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Post by ccretarolo on Sept 10, 2009 22:21:36 GMT -5
Most of the time they're able to eat all of the bone in the backs. The texture is actually about the same as necks so it's not a problem for them. It also helps that I get backs for free since all butchers consider them throw away parts.
Right now, I have to wait until I can get some greens and some more bone off meat to make soups. For now though, they seem to be doing fine other than the poop consistency so I'm not going to worry about it too much.
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Post by bigsis7 on Sept 11, 2009 18:56:37 GMT -5
Alright, just making sure :]. I've never tried feeding my ferrets chicken backs! And free meat is always nice!
Well sounds like they're doing great!
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Post by ccretarolo on Sept 20, 2009 13:58:59 GMT -5
I tried giving them some larger pieces of meat but ended up having to step back down to 1/2" pieces. Almost everything went uneaten although I know Mogli did eat some when he simply got too hungry.
He's eating a little more now but I think he's not eating as much now since he's done gaining his winter weight. On the other hand, Ozzy is eating a lot. I think that he's about half way to having his winter weight on but I'm not completely sure.
In other news, I got my FN 143 on Friday and the brats are loving it. Hopefully either today or tomorrow I'll be able to go to the Goodwill and get some toys to put in there for them since there's a lot of empty space in the cage right now.
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Post by bigsis7 on Sept 21, 2009 17:11:38 GMT -5
Hmm what size of meat was he eating before? Maybe you'll just have to stick with the smaller pieces for a while longer. Or after eating the 1/2" well for a while, you could fast him for around 8 hours and then feed him the larger pieces with maybe a favorite treat on top.
Yay for not eating as much, lol! Bree is at her winter weight, but Ollie has a way to go...And is eating a ton!
I love FN's!! So spacious!
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Post by ccretarolo on Sept 27, 2009 10:39:44 GMT -5
So, I think that the 1/2" pieces are the largest I'll be able to get him to eat. I don't mind chopping stuff up since I know that he'll eat everything I offer him.
I still need to go shopping to round of my ideal menu but here it is. This will be per ferret.
Sunday: 1 chicken neck or 1/2 turkey neck. 1 cube soup w/ greens
Monday: 1/2 chicken back or 1/4 turkey back.
Tuesday: Duck, chicken, or beef heart. 1 cube soup
Wednesday: Organ day! Liver, spleen, kidney. Served with 1/2 of normal bone in portion. 1 cube soup for overnight.
Thursday: Chicken or turkey neck.
Friday: Pork shoulder, chicken wing. 1 cube soup
Saturday: Duck heart, pork, or boneless chicken
I have all of my bone in meat except for wings. I also have all of my organs. I just need to get some duck, chicken, and beef heart along with some pork shoulder.
My soup will consist of various heart meats with pureed greens.
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Post by bigsis7 on Sept 27, 2009 12:11:32 GMT -5
Looks great!! Is it possible for you to feed beef once a week? Also if you could give them an egg every once in a while that would be great to. Fish oil wouldn't be a bad addition either a couple times a week, especially with winter starting up here soon. It'll keep their coats nice and soft and if your ferrets are like mine it'll lessen the itching during the winter. Other than that it looks fantastic! Makes me want to be a ferret and live at your house, lol!
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Post by ccretarolo on Sept 27, 2009 15:24:38 GMT -5
I actually give olive oil every day. It's a staple in my house so it's a lot easier to get a hold of. I also don't worry about dry skin during the winter since the winters here in Oregon are very rainy expect for the very rare times that we get snow.
I might be able to give beef every once in a while but I'm not sure about it. I was thinking of giving beef heart once a week along with putting it in the soup since it's a lot cheaper then regular beef. I'll ask my dad about it though.
And it shouldn't be a problem for me to add some egg into the soup. My dad has chickens in the back yard who lay wonderful eggs. The chickens are also still young so for now, their eggs have more yolk then white. It's also nice to have our own chickens since the shells are really hard so their perfect for calcium supplementation if either of my guys get sick... And minimal antibiotics with lots of fresh fruits and veggies in their diet... Eggs will definitely be coming back into the picture...
