Post by lithaewyn on Jan 30, 2009 14:47:18 GMT -5
1. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names, ages, genders, and do they have any health problems (this is VERY important)?
I have two ferrets. Saphy is 4-6, female, and adrenal. Rainbow is 2-3, female, and has no health problems.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
8-1 Ultimate and Zupreem; that's the best I can find in my area. Sometimes they munch on chicken flavored n-bones, but rarely. I also try to give them ferret lax once per week.
They get a bit of egg yolk once in a while, usually when I have brunch with my family.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Hopefully 50% raw. I have very little hope that it will be possible, so I'm starting off with a low goal lol. It would be nice to get them to 100% natural, though. I doubt I will ever feed live... Honestly, I really hate meat in every way but I want to do this for them. However, live would just be too much for me to tolerate.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I want what's best for my babies!
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
Oh... Well, first it was my mom's idea a bit over a year ago. And now I'm becoming interested myself after becoming active in ferret communities again.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Rainbow: 1.4lbs Saphy: 1.2lbs
This doesn't seem accurate... My home scale is bad with small weight. Rainbow is definitely at least 2lbs and Saphy is a bit less than Rainbow.
I can't comment on their muscle tone, because I really don't know how to judge that. :/
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
Saphy's teeth are white and pretty and her mouth looks great. Rainbow's teeth are surprisingly yellow-tinted, but her gums look fine.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Saphy is adrenal, so what little fur she has is thin and stringy looking. Rainbow's is full and very "average". I'm not sure how else to describe it!
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Every time they wake up, and maybe every 2-3 hours.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Well, yes. It's not awful, I don't think, but yes.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Saphy: 4, Rainbow: 6-8.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
They do not have a meal time... Generally, they tend to eat after playtime, though, which is not on a regular schedule but is daily.
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
Yes. We first tried to get them to eat duk soup, which kind of worked. I say kind of, because sometimes they would eat it and other times they would wrinkle their noses and run off. And they never ate it on their own! I cannot really remember the ingredients or methods we used besides a needle-less syringe. Later, my mother got the wacky idea that they would eat a whole mouse, which of course didn't work. ;3
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
I have a lot of hope for Rainbow since she likes eggs and any human food really... Of course we don't give her tidbits but they romp in the kitchen and sometimes we miss things! But I pretty much have no hope for Saphy. She hates anything except kibble. So, I plan on starting super slow and feeding separate if I have to. I'm going to begin with dampening their food, working in to soupie, staying on soupie until they eat it all!, slowly removing liquid, beginning to feed cut pieces, then wings, etc.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
Rainbow
Saphy (This image is a bit older but she still looks like this with a bit less hair.)
17.
a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch at least every other day?
Yes. It might not be every other day but I will definitely post at least twice a week.
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's safety during the switch?
Yes.
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explanation as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?
Yes.
---
Day 1
I figured that I should just start right away with something I know at least one of them likes. So, I made a plain scrambled egg for them and made sure to save the egg shell. Rainbow is not so keen on eating chunks, as she prefers liquid yolk, but she's getting into it. I know she really likes it because her eyes go really squinty and she gets very happy!
But they wouldn't really eat too much of it. Saphy wouldn't even touch it.. So, I put a few drops of ferretone on it (like syrup but for ferrets!) and then they have eaten a lot more of it! Of course I want to remove ferretone entirely but if a few drops gets them to eat it I don't see the harm right now.
They didn't finish it so I just took away their kibble and put the egg in their cage. The kibble will be put back after playtime, because I'm not going to starve them of course. I'm thinking that they just weren't too hungry since they just woke up. I also took some of the kibble and dampened it and put it by the eggs as well. Hopefully they at least finish the eggs by tonight.
I have one question: when I make the egg, is it better to use some kind of oil or butter/margarine?
I have two ferrets. Saphy is 4-6, female, and adrenal. Rainbow is 2-3, female, and has no health problems.
2. What are your ferrets currently eating? Include their main diet, plus any treats or supplements (such as duk soup).
8-1 Ultimate and Zupreem; that's the best I can find in my area. Sometimes they munch on chicken flavored n-bones, but rarely. I also try to give them ferret lax once per week.
They get a bit of egg yolk once in a while, usually when I have brunch with my family.
