Post by joclyn on Dec 28, 2009 22:00:55 GMT -5
lung! THAT'S the other thing i saw in the store...couldn't remember what the other thing was when i was posting...bit distracted since i was typing a little and then checking on them and also trying to get a bit of cleaning done, too...was back/forth to the computer for about 1 1/2 getting that post ready to post...
slow going on the wing though. most of it was still there this morning so i left it - obi chewed on it a bit during morning play and so did duncan...both at the same time and not a peep or hiss outta dunc either! he'll have SUCH fits if winston comes near when he's got his teeth sunk into a goodie!!
even when i put them up last night - duncan was quite when finola came over to have some...
so, left it for them for the day - ehh, just under half of it left. i'd left it whole though - probably should have broken it in half or even cut it to open up the bone so the marrow would be easier to get to. will try that with the next one.
cornish hens - are the rib bones fine enough for them to deal with?? i'd never give full-grown chicken breast bones...i think the smallest of the ch's would be okay tho.
yes, still have kibble there. i've been doing most of the offering at night when they've been out playing for a bit. i rarely put kibble out in the play area to begin with (just water. if it's the weekend and they'll be out most of the day i do put a bowl of kibble in) and definitely don't want it there if i want them to eat the raw. since they're not all eating it and none are all that consistant about, i'm not comfortable with removing kibble yet.
i do put the raw (if there's any left) in the cage when i put them up for the night. still have kibble in there, tho. most times whatever was left is gone by morning, so, even with the kibble available, they're finishing the raw. since they're not all eating it and those that are are not consistant with it, i don't want to load up with raw and remove kibble and have to throw out uneated food and end up with overly hungry ferrets...
i think, once i can get situated enough to be giving something every night and they're all eating good amounts of it, i can remove the kibble from the cage when i put them up with the raw stuff. and then just leave kibble in the cage during the day when i'm not there - and remove it as soon as i get home.
how long would the liver be good in the freezer? it's the big chest freezer and i've got it set for well below zero (farenheit) and i don't open it up more than every couple weeks, so temps are very consistant. and what about chicken gizzards and hearts? i think i may have a package of them in there too...got both about the same time and it's been quite a while - if the gizzards are there, that will tell me when as it's in the original package which will have the sell-by date on it. dunno if it's there - i may have used it the last batch of gravy that i made. will have to go look.
other thing that's a question is how much should portions be?? i know it's a matter of how much the individual will eat (lol, and duncan is a piglet and will eat and eat and eat). is there a basic amount done by weight of ferret with or without taking male or female into consideration? and what about ages? are they a factor in how many calories they should get each day?
refresher on who we have:
the boys
boo boo, age 4 1/2, weight 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 pounds, is adrenal
chauncey, age 2 or 3, weight 2 3/4 pounds
duncan, age 4, weight 3 3/4 to 4 pounds, is adrenal
noodle, about 3 1/2, weight 4 to 4 1/2 pounds
oberon, 1 1/2, weight 4 1/2 to 5 pounds
taco, 3 or 4, poss older, weight 4 1/2 to 5 pounds
winston, just over 2 1/2, weight 3 3/4 pounds
the girls
finola, 4 1/4, weight 2 1/2 pounds, is adrenal
grizel, 3 or 4, weight, 1 pound dripping wet
pixie, 1 1/2 to 2, just over 2 pounds
up until there was a real need for the heat to be on, they were at the heavier amount listed...since the heat has been on consistantly they've lost some so are closer to the lower amount listed. i sometimes forget to turn the thermo down when i go to work...i don't like being cold to begin with and cold air when i'm sleeping is a big issue, so i have to have at least 72 to sleep...and this gives them a false sense of summer coming on, i know.
concerned about grizel and chauncey - both need to gain weight and muscle tone. she's a tiny, tiny thing (smaller than pixie who is pretty tiny herself) and is generally 'okay' weight wise. can still feel her ribs a bit more than i'd like especially since she is so petite...when she gets sick, she needs some meat on her to fall back on!! chauncy too...i'm worried bacause he's really not gained much since being here. finola could use some bit more on her, too. and boo. her normal weight before the adrenal started was 3 pounds or better. boo's before adrenal was easily/consistantly 3 1/2 or better. duncan is also thinner than previous winters. he gets more climbing in now, so that's part of it. and the adrenal. his muscle tone around the rib cage is not good...
