Kayla & Eden's Big Switch

[Heather]

The veggie matter is used to replace the fur and such that they're not eating when eating frankenprey. It feeds gut bacteria not the ferret (at least not directly). If you feed easily digested veggies, pumpkin, squash, even lettuce (frozen first) these help the digestive trac digest the meat and also creates bulk to move hair (the ferrets) and other indigestibles out.
If your guys get finicky about the new food, you can also mix the proteins a little. You can take one that they really like and add just a tiny little bit, like a 1/4 tsp to 1 cup of their regular food. Let them eat that then add about 1/2 tps to 1 cup. Keep adding until the new food is now being eaten. You don't have to try this method to start, but it's a good alternative when trying to start new foods to picky eaters especially if they don't want to try new foods.
Rabbit it is a good starter choice. It's a natural food for them and is mild flavoured. A meat that isn't that far off chicken. All my guys love rabbit.
Good luck. Let me know how the new meats go over .
ciao

[halbear]

Hello! Frankenprey? I have never heard of that term before? Is that what they call raw food?
I tried the mouse and it was definitely a no go. Although they both did eat a few bites it was really only because I scruffed them and made them atleast try it. Even when they tried it they really didn't seem to like it. I'm sure that they will warm up to it eventually though. I am going to mix it with some chicken tomorrow morning for their breakfast.
They did eat the turkey however. I did a 50-50 mix of turkey and chicken and they ate it right up, so for dinner tomorrow they are going to get straight turkey. I'll let you know how they do. I didn't get to try the rabbit yet because it didn't thaw out in time, but I got it all thawed out now and in little sandwich bags so they will get that tomorrow or Thursday to try. I may try mixing it with chicken to start. I guess I rushed it with the mouse because I know you said it has a much stronger probably more acquired taste than most other meats. I probably should have saved that for last. My fault... I was just soo excited for them to try the mouse!!! In any case, I will definitely let you know how they do with the rabbit.
On another note the girls are doing somewhat well with regard to their health. Kayla's potassium level is low and so the doctor put her on a potassium supplement she has to take twice daily. He said it is likely due to the prednisone because it can diminish potassium levels. Eden is doing well!!
I'm very excited to start this new feeding venture! I can't wait for them to try all of the meats!! I hope they eventually get accustomed to the mouse. I'm sure over time that they will acquire a taste for it!! I hope all is well with you and your little ones! I'll talk to you soon!!

[Heather]

Hey....you can only try There's nothing wrong with that. With all those new proteins I would have been like a child in an ice cream shop and my guys wouldn't have been overly impressed either Great news about the turkey They will probably eat it without problems. The rabbit will probably go over fairly well too. Most of my guys like it a lot. The fact that your guys tried a couple of mouthfuls of the mouse meat is a real bonus, with some persuation they probably will eat it without much problem. I wouldn't even try to split it half and half, just very small amounts...at least the mouse meat. I think that you will probably be able to convince them to eat the other meats without much trouble. The mouse meat is a different flavour but I honestly think they will eventually eat it. Wether they're really fond of it will be a different story All my guys really love it. Little Zena was the only one that never took to rodent meat. That was ok, I just fed her rabbit when everyone else was eating rats
Frankenprey.... Is a term that was coined years ago when we first started putting a little bit of this and that together to make a whole prey animal. Chicken backs for bone, pork chunks for the meat, beef heart, pork liver and some frozen salad greens to be fur, hence frankenprey . It's a term rarely used for ground meats but often for whole meats. Ground meats were easier to get the whole thing balanced at every meal....with whole meats the goal was balance over time and sometimes a little harder to achieve.
I will be very interested to hear about you and your little ones adventures with the new protein sources Good luck, I will talk at you later
ciao
I'm sorry to hear that Kayla's potassium level is off, but glad that your vet is right on top of it and it sounds like it's not too difficult to control.

[halbear]

Hey! I have good news about the rabbit!! I mixed a little bit of rabbit with the chicken, probably 1/3 rabbit and 2/3 chicken,with the chicken and they didn't seem to thrilled but they ate most of it! I tried the mouse again mixed with chicken and that was definitely not happening. They wouldn't eat it, and I only put a little tiny bit of mouse in. They are such little procrastinators.
Thanks for the information on frankenprey. I truly had no idea! Other then that everything has been going well! The last couple of meals they have just been eating chicken because I don't want ot overwhelm them. Hey, do you know how long the mouse and the rabbit mixture can sit in the fridge before it is tainted? I put a little bit in small sandwich bags and I usually leave it in there for a few days and I just wanted to make sure it was still good. I think the next meat I'm going to do is the turkey since they did so well with it the first time. The only thing I worry about, with regard to the turkey, is that turkey has tryptophan which can make you sleepy and I really don't want them to be any more sleepy since they already have such a low energy level. Yes, it was definitely good news to hear that Kayla's potassium level is so easy to fix!!!
Have you talk to to Giuli lately? I sent her two e-mails several days ago and I haven't heard back form her. I'm not sure if she has been busy or is something happened?
In any case, I'll talk to you soon!! Take care!