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Post by bigsis7 on Sept 28, 2009 17:17:14 GMT -5
Great!! I believe beef heart should work fine, so if you could incorporate that into the diet that'd be great! And eggs from your dad's chickens is even better! More natural for the ferrets. Olive oil works too.
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Post by bigsis7 on Oct 6, 2009 17:25:10 GMT -5
Any updates? If you could just add the beef, eggs, and olive oil to the schedule I can send it to Giuli.
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Post by ccretarolo on Oct 9, 2009 10:14:26 GMT -5
Sorry it took so long... The last couple of weeks have been hectic between starting school and working on getting my driver's license.
Here's my updated schedule:
Sunday: 1 chicken neck or 1/2 turkey neck. 1 cube soup w/ greens
Monday: 1/2 chicken back or 1/4 turkey back.
Tuesday: Duck, chicken, or beef heart. 1 cube soup
Wednesday: Organ day! Liver, spleen, kidney. Served with 1/2 of normal bone in portion. 1 cube soup for overnight.
Thursday: Chicken or turkey neck.
Friday: Pork shoulder and beef, chicken wing. 1 cube soup
Saturday: Duck heart, pork, or boneless chicken.
All meals are served with olive oil. Also, I've started adding an egg yolk to every morning meal. I will also be adding 2 eggs to each batch of soup I make. The soup will consist of various heart meats, pureed veggies, a little bit of olive oil, and the 2 eggs.
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Post by bigsis7 on Oct 9, 2009 13:28:57 GMT -5
Totally understand :]! I've been busy myself.
Looks great! I'll send it to Giuli!
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Post by ccretarolo on Oct 12, 2009 11:48:11 GMT -5
There's a small adjustment needed for my schedule. In addition to chicken, beef, and duck hearts, I also will be feeding pork heart. I also have some beef top round along with pork shoulder and pork picnic.
Also, the soup is different then I originally planned. I'll be giving an organ soup that consists of pork, duck, and chicken livers along with pork kidney and pork spleen. I'll also be trying out beef gut (cleaned small intestines). The soup also includes romaine lettuce along with spinach. Since the soup is organ only, I'll only be giving it once a week.
I also have some rabbit that I'll be giving them a few times a month for variety.
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Post by bigsis7 on Oct 12, 2009 11:48:17 GMT -5
Alright here are Giuli's suggestions. Once you've incorporated this, just edit the schedule, and I'll send it back to Giuli :]!
Switch out the necks and backs for ALL parts of the chicken (especially thighs and legs). Again, whole chicken fryers cut up into various parts (legs, thighs, back, wings, neck, tail, etc) is the cheapest way to do this.
A little heavy on the eggs honestly. I really would feed one WHOLE egg per ferret once per week. As for the pureed veggies, I really would recommend limiting this to no more then 1/2 teaspoon per ferret per day. they really dont have a need for the veggies.
In place of olive oil I would use an animal based oil. Fish oil (NOT cod liver oil) or emu oil will do. If the poopies look a little lose or oily, I'd cut back on the amount of oil being fed. I'd give about a teaspoon a day, no more.
I really like that there is liver, spleen, AND kidney. alot of secreting organs. Its great that your newbie is able to find so much variety! Wonderful!
She can always throw in some cornish game hens for variety, these have easy to manage bones and my ferrets seem to love them.
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Post by ccretarolo on Oct 12, 2009 17:26:18 GMT -5
Sunday: 1 chicken neck or 1/2 turkey neck.
Monday: Game hen pieces
Tuesday: Duck, chicken, and/or beef heart.
Wednesday: 1 cube organ soup (duck, chicken, and pork liver with pork spleen and kidney. Mixed with greens for fiber). Half of a duck head (with brains). 1 whole egg.
Thursday: Chicken thigh and/or 1/8 of a rabbit (with bones).
Friday: Pork shoulder or picnic, beef top round.
Saturday: Pork heart, pork picnic, or duck heart.
The only change I can't make is the oil. I simply don't have the money for fish or emu oil right now. I give olive oil because it's always in the house so I never have to make a special purchase. I will get some fish or emu oil once I start making money though...
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Post by bigsis7 on Oct 12, 2009 20:05:51 GMT -5
Okie dokie I'll let Giuli know!
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