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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 18, 2009 14:37:49 GMT -5
That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy...hehe I was just telling my husband about it and even got a smile from him for it. I'll be back on later tonight.
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Post by spiritualtramp on Jan 19, 2009 9:01:36 GMT -5
Aw the chin slide! I love that I have a girl that will only do chin wipes on my feet when wearing socks. An extra-special thank you, I guess
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Post by Heather on Jan 19, 2009 11:57:52 GMT -5
I bare foot it, I've got some really nasty biters who think that socks are prey or something It's when you're hand feeding and they then slither up and down on your shoulder. Unfortunately, then you wind up being slimed but it's the same thing A fuzzy thank you for dinner momma . ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 19, 2009 12:26:16 GMT -5
So they wouldn't take the raw dipped in egg and ground kibble... and they wouldn't take the raw ground into the soup...but they did eat a big bowl of soup again 4 cubes worth this time with a tiny bit left over though they would have eaten more if two of my boys were a little more hungry, but one was out for a little less time so was just woken up to eat(my daughter only does play time with one or two at a time not all five and it is usually with the 3 that rarely bite or nip) So big boy was having a nap. So 2 days for 2 for soup....yah! because it is at least a start and more than they would take before. My biggest surprise came when I noticed it was the girls who polished off most of it including the littlest one Trouble who won't try anything new. And this time I didn't even have to tone it until after it was almost gone. Jack ate...spoiled that's what he is he pulled his blanky over beside me and crawled in then stuck his head out and looked at me with these big eyes...saying to me...'where's mine I'm Huuungry....' So me of course suck that I am gave in and spoon fed him... hhmmmm I hope that doesn't become a habit... Ferret whipped uh huh uh huh I'm fine with being slimed...hehe kids used to do it all the time(hey...they still do but the chocolate kisses are worth it and not just cause I love chocolate...hehe) And yeah socks are a no no, shoes and slippers are to because Oliver will sit and chew chew chew on them, he'll follow you around just to chew on them.
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Post by spiritualtramp on Jan 19, 2009 14:59:41 GMT -5
Progress, however small, is still progress! I'm happy to hear they're coming along. Just keep at it
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Post by Heather on Jan 20, 2009 0:09:03 GMT -5
Ha ferretwhipped I like that one That must be me, as I pick up little Calypso and spoon feed her because she's climbing up my leg and is asking. She's such a tiny little thing and she can't afford to waste even an ounce. She's been eating raw for about 2 weeks and I still top her up when she asks. What exactly goes into your soupy? It sounds like it's going over really well. I think that maybe adding minute amounts to your soupy might be the way to go. Your guys will dictate what way you choose to switch and this seems to be it. So, what you will want to do is offer some really finely cut meat into the soupy. This will be so finely cut that when you check the soup you won't be able to find it. It's to offer your guys that fraction of a taste, that is there and then it's gone before they get to spit it out. Sliver of a finger tip if you know what I mean. You may have to offer the treat of eating this little bit from a spoon feeding. That's how I introduce it to my little newbs. I will talk at you later. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 20, 2009 11:26:33 GMT -5
Well this last batch that they have been eating actually had evo red bites and I think I used a can of turkey meat cat food, the one that is %100 turkey and well water as their ingredients and a bit of freeze dried beef liver and water and I think that was it for that batch, I've tried a few different blends so I haven't kept track, only tried new things here and there. I have a journal now to keep track of weights but maybe I will start at the back and keep track of the soupy mixes and raw meats they like and don't like. I'm going to start taking them out in the morning and doing soup then and then I can try something else in the evening. Have a great day, I'll be back on later.
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Post by spiritualtramp on Jan 20, 2009 11:50:48 GMT -5
That sounds good, I keep a notebook of things my kids like too, in case something happens and someone else needs to feed them. I think Heather's suggestion is right on, try some teeny wee bits of meat in the soups.
