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Post by Heather on Jan 23, 2009 11:34:58 GMT -5
Oh, the love of it Feeding ferrets new food I'm going to give you a recipe that I have used all the time when switching my guys. It takes out the kibble factor all together. They still eat their kibbles on the side but it does get them on a raw diet faster...it's just a little more work for you, which you're doing to a degree anyway **8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat) (because I have a source I use rmb or ground raw meat and bones, this means that my soupy is entirely balanced and then I'm under no stress to move to the next stage if my ferret is being a bit of a sh** and not eating well) 1 tsp of crushed eggshell powder (take a raw eggshell. Rinse it out. Let it dry. Crush to powder) If you use rmb then you don't have to add this. 1 raw chicken heart 1/2 raw chicken liver Water (use more to make it soupier, less to make it thicker) Blend ingredients together. Some prefer it at room temp. Try putting a dollop of "soup" onto your ferret's nose and they probably will lick it off. I use my finger. Sometimes this takes a little bit trying to convince them that you're not trying to poison them I find within a very short time they're licking this off my finger. When I see that they're willing to eat freely off my finger then I use a small spoon to try and get them to eat from that. Try to get them eating the soupy on their own. It might pique their interest. If they absolutely refuse to try the soupy, suck some of it up into the syringe. Use the guide below to get them eating the soup from the syringe: forum.ferret.com/tm.asp?m=27179I'm not a big fan of syringe feeding and don't use it (you can't use it if you're using rmb's, but I feel that you should be aware of all your options. My biggest fear when feeding through a syringe is aspiration. Most ferrets will willingly eat the food once they actually TASTE it, so the only struggle you *should* encounter is them not wanting to taste it. Don't be surprised if your furbabies' initial reaction is to gag, spit and look at you like, what are you trying to poison me with But don't let them get away with it The hardest part is to insist and be consistent. Please also be aware that after years of kibbles they aren't aware that what you're offering them is indeed food. Once they willingly eat from the syringe, or your finger and spoon, work to try and get them eating this out of a dish or plate. Each time you make your soupy, use a little less water to make it thicker/chunkier. Replace soup with fresh soup every 4-6 hours. You can make a large batch if you like and freeze into ice cubes or cupcake trays. Then you just thaw a portion and serve. OR you can put a frozen "cube" into their bowl and let it slowly thaw. I hope that this helps a little, I will check in with you again tonight. Good luck ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 23, 2009 21:07:18 GMT -5
Ok, now for my IBS boy should I feed him a different soup? I was told the Chicken is bad, is that only cooked chicken? Can I do the same with something different? I am still waiting to hear back from the butcher for scraps. Is almost freezer burnt meat ok or should I wait until they are solidly switched? Thanks I'll be back on after dinner time is over.
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Post by Heather on Jan 24, 2009 0:04:40 GMT -5
Ok. IBD...chicken is no worse than any other meat if it's tolerated. I have one IBD boy who tolerates chicken but cannot eat beef, pork, lamb or elk (venison)...I don't think he can eat bison either. He can eat chicken, turkey, quail and rabbit. The difficult part is finding out what he can tolerate as each one may or may not bring on an attack. There is no hard and fast rule. There are a couple of people on list who have had very poor results with chicken, but that doesn't mean that you will. You can substitute any raw meat for that recipe that I gave you. The hard part will be getting some of the offal (liver and heart) if your guy is indeed allergic or sensitive to chicken. Clear as mud right ....sorry I hate IBD because there are not rules and you don't know that you've broken any until you find those awful watery poopies and a furbaby who's feeling really horrible. I usually keep slippery elm powder on hand and a can of pumpkin. I've found that feeding pumkin or squash in my ground food mix seems to help a lot in easing tummy upsets. My guys eat meats with some freezer burn on it. Just remember that those meats though not spoiled have some of the nutrients are damaged or diminished. That meat is also tougher, some of my guys won't eat the actuall freezer burn...but they will eat the meat around it. I hope that helps a little please feel free to ask questions. If I don't know the answer then I will search one out. I will check on you again tomorrow. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 25, 2009 13:00:51 GMT -5
Just checking in, well they decided the soup wasn't that bad after all and ate a little. They wouldn't take anything else, I'm going to add the rest of their steak to the soup maybe tonight, last couple days have been rough because I've been feeling horrible, I can deal with pretty much anything except head aches, they do me in. My daughter even helped me do litter boxes for the last couple days. I've got some scrubbing to do in the ferret room today and I have one spot behind the door that's been bad for accidents, I am going to put some bedding down see if that will stop them, it's their one bad habit when they are out, the one spot they miss the box. I'll be back on later let you know how today went.