3. What kind of diet do you want to switch to?
Hopefully 50% raw. I have very little hope that it will be possible, so I'm starting off with a low goal lol. It would be nice to get them to 100% natural, though. I doubt I will ever feed live... Honestly, I really hate meat in every way but I want to do this for them. However, live would just be too much for me to tolerate.
4. Why do you want to switch to this more natural diet?
I want what's best for my babies!
5. Where/what/who got you interested in natural diets?
Oh... Well, first it was my mom's idea a bit over a year ago. And now I'm becoming interested myself after becoming active in ferret communities again.
6. Please list the current weight for your ferret(s). Do they appear overweight? Underweight? How is there muscle tone?
Rainbow: 1.4lbs Saphy: 1.2lbs
This doesn't seem accurate... My home scale is bad with small weight. Rainbow is definitely at least 2lbs and Saphy is a bit less than Rainbow.
I can't comment on their muscle tone, because I really don't know how to judge that. :/
7. What is the condition of your ferret's teeth/gums? (can you get a picture?)
Saphy's teeth are white and pretty and her mouth looks great. Rainbow's teeth are surprisingly yellow-tinted, but her gums look fine.
8. Describe the texture/color of your ferrets coat.
Saphy is adrenal, so what little fur she has is thin and stringy looking. Rainbow's is full and very "average". I'm not sure how else to describe it!
9. How often does your ferret go to the bathroom?
Every time they wake up, and maybe every 2-3 hours.
10. Does your ferret's feces and/or urine smell?
Well, yes. It's not awful, I don't think, but yes.
11. Smell your ferret. How strong is their odor?
12. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being completely lethargic and 10 being "through the roof!" what is your ferret's energy level?
Saphy: 4, Rainbow: 6-8.
13. How excited is your ferret about meal time (when fed kibble)?
They do not have a meal time... Generally, they tend to eat after playtime, though, which is not on a regular schedule but is daily.
14. Have you attempted to switch from kibble to a natural diet in the past? If so, what methods have you tried. Be specific.
Yes. We first tried to get them to eat duk soup, which kind of worked. I say kind of, because sometimes they would eat it and other times they would wrinkle their noses and run off. And they never ate it on their own! I cannot really remember the ingredients or methods we used besides a needle-less syringe. Later, my mother got the wacky idea that they would eat a whole mouse, which of course didn't work. ;3
15. What other information about your ferret(s) would you like to share?
I have a lot of hope for Rainbow since she likes eggs and any human food really... Of course we don't give her tidbits but they romp in the kitchen and sometimes we miss things! But I pretty much have no hope for Saphy. She hates anything except kibble. So, I plan on starting super slow and feeding separate if I have to. I'm going to begin with dampening their food, working in to soupie, staying on soupie until they eat it all!, slowly removing liquid, beginning to feed cut pieces, then wings, etc.
16. If you can, please post a clear photograph of EACH of your ferrets directly below:
Rainbow
Saphy (This image is a bit older but she still looks like this with a bit less hair.)
17.
a.) Do you understand that by starting this thread you commit to posting updates on the progress of your ferret(s) diet switch at least every other day?
Yes. It might not be every other day but I will definitely post at least twice a week.
b.) Do you understand that if you will be away from your computer for an extended period of time you will need to exchange phone numbers (or email addresses if you don't feel comfortable exchanging numbers)via private message with your assigned mentor, so that we can monitor your progress and ensure your ferret's safety during the switch?
Yes.
c.) Do you understand that any threads that have not been updated in for more then a week (with no explanation as to why you are absent) will result in the deletion of the thread?
Yes.
---
Day 1
I figured that I should just start right away with something I know at least one of them likes. So, I made a plain scrambled egg for them and made sure to save the egg shell. Rainbow is not so keen on eating chunks, as she prefers liquid yolk, but she's getting into it. I know she really likes it because her eyes go really squinty and she gets very happy!
But they wouldn't really eat too much of it. Saphy wouldn't even touch it.. So, I put a few drops of ferretone on it (like syrup but for ferrets!) and then they have eaten a lot more of it! Of course I want to remove ferretone entirely but if a few drops gets them to eat it I don't see the harm right now.
They didn't finish it so I just took away their kibble and put the egg in their cage. The kibble will be put back after playtime, because I'm not going to starve them of course. I'm thinking that they just weren't too hungry since they just woke up. I also took some of the kibble and dampened it and put it by the eggs as well. Hopefully they at least finish the eggs by tonight.
I have one question: when I make the egg, is it better to use some kind of oil or butter/margarine?