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Post by Heather on Jan 20, 2009 15:21:46 GMT -5
That's a great idea. I used to, years ago keep a diary about what the furkids were eating, how much and all that stuff. I got away from it when the rescue got a little hairy . I'm just starting back doing the weigh in thing again (Odin pushed my scale on the floor and smashed it to pieces, I've just went out and bought another) I'm so used to looking in the freezer and going ... ok...rat today, look at the mouse bins and go...ok this batch of bachelors are ready for dinner on the weekend. I don't even think about it anymore. I does really help when you're first starting to journalize and it really helps when you're switching more than one fert. The one lady I was helping was trying to switch 7 ferts at one time and none of them were being particularly cooperative. We eventually had to work out who was eating what as they all decided (just to make life interesting) to switch in different manners as well as switching at different times. They also had different proteins that each of them liked as well . The line of well soandso won't eat chicken but will eat pork and sort of likes turkey. I will check in and see how the book keeping is doing later. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 21, 2009 0:48:11 GMT -5
Well, I'm going to just keep shoveling the soup in, tomorrow will be a fresh batch so I will start at the back of my journal and write down the recipe, then I can keep track as I go. I will make my batch and then take most of it out and add some raw to a tiny little bit and see if they will still take it. if so I will add to the whole batch and freeze it, now just a side thought on that when I microwave my soup to defrost it do I end up just cooking it? and if so should I just make smaller batches and refrigerate it? How long can it stay in the fridge should I just follow the date on the meats original package? Ok now I am sure those silly questions are answered somewhere...I will go use my handy dandy pointer finger and the search function... So anyways tomorrow morning should see the last of my soup mix I already have, and if it isn't picked up tomorrow the Hamster will be on the dinner menu for Mya(hope she'll eat the little fur ball) It was supposed to be picked up by this lady on Sunday, and she finally emailed today saying today....well it's 11 she's probably not coming tonight I think safe to say, and the little bugger stinks and takes up allot of space(I'm not really insensitive just frustrated and I wouldn't tell the kids the hamster was dinner... ) Ok, yeah that sounds bad take it with a little humor cause I'm not fully serious.... Anyways, I am thinking I might toss a pinky or two in my soup, will my blender blend it well enough? It is an Ice crusher blender and I think the pinkies would be fairly soft even the bones... Thanks Have a good night.
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 21, 2009 1:00:03 GMT -5
Ooh Ooh I had to add....the cutest thing, after soup was gone Oliver stole the bowl and went prancing around with the bowl in his mouth....
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Post by Heather on Jan 21, 2009 2:21:04 GMT -5
Instead of microwaving your soupy, let it thaw out in the fridge that way you don't cook your raw meats. Let me know how the hamster goes over (or are you pulling my leg ). Are you going to allow a live kill or are you going to freeze the little bum and serve hamster a la mode. I've heard they can be quite aggressive little sods (the nastiest bite I've ever had was from one of those little furry child pets) so you may want to be careful handing it over to an untried ferret. Ferrets are awesome little killers, but some will become a little gunshy if their food attacks them. My guys took on a rat that was too large for them, I was put off....they eventually made the kill but I won't feed them live rat anymore. It wasn't a clean kill, with mice it's over in a matter of seconds. So my guys get to hunt mice but they eat ratcycles instead of the warm type. I'm thinking that your blender will probably handle the pinkies without any problem...why don't you let your guys have a go at the pinkies, first. They might just surprise you. I've never had a ferret turn down a pinkie. They're just the right size, make the right type of noises....they're almost irresistable. I usually wait for my mice to grow up before I feed them but any pinkies who have been rejected by their parents or have physical deformaties are promptly offered and are never rejected. Now, there you go. The ultimate thank you very much, I'm stealing the dinner bowl . My Loki does that, the problem is sometimes he steals it when it's full. Then I have to find it Usually it's close by but other times it disappears for days and then this really icky bowl of dried, smelly raw shows up It's no longer