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Post by michiskip on Mar 16, 2009 20:20:15 GMT -5
So, neither liked the plain organs, however both ate the puree. There was 4 oz of puree-given 2 oz at a time. I offered the liver, kidney, and heart both in the bowl and by hand. Scruffed both of them. I thought Penny was going to throw-up, so dramatic... Paco spit a few times and went to the puree. I left them (organs) in the cage...found them in the litter box...buried.
:DThe puree had most of the organs..so they got them anyway.
They managed to eat the neck, heard someone crunching in the middle of the night. Got up and they were in the big hammock together- each had a piece.
They had a chicken wing this morning. No puree. Not much left of it come clean-up time this evening. Their going to have left over puree of organ and steak.. and a chicken thigh tonight.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 16, 2009 22:35:40 GMT -5
Not too surprising they wouldn't eat it straight up. Such little drama queens, aren't they  . As I believe I mentioned, Boris is my worst one for that. Head twisting, gagging, spitting, etc. So funny Anyway, glad they would take puree of organ, and the bone. These guys are coming along quite quickly! Including Penny! How is she doing without her kibbles? She's eating enough? Paco I'm not too concerned about, but you don't want your kibblehead going on strike! So, for organ meats, I gather you are going to offer it as a puree for a bit. Will it be a single meal, since they seem to be accepting the muscle meats chunked? (Nothing wrong with that, mine get organ soupies every week, since that's the only way they'll accept them.) And, I think it's time to start switching up their meats! Maybe try some pork, or lamb next, since they already accept chunks of beef and chicken. The more proteins you can offer, the better! Just use your imagination and your pocketbook to decide what to try them with. If it's meat- they can eat it! |
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Post by michiskip on Mar 17, 2009 8:39:50 GMT -5
 Okay they have had pork loin, chop, no bone beef steak, cubes no bone chicken wing, thigh, leg bones included chicken organs I watch to make sure that Penny is eating, enough is hard to gauge, but if the bowl is empty when she looks she picks it up and tosses it to the front of the cage..I kinda take the hint and either move a meal up or add something to the cage. Yesterday was an extra wing about 3:30 in the afternoon. I gave no puree yesterday, I was going to give the extra puree from the night before but apparently my son can't read, stay out of the bottom fridge drawer, said he thought it was spoiled and threw it out. So all together they had 2 wings and a leg yesterday. About10 oz all total. I read that some give fish others don't? So went shopping at my favorite place..my mom and dad's fridge..I go and clean their house once a week..mom has health issues.. I get the meat in danger of being forgotten so that dad can escape to the store more often. They (ferrets) have all the beef, pork, and chicken they could want for the next month..I will go to the real store and buy organ meats..try for at least 2-3 species, and some more interesting meats for meals. Deer, turkey, rabbit.... maybe a nice rodent..since I have to get them for the snake and lizard anyway.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 17, 2009 8:51:31 GMT -5
The fish you can offer should be of the smaller variety, like smelt, herring, sardine(raw, not canned). The larger the fish, the more chance of pollutants in it. And no more than once a week, if they like it, for the same reason. Lucrezia is my fish lover. To her, smelts are like candy . The others have no interest. I can't get over how fast your guys have come along! You are doing a great job with them. All I'd do is mix up the cuts of beef and pork. Like cutlets one time, roast another, and maybe pork steaks another. I buy pork, beef, turkey and turkey necks, duck and duck necks, cornish hen, chicken and beef heart and liver, and beef kidney, rabbit, and for whole prey, mice and quail. Unfortunately the only quail I can get are dressed. They won't eat bison, venison, or elk, and frankly, I'm usually too tired to go through another transition with them to get them to accept these . Let me know how they do with the new meats, and keep up the good work, you, and they, are almost there  *edited to add* In case you're wondering why I don't have any chicken beyond the heart and liver- Boris can't digest it, but he can eat the organs, and cornish hen. Go figure  |
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Post by michiskip on Mar 17, 2009 9:41:35 GMT -5
I was suprised by the easy switch after reading some of the other switching posts, however I'm extremely thankful that they have been so easy. I guess in this younger is better. The switch was started within 2 weeks of getting them from the pet store and where Paco goes Penny is sure to follow.
I guess a trip to the "real" butcher instead of the small local store I usually shop at is in order.
Penny has had no kibble in a couple of days and doesn't appear to miss it.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 17, 2009 19:40:48 GMT -5
A few other places that are good to get meats from as well. When you are in the supermarket, look for drastically marked down meats. They are very close to the expiry date. Grab whatever you can, bring it home, chop, WEIGH, bag, and freeze. Also, talk to friends. Tell them when they clear out their freezers, to save you all the freezer burned meats. It's great, and best of all- free! I just cut off the badly burned parts, and will frequently mix them with other meats when I feed. If you can afford to buy bulk, it's even better. Most stores will give a discount for buying by the case. Yes, it's expensive to start, but really pays off.