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Post by Heather on Jan 26, 2009 0:05:13 GMT -5
I'm sorry you're still feeling under the weather. Do you suffer from migraines? It was very good of your daughter to help you with the litter boxes. That can be worth more than money when you're feeling under the weather. Unfortunately, fuzzbutts are not particularly sympathetic when we're feeling unwell. I chewed my batch out a little while ago stating that I was sure that they kept all their naughty antics for when I was ill Congratulations, on convincing your little furbrats that maybe their soupy is really good anyway It's all about teaching them what's good for them Patience and percerverance ....and a little bit of luck I will check in with you tomorrow to see how they finished off their steak...lucky little sods. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 26, 2009 11:37:40 GMT -5
Well I got in a wee bit of Sh** from my husband.... 'what you bought them steak...grumble grumble...god d**n ferrets eat better than we do...grumble grumble' I said but honey it's really little steaks and I'll cook some of it up for you.... He wasn't mad he just likes to bug me....lol Yes I get migraines unfortunately I have since I was 9 and my daughter has had one or two of her own and she is 8. She loves helping out with the ferrets and I think she might even be a little more loved by one or two of them than me(no complaints though) Some nights she stays up late just to help with them, she'll go to bed and when she hears me getting them ready for bed she's right there. So my husband took out my soup and left it on the counter....so I get to make a new batch today, if it isn't to darned cold later(it's -28 right now,-37 with the wind) I might just grab some pinkies for their soup though if it stays this cold this afternoon I don't want to drive the 1/2 hour out to pick them up. They did not like the steak though Mya did take a piece and hide it she never went back to eat it. So meat in soup first, I will make a batch up and if they like it I will just make the same for a while before fiddling with it, they are kinda fickle. I am going to wake them to eat it if that works because I have noticed even just leaving them with no food for a small amount of time during playtime a few of them have started acting a little different over their food dish. On another note diesel has started acting a little under the weather I am going to watch that close, just a little less energy, might be a passing thing but just to be sure. Well I gotta run for now, it's 9:30 and I have way to much to do to catch up from the weekend.
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Post by Heather on Jan 26, 2009 16:06:22 GMT -5
I wonder if all husbands are the same. I get large tubs of waste meat from our butcher. It's usually stuff that's past date or had been dropped...scrap. The other day, I got close to 50 lbs of top sirloin. I honestly couldn't see anything wrong with it but it had been scrapped. I"m sure it crossed some health boundary but it certainly wasn't anything that I could see or smell. Hubby comes around the corner and wants to know if I want him to barb-q it... ? It's dog food.....What!!!...It's dog food. He went off whimpering something about the dog getting to eat better than he did. What made it even worse was Odin came into the kitchen a little while later and I tossed him a large chunk of steak....Odin grabs it and heads into the sitting room. This hurt voice comes from the room....Look at that, the wee beastie not only gets fed better than me, he gets to eat in the sitting room. Keep a close eye on your wee one. There've been a lot of icky viruses going around (it's that time of year). He's eating ok? I noticed my Loki was off his food, he does this to me every now and then. I think he likes to see momma sweat as he had adrenal surgery about 5 or 6 yrs ago and I've been waiting for that other adrenal gland to go. He did tear into the mouse without thinking twice, so I'm hoping that the spoiled little boy is holding out for some live prey ( I keep telling him they're not old enough yet, that he has to wait another couple of weeks) So I"m thinking it's nothing serious yet. Let me know how the new soupy works and we will see where we go from here. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Jan 29, 2009 17:19:14 GMT -5
oops, I thought I responded to your last post but it didn't post... He has a horrible cough(almost a honking sound) now I am going to see if I can get him into the vet, he is still eating some, his eyes seem really bright though. I went to the doctor yesterday and am going to be on antibiotics so I am worried about him. They didn't take the steak, I mentioned in the post that didn't post. so no on everything new so far. Is hamburger ok for them? I want to add some to their soup if I can my blender should handle that(for a new blender it isn't living up to my expectations so far) They will eat the soup if it is just water and evo and a tiny bit of tone, the venison they didn't like, the turkey they didn't like and the bits of raw meat they ignored. I didn't get a chance to try the pinkies in their soup yet, I pick up my pinkie order tonight roads have been to bad to drive out to the feeder place so I had to order from the guy in town. well there's my update for now, sorry I didn't double check that it posted before, I will double check this one.