k, i won't be back before the weekend. have a load of things to get accomplished before 12/31 and it'll be a miracle if i manage 3 or 4 of them (have 8 things total, both work and personal, that need done).
slow going on the wing though. most of it was still there this morning so i left it - obi chewed on it a bit during morning play and so did duncan...both at the same time and not a peep or hiss outta dunc either! he'll have SUCH fits if winston comes near when he's got his teeth sunk into a goodie!!
even when i put them up last night - duncan was quite when finola came over to have some...so, left it for them for the day - ehh, just under half of it left. i'd left it whole though - probably should have broken it in half or even cut it to open up the bone so the marrow would be easier to get to. will try that with the next one.
cornish hens - are the rib bones fine enough for them to deal with?? i'd never give full-grown chicken breast bones...i think the smallest of the ch's would be okay tho.
yes, still have kibble there. i've been doing most of the offering at night when they've been out playing for a bit. i rarely put kibble out in the play area to begin with (just water. if it's the weekend and they'll be out most of the day i do put a bowl of kibble in) and definitely don't want it there if i want them to eat the raw. since they're not all eating it and none are all that consistant about, i'm not comfortable with removing kibble yet.
i do put the raw (if there's any left) in the cage when i put them up for the night. still have kibble in there, tho. most times whatever was left is gone by morning, so, even with the kibble available, they're finishing the raw. since they're not all eating it and those that are are not consistant with it, i don't want to load up with raw and remove kibble and have to throw out uneated food and end up with overly hungry ferrets...
i think, once i can get situated enough to be giving something every night and they're all eating good amounts of it, i can remove the kibble from the cage when i put them up with the raw stuff. and then just leave kibble in the cage during the day when i'm not there - and remove it as soon as i get home.
how long would the liver be good in the freezer? it's the big chest freezer and i've got it set for well below zero (farenheit) and i don't open it up more than every couple weeks, so temps are very consistant. and what about chicken gizzards and hearts? i think i may have a package of them in there too...got both about the same time and it's been quite a while - if the gizzards are there, that will tell me when as it's in the original package which will have the sell-by date on it. dunno if it's there - i may have used it the last batch of gravy that i made. will have to go look.
other thing that's a question is how much should portions be?? i know it's a matter of how much the individual will eat (lol, and duncan is a piglet and will eat and eat and eat). is there a basic amount done by weight of ferret with or without taking male or female into consideration? and what about ages? are they a factor in how many calories they should get each day?
refresher on who we have:
the boys
boo boo, age 4 1/2, weight 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 pounds, is adrenal
chauncey, age 2 or 3, weight 2 3/4 pounds
duncan, age 4, weight 3 3/4 to 4 pounds, is adrenal
noodle, about 3 1/2, weight 4 to 4 1/2 pounds
oberon, 1 1/2, weight 4 1/2 to 5 pounds
taco, 3 or 4, poss older, weight 4 1/2 to 5 pounds
winston, just over 2 1/2, weight 3 3/4 pounds
the girls
finola, 4 1/4, weight 2 1/2 pounds, is adrenal
grizel, 3 or 4, weight, 1 pound dripping wet
pixie, 1 1/2 to 2, just over 2 pounds
up until there was a real need for the heat to be on, they were at the heavier amount listed...since the heat has been on consistantly they've lost some so are closer to the lower amount listed. i sometimes forget to turn the thermo down when i go to work...i don't like being cold to begin with and cold air when i'm sleeping is a big issue, so i have to have at least 72 to sleep...and this gives them a false sense of summer coming on, i know.
concerned about grizel and chauncey - both need to gain weight and muscle tone. she's a tiny, tiny thing (smaller than pixie who is pretty tiny herself) and is generally 'okay' weight wise. can still feel her ribs a bit more than i'd like especially since she is so petite...when she gets sick, she needs some meat on her to fall back on!! chauncy too...i'm worried bacause he's really not gained much since being here. finola could use some bit more on her, too. and boo. her normal weight before the adrenal started was 3 pounds or better. boo's before adrenal was easily/consistantly 3 1/2 or better. duncan is also thinner than previous winters. he gets more climbing in now, so that's part of it. and the adrenal. his muscle tone around the rib cage is not good...
k, i won't be back before the weekend. have a load of things to get accomplished before 12/31 and it'll be a miracle if i manage 3 or 4 of them (have 8 things total, both work and personal, that need done).
that's how i cook - i eyeball all the ingredients and that makes it hard when you want to give someone a recipe... 