[Heather]

Hey, your little ones are doing fantastic. Great stuff about the rabbit. It seems to go down easy with a lot of ferrets. Sorry about the mouse. Keep offering it but in really low amounts and you might be successful. I've never noticed any difference in my guys sleeping habits after eating turkey.... maybe they have to eat more or maybe it makes a difference if it's cooked or not I'm sorry, I really can't help you as to how long that meat can sit in the fridge. I don't usually leave ground in the fridge much longer than a day or two....three at the most...my guys don't usually leave meat around in the fridge...I wish I could say the same for some of the stuff they stash that I don't find until much later
Giuli....hmmm....are they writing exams at this time? I've been trying to get hold of her for 2 weeks...she's rather disappeared I've been sending her information and was looking for some back but.... Oh well....I keep trying .
Keep trying, you and your little girls are doing fantastic. Let me know how Kayla's doing, now that you've found out and are fixing the potassium problems. That might be one of the reasons why she's sleeping so much. My father said that when his potassium was off, he felt generally unwell and tired.
ciao

[halbear]

Hey! The girls are doing great! They have been eating the turkey by itself, but not the rabbit or other meats. I have been adding approx 1/8 tsp to each of their meals to dilute it a bit. They prefer the diluted version, as they have even been eating off the plate more and more. They really don't seem to have too much interest in it unless its diluted.
Ya, I am taking it that Giuli is just busy with school and work commitments, etc. Oh well, I'll just keep trying...
Kayla has been doing very well!! Ever since she started the potassium supplement, her hind leg weakness has improved a bit. My veterinarian said that some of her hind leg weakness may be due in part to the potassium deficiency. I think he may have been right because while the hind leg weakness isn't gone it has definitely improved!! She has also had a bit more energy it seems, not too much, but a bit more. Otherwise, both of my girls are doing fantastic!! I hope you and your little ones are doing the same! Have a great weekend!!

[Heather]

As you increase the amount of the new protein you can try and decrease the amount of liquid...this may or may not work. If they don't eat it then just increase the amount of liquid a bit. Like the new meats try decreasing the amount of fluids little by little. I know with my newbies they really like things to be really moist (which seems odd when most of these little ones have been fed nothing but kibbles). That's great, so now your guys will eat turkey and chicken. Fantastic, you're all doing so well. Just increase the amounts of the strange protein by very tiny bits. You will find that there comes a point where it doesn't really matter, they will eat the new protein without a squabble without the assist of the more familiar protein.
Giuli has just finished school for the summer and has been on line a little more....you may try pm'ing her again and seeing if you get a response.
I'm glad that you're seeing improvements in Kayla, even if it's only small amounts. With our not so healthy little ones, even the smallest amount of improvement is a huge gain. Perhaps, you will continue to see small improvements as her body once again gets the trace nutrients that she wasn't absorbing properly.
Have a great weekend
ciao

[halbear]

Hello!!! I have been increasing the liquid a bit. Whenever they eat just plain chicken I don't add very much water and they et it just fine. If I use rabbit or turkey, then I have to add a bit more water for them to eat it. I have also been adding just a couple of drops of emu oil to flavor the new meats a bit. I will slowly try to decrease the amount of liquid though. They have been eating the turkey with little to know problems. They are almost eating it like they eat the chicken, with little to no hesitation. The rabbit is a bit of a different story. Although they do still eat it, there is definitely a bit more coercion. I haven't even tried the mouse lately because I really don't want to overwhelm them by adding too much too soon.
It does seem odd that they prefer the food to be moist since because they have eaten kibble their entire life. It seems backwards.
I can't wait until they finally do get to the point of eating the new meats eithout any hesitation!!! We are almost there with the turkey!
Giuli got in touch with me. I was so sorry to hear about her precious De. Her memorial under the rainbows bridge section made me cry. I know what she is going through. It hurts so incredibly bad. I am so scared to lose my girls. I cry just thinking of it. I love them co incredibly much. I don't know what I would do with out them.
Yes, Kayla has been doing a little better but I noticed her hind legs are still slipping a bit. They seem especially weak when she first wakes up. It doesn't help either that my entire house is tile. I got a small chunk of carpet and put it in my room for her so it is a bit easier for her to get around.
I hope you have a great weekend and I hope all is well with you and your little ones. I hope to talk to you soon!!! Oh, I will be going out of the country pretty soon for approx a 2 week period. I am not sure yet when I will be going but I know it will be within the next month. I will definitely let you know when I will be going as I will not have internet access over there. Anyways, I'll talk to you soon!!!