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Post by Heather on Jan 30, 2009 13:50:39 GMT -5
Let me know what the vet said. It's horrible when the little ones get ill Ghenghis had an upper respiratory infection a couple of weeks ago. He would have these sneezing fits that were so hard they would propell him backwards...funny to watch...distressing because you know he's really not feeling well..poor little sod. You may have to put some of the raw food in your furbabies mouth to get them to try it. It will probably result in them spitting and gagging and giving you really dirty looks but you're their momma and you know what's best When I first start them getting used to the raw foods I use this as individual snuggle time. I either sit at the table or on the floor and grab a fert, give him a quick snuggle and then stuff (sometimes you have to scruff to get that mouth open) but once you get them trying it they very often decide it's not that bad. Yes, you can use ground meats if you like. At this point in the grand scheme of things it's really alright. We're just trying to get them to taste the raw meats. You can use ground chicken, beef and pork (these are readily available in most supermarkets) I've also used ground venison, rabbit and bison too (these aren't so readily available in your supermarket ) You're right, most blenders will not hold up to what we're using them for.... I've had a couple of people who have resorted to buying actual grinders (if you want information I will ask them about them) others have resorted to ordering whole mixes. These are a bit more expensive but have everything in them (saves you doing the grind and finding all the other components). Ground meat, bone, offal...the problem with some is the amount of vegetable matter or additives they use. I've found a couple that don't add a lot and my guys like them too for a change of pace. Yes, sometimes getting things posted can be a bit weird. I've had whole great big long explanations disappear and having to write them out again, realizing that I'm probably forgetting something . Giuli suggested saving or copying your post just before you send to make sure it's still there. It saves time if you remember to do it (I quite often forget : Anyway, I will be checking in later tonight. Good luck....Are you getting dumped on (snowwise) too. I haven't been out of the house in 2 whole days. I'm about ready to attach all 16 ferts to a sleigh and rip into town....(I'd never get the little bums to agree on a direction ) ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Feb 1, 2009 22:58:19 GMT -5
I'll try the one on one and scruffing thing see if it works. I suppose a good food processor might be very helpful. It's been warm here and I got to be sick still so we haven't even been able to take advantage of the nice weather. I had a friend break her ankle and happened to run into a vet doing a home visit for her dogs and he is the vet who will be seeing diesel I feel a lot better about taking him in after meeting him I was a little worried after getting such a run around from the vet secretary.
I will try that thing with a wee bit of ground meat in the next day or two and then update again and I should know something from the vet to.
