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Post by vkoslin on Sept 16, 2009 20:01:16 GMT -5
Hey, so I'm waiting for the mentor program, but I have 5 ferrets that will lick/eat raw food, bones...anything. A couple, if hungry enough, will attack for it. Then, one, munchkin, won't eat raw. I know I've talked about this before but it's a new question, kind of. Anyways, I want to feed 5 guys what I can: raw. But I have been leaving kibble in full time and raw in morning and night in addition to kibble. 4 of the 5 eating raw prefers kibble and will eat the kibble over the raw. 1 of the 5 eats raw over kibble. And 1 of the 1 won't touch raw and only eats kibble. I want to get the 5 to all eat raw only. How can I accomplish this without separating Munchkin from the cage. I don't want to switch Munch until I have entered the mentor program, so this isn't a raw-converting question. It's more of...how can I feed the 5 only raw and Munchkin only kibble without separating cages? It may be a ridiculous question, but I assume some have had these problems in the process of switching to raw, when some were and some weren't eating it. Things I've been feeding at night/morning: chicken thigh quarters, chicken wings, beef cuts, chicken gizzards, ground chicken/bone/organ (hare today), chicken breasts...etc. (I do realize I need to expand this raw, but I know for sure that 5 love chicken and don't want to fool with others until I'm actually involved in it...and plus, they still have Wellness Core kibble in there 24-7) Any advice is welcome. While waiting for the mentor program, I know I can switch 5 over to raw completely, but with the kibble there, most won't opt for it. I'll deal with Munchkin later when I have help, but.... does this make sense?  |
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 16, 2009 22:09:32 GMT -5
Ferrets tend to be very lazy by nature, and until they are off the kibble entirely for a while, it's easier for them to eat the kibble, as compared to working at eating the raw! In short- you can't get them entirely off the kibble as long as they have access to it. You could try leaving the kibble out overnight, the raw in, then give Munch raw soups in the morning when he's hungry, before putting the kibble back in for the day.
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Post by vkoslin on Sept 17, 2009 13:01:06 GMT -5
Hmmm.... I'll try. Last night I combined the kibble and the raw together in a bowl. I used three chicken tenders (whole) and a cup of kibble and by morning, all the kibble was gone but so were 2 whole tenders so that worked...for now, until I'm in the program, I think I'm going to just continue the raw with kibble and see if it will help familiarize Munchkin with raw if it's always in her bowl
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Post by bindiferret89 on Sept 17, 2009 22:47:23 GMT -5
I'd be careful feeding raw and kibble together at the same time. It can upset a lot of ferrets' tummies.
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Post by vkoslin on Sept 17, 2009 23:02:34 GMT -5
I've actually done that for a while, on and off, and haven't noticed anything yet...but thanks! I'll keep a close eye on their poops!
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 17, 2009 23:20:19 GMT -5
My kids never had any trouble with raw and kibble together. Plus they eventually stopped eating kibble all together.
I know we can switch your stubborn baby...get some freeze-dried raw food such a Wysong's archetypal I, stella and chewy's freeze-dried diets (not the treats - they're not balanced), or AFS. ALl of these can be purchased at Casey's Hidden Pantry (google search - or search around in the product's section - "Casey" is a fert on this forum whose mom started up a web business with all ths great fert food!)
Anyway, partially crush the kibble and sprinkle small bits of crumbled freeze-dried into the kibble - mix it in. this wil make it tough for your fert to pick around the eat. Inrease the percetage of freeze-dried SLOWLY over time. Nest, store some kibble in with the freeze-dried raw. the kibble will be come even harder to distinguish from the meat becaus ethey two food will smell like ech other. Continue to increase th percentage of meat comapred to kibble.
With this technique, your ferret will develop a taste for meat. We can also work on soup/wet food at the same time.
I have never met a ferret that did not learn to eat the freeze-dried raw. (it has been my experience that moistening kibble doesn't work all that well unless the ferts are very young.)
-jennifer
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Post by vkoslin on Sept 18, 2009 8:03:45 GMT -5
Awesome!
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Post by spiritualtramp on Sept 18, 2009 9:40:09 GMT -5
I found having a carrier handy to feed the stubborn one separately helps a lot. Sometimes it's just a self-confidence thing and one-on-one they take to the raw easily. My Ranger when I was switching him liked to be held by me as he ate, separate from the others. Sometimes they'll eat things more when they don't have to wait -- especially if they're lower on the totem pole than the others. Try feeding Munchkin alone in a carrier while offering the raw to the others. This way they fill up on raw before the kibble comes back in the cage, and Munchkin gets to eat in peace.
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Post by vkoslin on Sept 18, 2009 22:12:13 GMT -5
That's a good idea. We have a travel cage, (which is big, holds 6 ferrets comfortably squished), and then we have a carrier that we use for vet trips. Either way, I could separate munchkin.
Big question, though: if i separated her, how often would i have to feed her? With kibble, she usually munches all day. I don't know if i can take her out every 3 hours to eat.
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Post by spiritualtramp on Sept 20, 2009 9:09:59 GMT -5
Well, what I would do, is separate the raw eaters at their mealtimes (twice a day?) Let them fill up on raw, and then put Munchkin and the kibble back into the cage. While Munchkin is separated, you can feed her special soups and try to get her switch too in her own way. If possible I'd take the kibble out about four hours before raw meals so that the raw kids are definitely hungry when their meals are offered. Does this make sense? It's how I did it when my kids were all at different stages and it worked great, but it does take some patience and foresight for sure.
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Post by vkoslin on Oct 15, 2009 22:28:12 GMT -5
GOOD NEWSSS!!!!!
I came home tonight and GUESS WHO WAS EATING THE RAW CHICKEN OUT OF THE BOWL....And chose NOT to eat the kibble that was in there!
I kissed her a million times!
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Post by Heather on Oct 15, 2009 22:37:20 GMT -5
Congratulations....give your little one a hug from me. It's great when they finally discover what real food is and that it makes them feel so good that they won't eat the kibbles anymore  ciao |
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Post by vkoslin on Oct 16, 2009 9:12:00 GMT -5
Thanks!!! It means SO much to me...I had all but given up on her and resorted to a life of kibble mixed with raw.
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Post by Heather on Oct 16, 2009 21:57:14 GMT -5
You would have won eventually. You are more determined that your little ones, that's what counts. You know the stakes, so the outcome is inevitable I've never had a fert who absolutely refused to eat real food . With the determination of their hooman, that is one battle they really can't and don't really want to win. The fun part is usually the biggest hold outs are the best raw eaters Good luck ciao |
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