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Post by mindfield on Jul 14, 2009 11:27:41 GMT -5
Hello, I have been blending the bones with chicken and pork. I have been feeding them the same amount of pork with chicken for awhile now and it's been going great. I'm might up it a little next week but I think Fern might need a little bit more time getting use to it as she just got use to eating chicken by itself. She does eat it though so i'm really happy! Jack is doing well, he's eating the pork with the chicken just fine but I don't think he's ready to eat it alone..I will up the pork next week. Tonight im putting liver on top of thier soup just for a change.
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Post by bigsis7 on Jul 16, 2009 18:54:44 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't answered this! I've been at camp since the 14th and came home early cause I hurt my foot and ended up getting 15 stitches.
Yay!! I'm so happy Fern eats it! You're doing great! I would (like you said) keep the on the pork w/ chicken a bit longer. Shorter for Jack, longer for Fern.
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Post by mindfield on Jul 19, 2009 22:34:24 GMT -5
Hey no problem, I know it's summer and I'm busy as well. I hope your foot is fine now!! that sucks! I'm really scared of blood haha.
Anyways I have been keeping Fern on this diet for awhile now...I might try to increase the amount of pork. Jack doesn't seems to like the whole pork thing yet so im also keeping him on this diet but increasing the amount a bit more tomorrow and I'm hoping he still eats it. Nothing else is really new with their diet though and I do change it up once or twice a week so that they arent always eating chicken and pork.
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Post by mindfield on Jul 25, 2009 17:28:13 GMT -5
Ferrets are doing well, I have increased both their pork intake..I just did that with Fern this week and she seems fine with it. I got worried at first because she was just sniffing it  . Not really much happening though, I was just thinking of what kind of treats I should be giving them. I give them liver and chicken and sometimes i see lamb so I grab it and they eat all three but anymore? I don't give them ferretone at all except when they go to the vet. |
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Post by bigsis7 on Jul 29, 2009 22:04:59 GMT -5
Thanks! My foot is doing better and I too hate blood XD!
Alright we are almost moved in, so I should be on more!
Sounds like they're doing great!! Ferrets don't need treats, but it feels nice to spoil them, lol! Hmm once in a while you could give them cooked meat as long as it's not really seasoned or hearts and gizzards.
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Post by mindfield on Jul 29, 2009 23:34:20 GMT -5
Really? You can give ferrets cooked meat? I didn't know what. Oh yeah I also give them gizzards. I know i didn't mention that before but they eat it too. I guess for Fern she really doesn't like it when I watch to see if she eats the meat...she just wants me o leave her alone and she'll eat it when i'm not looking.
They are both doing well and started eating more pork. I haven't tried getting rid of the chicken yet so they haven't eaten it alone. Is it ok that thier stools look kinda elasticy? Greenish? When they eat without the bones it looks like that. Just wondering because sometimes i get worried.
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Post by bigsis7 on Jul 30, 2009 9:58:06 GMT -5
Cooked meat can be given as a treat, but should not be fed more than like once a week. Ember (a breeder ferret that me and her breeder decided didn't suit my home) didn't like me watching her eat either hehe!
When they don't eat bone their poo will be a bit soft. I'm not sure about the greenish poo though. Is it like a dark green or a light green? If the poo is really dark almost black and liquidy it could mean ulcers. If they just get it when they don't eat bone though, they should be fine :]!
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Post by mindfield on Aug 2, 2009 15:34:31 GMT -5
sometimes i put chicken in with bone and Jack eats it but not a lot of bone. he finishes it later but before that his poop is really dark green  hes not even a year old though. i only see this when he eats meat and hasn't finished the bone. i hope it isnt anything and im just worried for no reason. Btw, heres Fern eating from Jack's bowl. That;s pork and chicken mixed(50/50)! and shes finally eating it. usually they eat in this box but i decided to take them out and take a picture! Fern had the same pork and chicken mixed in her bowl but she always thinks im giving Jack something else. (that she obviously thinks taste better)   |
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Post by mindfield on Aug 2, 2009 22:05:13 GMT -5
Oh, one more thing, I only give them chicken bones, are there any good bones that I should be giving them? and what kind I should be looking for? Some bones are too bif for Fern to bite through, I want something that she can start at first to make her jaws stronger first.
