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Post by Heather on Oct 12, 2009 21:11:45 GMT -5
At this point all you can do is keep offering the boned meats. The only other suggestion is to offer some of the ground commercial mixes that carry bone in (rmb) to get the bone into him. Even if you can get him to eat the fine ground commercial mixes (if that's your inclination) I would continue to feed him whole meats, I think he would come around but with this one you're going to have to be persistent.
ciao
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Post by jccretarolo on Oct 13, 2009 13:35:22 GMT -5
I don't have the money until next month to try any ground mixes so I'm just going to keep trying with him. Also what would you think about me giving him bone mush? I'm going to be making some for my cat's because they aren't very good at eating bone either. I know it's not the best but it would at least get him the calcium until he starts eating the raw bone.
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Post by Heather on Oct 13, 2009 23:25:10 GMT -5
What do you mean by a bone mush? If you mean just ground up raw bone, sure...why not? It does get him the needed calcium. Let me know  ciao |
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Post by jccretarolo on Oct 14, 2009 23:48:17 GMT -5
No unfortunately I don't have a grinder. The bone mush was suggested to me on a cat board I'm on. It is cooked but you put the bones in a slow or pressure cooker for 24-48hrs or until they are mush. I'm wondering if this could be a good way to get some extra calcium in the ferrets as well? I know that uncooked is a lot better, but until I'm able to get some grind it's better than nothing right? Oh also he did eat a little bone last night and has become very aggressive toward the others when he is eating so I think he may be catching on to the bone thing  |
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Post by Heather on Oct 15, 2009 0:31:46 GMT -5
Ok, I thought that's what it might be  Yes, you can feed it. It's not great but much better than nothing and probably better than the calcium that you will get from egg shell (easier used by the body). Your little guy sounds like he's coming into himself. Food aggression is usually the primary example to show that his food has suddenly become an important factor in his life. It looks like he's moving forward. Excellent work ciao |
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Post by jccretarolo on Oct 25, 2009 16:03:27 GMT -5
Sorry it has been so long but I didn't see the point of posting when there was really no change with my guys.
Kasparov is now eating bone!!! Yeah for him. Pukka is really starting to gain weight and has become the most aggressive when eating...he will now chase the others around the cage to get their food and then stash all of the food before eating, in order for anyone else to eat they have to wait for him to finish and go to bed.
I'll be checking in latter...must defrost the critter's dinner now...
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Post by Heather on Oct 25, 2009 17:59:57 GMT -5
Congratulations, Kasparov...give your little one a big hug Yay...Pukka for discovering that raw is food and he must think it tastes really good too . So where does everyone stand....Do we have everyone eating bone now? If so, lets make up a weekly menu of what your guys are eating and get you and your little furbabies graduated. ciao |
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Post by jccretarolo on Oct 26, 2009 0:03:07 GMT -5
Yes everyone is now eating bone. I'll write out a weekly menu tomorrow when my human baby is taking his nap because that is really the only time I can do anything on the computer.
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Post by Heather on Oct 26, 2009 7:29:14 GMT -5
Gotcha ciao |
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Post by jccretarolo on Oct 26, 2009 16:37:35 GMT -5
OK so here is a menu of what my 5 are eating...
Monday- Gizzards (4oz), beef heart (4oz), and turkey soup (10oz)
Tuesday- Chicken necks (6oz), pork heart (4oz), beef round (4oz)
Wednesday- duck heart (4oz), pork (6-8oz)
Thursday- Organ soup (5oz), duck head (1)
Friday- turkey neck (1), heart (4oz), and if needed pork (4-6oz)
Saturday- chicken thigh meat (2-3 thighs), heart (4oz)
Sunday- duck wing (2), pork (6-8oz)
For the most part the soups are not being fed anymore but it looks like they might be getting sick from what we all just got over so I may be giving them more soups until they all feel better. I also put either a little olive oil or fish oil (the same kind I take) on there food. the soups are made of 1lb base meat, 6oz duck heart, and 1 egg. I'm also going to try them on plain egg but want them to get over their colds before trying anything new.
Let me know if I need to tweak their menu any and I have also been giving a duck foot or 2 cut up every day, they don't eat much of them but they do like chewing on them so I figure they are good for their teeth.
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Post by Heather on Oct 26, 2009 22:57:01 GMT -5
Thank you. I will post this to Giuli and see if she likes it. It looks good to me. You're going to find as you progress that you're always shifting this, trying this changing that. I find the raw diet changes as your little ones demands change. They may have a fav that they like when they're ill or they may have different requirements as they get older. That's the joy of the raw diet. You're entirely in control. I will post this to Giuli and see what she has to say.
ciao
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Post by Forum Administrator on Oct 28, 2009 20:44:15 GMT -5
The only thing I would say is try to feed just a little more bone. Maybe add more bone-in meat 1 more time per week. Also, if you aren't already be sure to vary the type of raw meaty bones you feed. So don't always feed chicken thighs, switch them out with legs, wings, necks, backs, etc. Something different every week. If you make that one little tweak then I'd say you are good to go! Everything looks to be in order here. Now that you've completed the switch and had your feeding schedule reviewed, its time for you to officially graduate from the HF Mentor program and for us to retire this thread to the "newbie switch archive"!  No one (yourself included) will be able to post in this thread anymore once its been moved to the archive. Please begin posting your diet-related questions in the "whole prey" "raw" or "general feeding questions and discussion" area. We encourage EVERYONE that is archived to continue posting. Feeding a natural diet is a learning PROCESS, there is much to learn after making the switch. There is always lots to learn, and lots to share with the newbies on the site. If you feel comfortable offering the newbies advice, then by all means go ahead. The more help we can get, the better. If you'd rather lurk and not post, thats cool too, its just always nice to have our graduates stick around. We (your mentor and I) will run a detailed "check up" with you (via PM or email) at the 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 1 year anniversary since "going natural" just to make sure all is going well and that you arent having any issues. Congrats on all your hard work and on your graduation!!!      |
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Post by Heather on Oct 28, 2009 23:32:00 GMT -5
Congratulations...you've done it Your journey both ending and just beginning. I very proud of you and your accomplishments and that of your little guys being ready and willing to make the jump into their new diet. Give them big hugs from me and I'm hoping that I will continue to see you and hear of their further exploits on the forum ciao |
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Post by jccretarolo on Oct 28, 2009 23:38:33 GMT -5
Thank you for your help along our switching journey! I will try to add another day of bone in meat a week also, I'm even hoping that they will take day old chicks and mice in the near future but I'm going to wait until they are all over their cold before giving anything new.
Thank you and I'm sure I'll be asking more questions in the near future!
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