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Post by michiskip on Mar 18, 2009 20:43:06 GMT -5
That's good information to know. Yesterday they had a wing for breakfast, a wing about 3, and a leg for dinner. This morning a leg, and this evening 5 oz of pork loin. Penny no longer hesitates when fed and I don't think either would bother with the kibble. The last two times I fed kibble it was the only thing left. Penny actually won the fight over the wing bone, Paco had to make do with the leg. |
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 19, 2009 8:44:13 GMT -5
Isn't it hilarious watching, and listening to them fighting over their food? You'd never catch them doing that over kibble, that's for sure . Since they like chicken, I'll bet they'd love cornish hen! If you do manage to get turkey necks, you'll probably have to chop them up, at least into neck segments. I get those from a raw feeding pet store nearby. That would be another place for you to look. Just keep going the way you are, introduce some new meats, and you'll be graduated in no time |
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Post by michiskip on Mar 19, 2009 20:19:13 GMT -5
So a whoooole weekend without grandkids...my first in about 6 months...this weekends my furkids will get their new play area, and lots of attention. So today was pork this morning, steak tonight, chicken tomorrow morning. I want to mix egg with their organ day..in a puree (which is the only way they will eat it)..this weekend will beef organs, hopefully. Can I thaw and refreeze? or do I need to use right away? I know they won't eat all of this and it was frozen without being portioned. (part of the take from my parents freezer, they should have known they would not eat it, but it came in a "package" deal.) So far I have only refridgerated it and used quickly. I know I have read other people's opinion on this, but as your my mentor I would rather do this your way.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 20, 2009 8:50:15 GMT -5
I sometimes use "freezer burn" for mine. Since I also try to buy in bulk, and it's usually frozen when I get it, yes, I thaw, portion, and refreeze. I do frequently cut it up when it's still partially frozen. I try not to thaw more than once if possible, but having a couple of meals that have been thawed/refrozen a couple times isn't going to hurt them. As far as doing it "my way", you have to find your own comfort zone, and what works best for you! Since I was raised by an older generation, who weren't afraid of their kid getting dirty, and who realized not everything had to be "top-notch and extremely fresh" to still be ok to eat , I tend to have the same attitudes And by the way- adding the egg is a good idea for the liver/organ soup |
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Post by michiskip on Mar 20, 2009 10:22:09 GMT -5
That's cool, and I appreciate that I need to be comfortable. So yesterday they had about 5 oz chicken in the morning and again by three, shortly after putting them back into the cage from playing, mainly so I could vacuum, they again started looking for food. They are eating about 3 meals a day, or at least 2 meals and a snack. So I guess that is what their schedule will be. This week I will concentrate on introducing more meats and setting up a good rotation of meat vs. bone options. I started feeding the chunks by hand, mainly for the bonding that comes with it and to teach them the whole "take it gently" idea, but also to make sure Penny is getting her share. Paco likes to hide the extra from her and when she gets close to one of his stashes he will distract her by playing with "her" toys and the hide "his" food again. Found the first stash outside the cage, well not me, my dog did, pain in the butt taking it from her. 
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 20, 2009 22:48:17 GMT -5
That is the advantage of having other animals who like raw- they clean up the stashes for you! Good idea on the hand feeding, too. It really does create a bond between you. Sort of like the mamma ferret providing food for the babies. My guys love it when I hand feed them. Which doesn't happen that often anymore, as they eat in their cage. The only thing to keep in mind with ratio of bone/meat/organ is 2 days(4 meals) meats, 4 days(8 meals) bone in- where they actually eat the bone , and 1 day of mixed organ meat/muscle meat. For that day, I give mine meat in the a.m., organ meat p.m., and they get their mice at night, after hubby has gone to bed . You're doing great! Keep up the good work.
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Post by michiskip on Mar 21, 2009 23:27:38 GMT -5
Thanks  Today they had 4 oz ground turkey in a.m. (neither was real sure at first, but Paco started and Penny wasn't about to be left out) chicken wing at "snack" time (about 3) puree 4 oz beef liver, 1 egg with shell, and 4 oz ground beef |
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 22, 2009 0:26:48 GMT -5
Sounds good to me! Just keep introducing the new meats, get them on a regular schedule, and we'll have you graduated before you know it |
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Post by michiskip on Mar 24, 2009 8:51:35 GMT -5
Beef liver is gross..or at least Penny thinks so..she will eat it whole by hand...sorta. Paco ate the puree..eventually. They had a pork chop day monday, chunks am, chunks and cut up bone pm. Today is a chicken day...leg am, thigh and wing pm. Both are doing well...had some runny stools monday...but look better today. Possible reaction to liver? Or maybe the egg? They had egg in the puree. I know they both ate some. |
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