a treasure and has been rejected Little poops Anyway....I'm your new mentor. Some info and then I'm off to bed. Hi I'm Heather, and we're going to be working together for the next little while trying to convince your furbabies to change to a healthier diet I've been feeding a raw/natural diet for a little over 10 yrs. I have a small private rescue/sanctuary where all ferrets turned into me are switched immediately over to a raw diet that consists of ground raw/whole meats or frankenprey/ and prey diet. At present every ferret eats this full range of diets. I don't keep kibbles in the house All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 16 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 2 yrs to my little senior citizen, Babushka who is coming up on 10 yrs (she by the way has been my biggest raw switch challenge, which had me at times wondering why I was doing this to her) Now completely switched and putting on a beautiful dark black coat, teeth that are now nicely cleaned up, and she actually has a lot of fun investigating the house (she used to do nothing but sleep when she first was turned in). She has made me aware that every ferret no matter how old, can get a new lease on life by eating a species appropriate diet I wish you luck with your new soupy mix and I will check on you tomorrow. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 22, 2009 2:34:26 GMT -5
Well the hamster seems to be going on it's way tomorrow, if it isn't picked up this time that will be it no matter what my hubby says. *sigh* just extra complications I don't need. So today they all ate soup my daughter had a blast helping. I tried pinkies and fuzzies, Diesel literally stepped on his paying no attention to it(he's deaf though) but I tried dripping tone on it and he just licked it clean and ended up squishing it because then he ignored it again. Doesn't seem to be an instinctive bone in his body. Well I hope I can get them eating healthier even for the big suck who might not ever kill his own, 'please serve it to me one bite at a time thank you very much' 'ooh, oh that tail spaghetti looks divine' I can see it, he'll even have his own reclining eating cushion. anyways, I picked up some stew meat and a roast so tomorrow it should be our first raw beef try, wish me luck, I'm going to try it straight up, no dips or coatings... And then try it in their soupy(today's was the last of the plain) Talk to you tomorrow, I have a busy day ahead of me lot's of cleaning to do.
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Post by Heather on Jan 22, 2009 14:21:31 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the deaf ones have to see it to hunt it. They do fairly good with the scent thing too, but the prey usually doesn't sit still for them to find it that way. Two of my best hunters are deaf, but that being said, if Lady"B" Itchy doesn't see it she usually hasn't got much interest in it. Attila is a little more patient relying more on his nose. Maybe, something a little bigger might catch his fancy Like a hopper At least he will see it My Napoleon is into the bring the food slave....yes, linguine tonight...thanks....what no head...I don't want that....take it away slave Good luck with the beef. Slice it really small. You know I could tell you this and be totally out to lunch. I just was reading where one girl couldn't get her furbaby to try whole meat (he would eat his soupy but that's it and they were stuck on that level) and dropped a chunk on the floor when preparing her meat dish for the brat. Guess what...you got it, he took off with it and ate it. Left her and her mentor scratching their respective heads. There is no rhyme or reason to switching a ferret, there is just trial and error. So give those little bums that beef and see what happens. Just do it in small amounts so they don't waste anything. Beef has a stronger flavour than chicken and is rejected a lot but my guys eat it so there is no reason why it can't be eaten. Cleaning....yuck Good luck both with your cleaning and convincing your little furbabies to eat. Give them all hugs from me. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 23, 2009 10:56:04 GMT -5
Well I can't think of what I did different with this batch of soup but no one would touch it...gggrrrr...now I feel like a Sh** for not writing down what I put in the last one.... So I'll dump it out today and try again.... I can't think of what I did different... I didn't add the meat I wanted to make sure they liked the straight soup first and I am glad I did it that way cause they didn't like it. *sigh* try try and try again huh.... let you know how it goes tonight. Cleaning went ok but of course I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, to many interruptions, driving kids to and from school several times during the day... Be back on later.
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