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Post by bigsis7 on Aug 3, 2009 22:14:48 GMT -5
Hmm I'm not sure about the poo, but if you do get worried you could post a question about it on the forum just to make sure he's ok.
Love the pics!! Ferrets seem to naturally think that, but if it gets them to eat meat, then I'm all for it, lol!!
Right now for Fern I'd stick to wing and leg bones. My ferrets love turkey necks and even though they can't chew through the bone, they enjoy chewing it. Cornish game hens or any other poultry bones should work great! Just stay away from big bones like pig feet.
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Post by mindfield on Aug 4, 2009 0:51:07 GMT -5
Ok thanks a lot for all your help. I'm giving them all these types of bones right now so i'm glad im on the right track. It was really fast switching them to pork, I don't think they know the difference because they look the same? So now Fern is eating turkey, pork, and chicken plus bones. Should I move on to the next one or continue with this for awhile?
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Post by bigsis7 on Aug 4, 2009 19:58:36 GMT -5
Hey!!
No problem :]! Thanks for doing such a good job =D!
It was probably easier for them to eat pork cause it taste a bit like chicken ;].
Jack's eating all Fern is eating right? If they're now eating bone, three kinds of meat, and organs you're almost ready to graduate! When you can, if you could put a schedule together that would be great! Usually you want to feed bones (with meat on them of course) 4 days a week, boneless meat 2 days a week, and organs one day a week. The organs if given in smaller amounts can be broken up across the week though :]! Here's a basic schedule as an example:
Monday:Chicken Wings
Tuesday: Chicken Legs
Wednesday:Turkey Necks
Thursday:Chicken Wings
Friday:Turkey
Saturday:Pork
Sunday: Chicken and Pork liver
Doesn't have to be exactly like that, but it's easy to follow :]! Once they're on a schedule, you'll be all set to graduate :]!
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Post by mindfield on Aug 10, 2009 1:28:59 GMT -5
Hi,
I just started this on Friday and wanted to update you on how they are doing. Both Fern and Jack ate the same thing, except Jack also eats beef. So both of them are doing very well, Fern doesn't finish all her bones but she does eat it. She also likes it when it's very soupy so I still blend it to crush the bones. I think I might have to do this for awhile just so that she gets a little bit use to the bones.
As for the schedule, the one you placed above looks good. I did alter it a bit though:
Monday:Chicken Wings
Tuesday: Turkey
Wednesday:Turkey Necks
Thursday:Chicken Wings
Friday:Chicken Legs
Saturday:Pork
Sunday: Chicken and Pork liver
Is it ok that in some days I can feed them turkey in the morning and chicken at night?
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Post by bigsis7 on Aug 10, 2009 15:25:33 GMT -5
That schedule looks great! And yep it would be awesome if you could feed two meats a day :]! I'm here as long as you Fern, and Jack need. Fern doesn't have to eat all the bone, but if she could eat almost all of it that would be great :]!
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Post by mindfield on Aug 16, 2009 8:04:00 GMT -5
Hey!
Fern and Jack are doing great! They are both keeping up with their diet. At first I didn't give Fern that much bone because I wanted her to get use to the meat first. Now I give her the same amount as Jack and she eats it! Sometimes if she can't finish it, she'll grab it and put it behind the drawer and saves it for later. She always puts it their so i layed some new papers behind and throw it away later when it gets old. I am also going to be out of the city for two weeks and may not have time to get on and tell you how everything is.
My sister will be taking care of them for one week and we have a babysitter the other week. My sister knows the drill when feeding them raw. I did tell the babysitter that they eat meat. I am thinking I will give them some chicken/turkey only for that week. They'll still have their liver treats as well with them.
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. Not really much happening though, I was just thinking of what kind of treats I should be giving them. I give them liver and chicken and sometimes i see lamb so I grab it and they eat all three but anymore? I don't give them ferretone at all except when they go to the vet.