|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 23, 2009 16:10:22 GMT -5
Soup is the way I transitioned mine as well. Using the baby food as a base, puree a bit of chicken meat, heart, and liver, and just add the tiniest dab of the raw well mixed in. Don't worry about it going to waste. Just freeze the excess in ice cube trays, then baggy the cubes. You can thaw one cube at a time.
|
|
|
|
Post by mjohn143 on Nov 23, 2009 19:02:14 GMT -5
Okay, well tom I'll try that soup. I would give just the hearts, but honestly I cannot tell the difference between the hearts and gizzards. I did get some thigh meat at the grocery today so hopefully I can make a soup out of that. I think Beatrice will switch a little more easily (to my surprise) bc Badger is proving to be VERY VERY VERY finicky.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kerit on Nov 23, 2009 19:27:58 GMT -5
I cannot tell the difference between the hearts and gizzards That might not be your fault... I'm quite certain that the "hearts and gizzards" that I picked up from the local grocery had no hearts at all. Lately they've only been labeled "gizzards." After ordering a few pounds from Hare Today, I know what hearts really look like! Next time I pull a bag from the freezer I'll take a comparison shot. |
|
|
|
Post by ccretarolo on Nov 23, 2009 19:50:19 GMT -5
Hearts should be dark reddish brown and a little squishy to the touch... If this isn't clear enough, there should be tiny tubes (heart valves) at the thickest end.
Gizzards are pretty solid to the touch and will have a white membrane on them. This membrane also connects several pieces of gizzard in most cases. If you see some green spots on the gizzards, it's only chlorophyll and is perfectly normal.
Also, giving some fatty pork in the soup can be good after they get used to a smooth soup. The fat will turn into strings and gives them practice chewing on something soft before they get chunks of muscle meat.
|
|
|
|
Post by mjohn143 on Nov 29, 2009 10:21:35 GMT -5
Thanks both of you! It took me a little longer to see your posts bc I didn't realize they were on the second page. After reading your description and looking I realized I only had little pieces of heart in the package (mostly gizzards). I'll have to shop around to see where to find hearts. I have been giving Beatrice soup and she finally began to eat it and is now in love with it! The first batch I made was really smooth, but after she went through that I accidentally made it more lumpy the second time around (bc I broke the blender  ). Anyway what I put in it was a little ZuPreem kibble, mostly chicken thighs with the skin, and egg with the shell, olive oil and water. How long should I wait to start making more chunks? I'm not really sure where to go from here but I am sssooo happy she is vigorously eating from the bowl. Badger the other hand... will only barely lick it off my finger if I hold her in my lap. Thanks again everyone, I am really glad I found a place where people love ferrets so much!  |
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 29, 2009 11:18:43 GMT -5
You can start giving them thicker, chunkier soup when they seem to accept this one! Don't move too fast with them, though, else they may just decide to dig in their heels over it all, stubborn little sots that they can be  |
|
|
|
Post by mjohn143 on Nov 29, 2009 16:50:10 GMT -5
I have certainly learned that if nothing else!! I guess Badger's name turned out to suit her well  . I'm really surprised how well Beatrice is doing with it vs Badger. I thought for sure that Beatrice would be more difficult bc she is so much older plus I know for a fact that previous to me she had been fed Marshall food since the day she was born for 5 YEARS! I guess I'd rather Beatrice be the easy one to switch seeing as she has insulinoma. |
|
|
|
Post by sherrylynne on Nov 30, 2009 18:45:15 GMT -5
That's for sure! Actually, that's one of the things I'm hoping to avoid with mine. 5 of them have started the raw/whole prey quite young, so that drastically reduces their chances of it, anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by ferretrunner on Dec 20, 2009 16:20:19 GMT -5
Maddy,
Don't beat yourself up over beatrice's insulinoma. We do the best we can with the information we have. Prednisone and diet help a lot with controlling the symptoms of insulinoma. I have never fed raw. I'm here to learn more about that. Two of my ferrets had insulinoma. I feed the best quality kibble available and augmented with duck soup (homemade). The two kiddos had good life quality for almost two years following their diagnosis. One lived to be 10 and the other lived to be 9. They were both diagnosed at age 7-8. Anyway, keep taking good care of Beatrice. Your love and care will help her have a happy life and help control the symptoms.
|
|