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Post by Heather on Feb 1, 2009 23:43:16 GMT -5
A good food processor won't do the job of grinding bone (so please don't go out and buy one to do that type of job). I'm telling you this because one of my other "switch persons" destroyed her food processor when she dropped a couple of chicken wings into it. A lot of grinders won't, none of them claim to be able but there are some that will do soft bone. The best is to get your furkids do the grinding with their teeth but sometimes getting them there takes time. Let me know how your experiment with the ground meat goes. I'm sorry that you're still feeling under the weather, that's got to make things rough. I know that trying to think through a problem like this when I'm feeling ill just doesn't come together the way it would if I'm feeling on top of it. That is indeed a positive note that you're feeling more comfortable about seeing your vet. That is a person that you need to trust. I know all to often when you need them most is not the time you should be doubting their integrety or their competance. I"m presently riding that sword in that my regular vet is off on mat leave and I don't trust the vet that trained her replacement. It's a wait and see and hope that my furkids don't pay the ultimate price if I need her. I will keep checking in to see how you and your furkids are getting along. Give Diesel a big hug and I wish him luck in visiting his vet. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Feb 5, 2009 11:46:05 GMT -5
Well pretty much everything has been put on hold for a few days, I have been handling them very little the last few days because I have been so ill, I ended up with some sort of stomach flu which my husband and one of my boys just got over. So rather than taking the chance of passing something to them I have been giving them space, my daughter is so good with them it's amazing, all I have had to worry about is cleaning the cages and that I can use gloves for. My daughter even knows which mixes are for which group. I am feeling better today so I am going to pick up more of the ground, I'll try turkey or something I think and maybe later tonight or tomorrow I should be able to handle them with out the worry of passing something on to them, I feel so bad, but I guess the only set back is me because they haven't accepted anything new anyways up till now, they were probly like thank you I need a break from having new things shoved in my face.... Anyways, I pick up an order of frozen feeders tonight(if he shows, I am really leaning towards using someone else) I can't wait until mine are actually breeding. I'll try to get back on tonight. Edit to add, I haven't gotten in to see the vet yet they have been booked but I am thinking maybe I'll call the vet directly(is it cheating cause I happen to have met him outside the office and have his home number...well yeah probly but...if it works... ) if they don't get him in soon.
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Post by Heather on Feb 5, 2009 12:21:42 GMT -5
Ahhh, I answered my pm before I showed up here. I'm sorry that you've been ill. I really wished my son had shown the restraint you showed about not handling the furkids. He came down with an upper respiratory virus and has passed it on to the furkids. I came home the other day and he's curled up on the sofa with his comforter and about 6 ferrets. I figured by that point in time it was totally no use in telling him he blew it. It's highly contageous and really nasty so right now I'm up to 8 furbabies hacking and sneezing and because those sneezes are so wet...it will go through the rest of them as well Get yourself feeling well and then we will get back at this raw feeding thing No point in being ill and frustrated We will get your guys back on track. I have a number of times wished that I had my vet's home number. I asked her once but she refused ( I totally understand). Good luck and I hope you're feeling better. I will check on you a little later. ciao
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Post by moonlightsedge on Feb 5, 2009 23:42:31 GMT -5
I only have the vets number because I ran into him doing a home visit for a friend who broke her ankle and ended up in the hospital, so the vet was helping by stopping in and letting her dogs out and he agreed to keep her puppy at the clinic for an extra couple of days so like I said cheating I am sure but.... My daughter knows the wee ones can get sick from us so I am being careful to show by example, I know there have been a few times where I had the sniffles and forgot and gave smooches and then wanted to smack myself, but we got lucky this is our first illness. I replied to my pm before here to...hehe I just got excited..."you got mail....' Have a good night(what left of it, I know you are a few hours ahead of me)
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Post by Heather on Feb 6, 2009 1:09:45 GMT -5
Get better, and we will be working with your furkids in no time It's much better if you can actually pass off your duties of handling ferts when you're ill, not all virus' are zootonic but it seems a lot of them are. What I find amazing is that they can't get the rhino virus (common cold) but they're susceptible to all the other species that can give them upper respiratory infections and pneumonia. Good luck, rest if you can and I will keep checking in to see when your ready to restart your raw feeding adventure . ciao
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