ferretfreke
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder[/b]
Posts: 235
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Post by ferretfreke on May 8, 2009 21:42:00 GMT -5
I am so happy. I've struggled and struggled to get them to eat whole mice. Today I went to IFA and got them some 3 wk old baby chicks. I offered them one live and my girl went straight for the kill. Then 3 out of my 4 ferrets fought over it. My one didn't quite get it, but he ate some after all the fuss was over. They've pretty much devoured the chick. I decided to offer it live in hopes that it would entice them to eat it more and it worked great. I wanted to see how efficient they were in the kill too. It was a really hard thing for me to do, but I'm happy with how it all ended. If they would have killed it and then not eaten it, it would have really really bothered me. So I'm very proud of my babies I euthanized the other 2 chicks I bought with the Co2 chamber I made and that wasn't as hard. It kinda sucks either way, the chicks are so cute, but I like that I was able to buy the older, more nutritious chicks that way. Do any of you think this tactic would work to get them to eat mice? I haven't tried that yet. So far they think they hate mice, but they love chicken and I'm thinking thats why it went so well this time.
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Post by Heather on May 9, 2009 13:12:38 GMT -5
Congratulations. You and your furbabies have taken their first step into a whole different way of eating My guys get their mice both live and frozen. I found that hunting and allowing them to eat their kill is a great way to get them to switch to prey. It seems while they're pumped for the hunt, eating that prey just comes naturally. I don't think I've ever had one make a kill and not eat their kill. That being said, I've had some frustrated students on occasion who've watched their furbabies make the kill and then walk away. I think that if the prey is too young or doesn't offer enough of a fight the ferret isn't hyped enough to go beyond the kill and this sometimes seems to be the case. This is just an observation and just an oppinion based on that observation. Often they want to run off with their kill (I allow this as long as it's dead) to eat it, others like Lady "B", Attila and Loki just scrunch down in the tub and eat their kill right then and there. If you have concerns start with smaller mice. Adult mice can give nasty bites and sometimes deter the less aggressive fuzzies. My guys like the adults, and the bigger juveniles. Pinkies and fuzzies are good quick snacks but are not good hunt motivators (too little movement, though the squeeking seems to drive some of the ferrets), but they are good if you have a particularly quiet ferret who's unsure of him/herself. I've not had the opportunity (can't find a supplier) to try chicks. I've basically stuck to the rodent population for live prey. How did your guys do with the euthenized chicks? ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on May 9, 2009 17:14:26 GMT -5
Congratulations! I'm glad it's worked out so well for both you and them
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ferretfreke
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder[/b]
Posts: 235
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Post by ferretfreke on May 10, 2009 1:18:11 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I offered one of the euthanized chicks for dinner tonight and BillyBob snatched it before anyone else could and started shaking it and eating it. Yay! He didn't want to share with anyone so they had to wait til he had his share. He's definitely the alpha of the group. I love seeing them get so excited about their food! I'm going to mentally prepare myself to offer a live mouse. I think it will be easier as I don't find mice as cute as baby chicks. I've been having to reassure myself that I'm still a good person after the chick thing, which I know is silly, but I work in a field where it's my job to save animals and not kill them. I had the baby chicks at work with me the day I got them and my boss had to put a note on their box that said "Please don't murder me." He was just trying to make it easier on me
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Post by bluedove on May 10, 2009 2:37:43 GMT -5
That's making it easier on you??? LOL! I'm glad he's not my boss! You are not a bad person... you're just in love with carnivores! Watch a little Wild Kingdom or other such show that displays predators doing what they do best. And remember that little prey animal is simply fulfilling it's role in the old circle of life, yanno? I can understand when people just can't feed live prey due to their own feelings about seeing an animal killed... but I personally applaud anyone who is willing to not project their "humanity" onto a carnivorous creature. I've seen people flog their own pet to get them to drop a properly hunted bird or rodent outside... can you imagine being beaten for doing what comes naturally??? Anyhoo, congrats on having the gumption to try live feeding. I really think it's best. And if you need to switch to frozen later, that's great too.
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Post by goingpostal on May 12, 2009 21:07:43 GMT -5
Good to hear! I would definately try live mice, I don't think mine would have taken much interest in a dead one if I had tried that first but one running around really brought out their instinct.
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ferretfreke
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder[/b]
Posts: 235
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Post by ferretfreke on Jun 6, 2009 1:23:37 GMT -5
My babies finally are eating mice!!! Offering the live mice worked. I'm so happy I could do a little dance about it. The patience and perseverance finally paid off. They have even been willing to eat the frozen/thawed. I did do some prepping by mixing blended pinkies and fuzzies into soup for about two weeks to help get them aquired to the taste and smell. And I've had to keep them a bit hungry at times. I'm proud of my little monsters!
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Post by Heather on Jun 6, 2009 16:36:24 GMT -5
Congratulations and welcome to the world of prey feeding Special hugs to the little "monsters" Patience and percerverance is indeed the key to getting ferrets to eat what they're supposed to eat. Give yourself a big pat on the back. Good work ciao
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ferretfreke
Cageless and Roamin' Free
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder[/b]
Posts: 235
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Post by ferretfreke on Jun 7, 2009 15:10:05 GMT -5
Thanks Heather!
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