh! They sure get their point across with 1 look don't they! Nice picture, I like seeing who I am talking to. I didn't think you looked like a "little devil". I'll work on the avitar pic. Who knows if I can get that to work. Took me 5 or 6 tries with the pics I posted last night! I totally forgot I have 2 other igloos (Gracie has one to sleep in) that I tried useing to feed the boys. They would take their food out and go stash it! I CAN'T WIN! Seems stashing has become a habit in their little bachelor pad now.......I have to get more wings and drummies today. Didn't realize I didn't have any left in the freezer. I gave Gracie a WHOLE BIG CHICKEN LEG last night for bedtime/overnight dinner. Of course I kind of broke it in half for her. She dove right in and I could swear in the middle of all the crunching bones & slurping I heard her mumble "drummies are for wussies....." LOL I think she's gonna have to show the boys how it's done.....They are very curious about her and the food she gets. D :-) |
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Post by suds on Jan 4, 2009 16:55:21 GMT -5
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Post by tuckysmom on Jan 4, 2009 22:33:49 GMT -5
Hi Frank,
Hope you had a good day! Thanks for the links, of course I read thru them, now my mind is swimming....LOL
Today Gracie started to get runny poo. So I poured over the "Poo" Threads. She seems fine and active. Dark and light poo, kind of stinky. The boys poo has been "normal" small poo, dark, no smell really. Gracie is still a little vacuume, but she has come to realize that there IS food & there will always BE food for her. :-)
Tonight Gracie got a chicken thigh, cut up a little so she could gnaw on it better. I also added beef heart chunks and some beef meat.
The boys got their beef chunks, with heart chunks and a *little* bit of ground egg on it. So far they havent touched it, but I'm thinking they will overnight----maybe.
Now, about the eggs.....Should I give any of the kids raw or cooked eggs? Just white, or yolk? Should I give gracie some Pumkin? All I have is canned pumkin. Do they even have a baby food pumkin? How about babyfood sweet potatoes? I have that. Does she need the fiber to firm her up?
I'll look for game hen tomorrow for the boys.
Thanks for the help....
D :-)
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Post by suds on Jan 5, 2009 7:06:08 GMT -5
Hi Deb Head swimming ? lol Well its nice to know you are not the only one with stuborn bone eaters its actualy a common hurdle to overcome and there are a few ways to that can be tried. Juts have to remember it takes time to qote Guili " slow and easy wins the race). Your doing a great job .keep up the good work ! Gracie is eating bone that should give her plenty of "fiber" to firm up the stools , But its not uncommon for them to be loose while there system is learning how to handle the raw meats , You can give her a little eggshell powder coated on the meat chunks . If you are worried about blockage from her chewing on the blankets you can give her a little pupmkin ( caned pure pumpkin) it will also firm up the stools and help push unwanted thing through amount would be around a teaspoon no more then a tablespoon a couple of days. Stress can also cuase runny stools . The bigger concern is hydration it dont hurt to have some pedylight (none flayvored) which you can give her inplace of water if needed. To check for dehydration pinch the back skin on the back of the kneck if it returns quickly she is fine if it kinda stays in place and dont bounce back indicates she is dehydrated. A couple things about pedylight it does not have a great shelf life even when not opened only a few months s keep and eye on the exp date , once open its only good for 3 days when refrigerated so it is recomended that you freeze any unused portions once opened to make it last longer. I dont believe at this point there much to be concerned about just keep a close eye on her and let me know if you se any other changes or problems . For the boys , remeber we are trying to trick them to eat the eggshell so be sure to only put a very very light sprinkl on the meat at first then slowly increase it. as for the eggs there is a little contrversy over feeding whole raw eggs ( heather please give your input on this ) the majority believe the egg whites has bioten which if fed too much can cause a vitamin A defincency and should be fed 1 egg per week per ferret but the egg yokes can be fed anytime with out problems, Then there are those that feed raw whole eggs more frequently and belive as long as the egg yokes are mixed in with the yokes it negates the problems with the bioten and have not had any problems feeding whole eggs raw more frequently . Cooked eggs does not have this problem., Confused yet ? Since eggs are not a big part of the polecats diet I only feed 1 egg a week to JD I crack the egg shell enough for the egg to start coming out and put it in a bowl and let JD have fun breaking it up the rest of the way. Hershy wont touch them .even if cooked. You can experiment to see how your guys like there egs , some like them raw in the shell, some like them scrambles raw, some like them cooked sunny side up and some cooked scrambled just depend on the ferret and how you want to feed the eggs to them. the sweet potatoe babyfood has no benift at all for ferrets I would not give it to them at all . Have a great day and fun tug a war with the fuzzie's Frank |
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