[Heather]

Increase liquid if you choose, especially if they will eat it. Decrease it when you feel that they will accept it without the extra moisture. It is funny isn't that the kibble fed furbabies like to have so much moisture in their meat...it's almost like they're making up for lost time, or suddenly realizing that they're supposed to actually have that much moisture. The nice thing is that they're not so quick to dehydrate as kibble fed furbabies.
You're doing fantastic...add new proteins when you think they will accept it. I would personally work in new proteins only after they're comfortable with the couple you've added now. You're in a comfortable place as your babies will eat 3 different proteins...2 comfortably. There's no rush.
Death of a furbaby is crushing, and it never gets any easier. I had 2 furbabies who had to have minor surgeries (teeth) so had to be sedated .... I was so scared. I've lost so many of them when they've been put under. At least my new vet allows me to be right with them throughout the proceedure. At least I know they're not alone and I'm holding them when they go under.
I will check in later to see how you're doing and let me know when you know you're leaving. I'm guessing that your furbabies aren't going with you?
ciao

[halbear]

Yes, I will definitely try to introduce the newer proteins very slowly. At this point since they are doing so well, there is no rush.
I'm glad your vet allows you to bee with them during any procedure. That definitely makes it all a bit easier because you won't be worrying as much, and you can be with them while they go under.
Yes, I will definitely let you know when I will be leaving. I'm pretty sure it will be some time early next week, but I will let you know the exact dates. Unfortunately my babies cannot go with me because they would have to be quarantined. I think the quarantine period is really long too, and there is absolutely no way I would put my beloved fur babies through that. Don't worry though, they will be in good hands!!! My boyfriend will be watching them in my home for half the time and in his for the other half. This will definitely help to alleviate any stress since they will be in a comfortable environment and they know him very well because they have lived with him for the past five years. Needless to say, that takes alot of stress off my back because there is just no way that I would drop them off at the vet's office. I couldn't bear the thought of them thinking I abandoned them.
In any case, I'll let you know all the details soon!! Take care!!

[Heather]

You're right the quarantine is horrible...Britain is the worst though...6 months I believe. I did hear that there has been some modifications but I've no idea what they are. It's good that you've got someone who your guys know and trust who they can hang out with while their momma goes away.
Have fun
I will talk to you later
ciao

[halbear]

Hey Heather!!! Long time no talk!! I am finally back! Boy it sure feels good to be back! I really really missed my little ones. The girls are doing well! They ate well while I was gone. They have been eating very well for me since I have gotten back also. They are due here pretty soon for their melatonin implants and lupron injections. I will let you know how that goes.
The girls ate both chicken and turkey while I was gone, but I was told that they definitely preferred the turkey. I guess it must just be that its familiar. They sure seemed happy for me to be home!! I hate leaving them. I hope that will be it for awhile...
There are still a couple of meats I have that they have not yet tried, so this week I am going to venture into a new meat! I am thinking maybe pheasant, or perhaps I'll try the white fish. I am definitely going to re-introduce he rabbit into a couple of feedings. I will let you know how that all goes!! I hope all has been well with you these past couple of weeks, and I look forward to talking with you soon!! Take care, and have a great week!!!

[Heather]

Hey there...welcome back
I'm sure your little furbabies are happy to have their momma back
Good luck with the melatonin and lupron injections.
Let me know what you decide to try and how it goes, I will be interested to see if your little ones are ready to try some more different types of proteins. Good luck, I will be looking forward to hearing about their progress.
ciao

[halbear]

Ya, the girls were definitely glad to have me back! I will be trying a new meat today! I will let you know how it goes! They are finally back on track and eating well, so I'm happy!!
Well, I hope all is well and I will talk to you soon!

[Heather]

Are you trying the meat on it's own or are you gradually introducing it? What kind? Good luck..
Talk at you soon

ciao