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Post by Heather on Apr 15, 2009 22:37:26 GMT -5
Run with it. If salmon is the switching tool then go for it. You will probably have to go slowly especially with Morphia but like I said she sounds an awful lot like my Samurai. If you go to quickly, she will throw it up but take your time and be patient you may have indeed found the magic bullet. Gradually add small (very small) amounts of ground to the salmon. Eventually, you will be feeding totally raw. It took me 6 months to switch Samurai. Some weeks we made no progress at all but stick to it and it seems to eventually work out. Good luck....you're going to get there, I have total faith in you ciao
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Post by faunafreak on Apr 16, 2009 21:55:15 GMT -5
I'm glad someone does - it's really discouraging having ONE animal in each group willing to try, but nada with everyone else. I gave Keller a pup yesterday - half was eaten within about an hour (I put it in before I gave them their soup, but after I took out their kibble. I only saw a foot when I put them up about 20 minutes ago. I also put in a bit of salmon with the raw in the soup, and everyone ate it (with the usual amount of fuss from Oatmeal). I don't really have that much to say tonight - had my first day at my new job (working in the avian nursery at the Wildlife Care Center in downtown Ft. Lauderdale), and I'm exhausted. I'll try to remember to post every night, but if I don't, then I may have passed out after getting home.
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Post by Heather on Apr 16, 2009 22:31:14 GMT -5
It's always difficult trying to switch multiple furbabies but trying to switch multiple species of furbabies can be really frustrating. Offering kibble and other foods can be really difficult because it's like offering candy with cauliflour, the candy will be eaten first. I always make sure that kibble isn't available during and often just before I offer raw foods or soupy. Because of the set up I have here, I quite often remove kibble while the guys are up and running around. I offer raw foods 24/7 and would hand feed switching ferrets during that time. If they weren't eating raw at all I would return them to their cage so they could eat kibbles but only after trying to get them to eat their raw foods. I work evenings, so this type of set up is very doable for me. For a lot of people it doesn't work at all. I'm glad to hear that everyone, including finicky Oatmeal ate the salmon. Keep at it, even Oatmeal will eventually come around. I certainly understand about exhaustion. Post as often as you can but I will certainly understand if you've fallen asleep before you've been able to post We all do the best we can do. Good luck both with getting your guys to further move ahead on their diet and with your new job. ciao
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Post by faunafreak on Apr 17, 2009 21:34:40 GMT -5
Ok, haven't fallen asleep yet - but spending the day trying to convince baby birds to eat, then coming home and trying to convince cats and ferrets to eat can be REALLY exhausting! Anyway, the cats did well tonight. I made the soup a bit more watery than usual, then put in the raw and the salmon. Keller found the bowl and started eating immediately. Oatmeal put up a fight - even went so far as to push the BOWL away when I tried to feed him with the spoon - then the little b*@#(@# walked around and started eating on the other side . At least he ate some. Llullu ate a bit, but not much. Since I didn't have to fight to get her started, I just let her eat what she wanted and wander off. By the time I found Ushba, the soup was a bit cold, but he ate some anyway. I remioved the kibble and put the soup remnants in the cage with a bit of ground raw (Keller ate some off my finger before I gave him the soup). I'm also thawing out a pup for Keller. Thanks for your help and understanding - I really appreciate it!
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Post by Heather on Apr 17, 2009 22:18:07 GMT -5
I can see where force feeding is going to become your specialty I love Oatmeal, what a little sh**, how like a ferret. It's got to be his idea I'm sorry I'm not laughing at you, he's just so much fun. What a little monkey You and you're furbabies are doing fantastic. I'm guessing that Morphia is still keeping the food down, great!! I will check in with you tomorrow. Great job. ciao
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Post by faunafreak on Apr 19, 2009 6:01:03 GMT -5
Well, the soup remnants and raw that I left in the cage Friday night weren't touched when I checked yesterday, in spite of having removed their kibble. Oh well. The rat has been eaten, though. Other than that, everything's going about the same. Morphia still hasn't had any problems that I've found, and Anna's still eating her bits
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Post by Heather on Apr 19, 2009 14:13:39 GMT -5
Did you offer the furbrats some fresh soupy? I find that with soupy that fresh is better. If they haven't eaten it within a couple of hours then they usually won't eat it afterwards . I don't know if they instinctively know that it's starting to turn or what but they quite often won't eat it. Great about the rat...Keller? and? Has Oatmeal eaten anything? Great news about Morphia Have you increased the amount of raw recently in Morphia's salmon? Good for Anna, is she increasing her amounts or does it appear that she's still grazing? I will check in this evening ciao
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Post by faunafreak on Apr 19, 2009 23:33:40 GMT -5
They'll eat the fresh soupy - but I won't try leaving it in overnight for them again, if they aren't likely to eat it. Oatmeal hasn't touched the rodent that I've seen. I'll increase the bit of raw next time I feed Morphia. Anna still seems to be grazing. That's it for tonight. Thanks!
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Post by Heather on Apr 20, 2009 0:12:30 GMT -5
Instead of leaving soupy, try leaving a couple of small chunks of meat for them. Don't leave a lot, just a couple of small pieces in a bowl. They may not touch it (that's why I don't want you to put a lot in there, there's no point in wasting the food) but I've had some really good success with just leaving them some meat to chew on overnight. I discovered Calypso fighting with Captain Jack over a small chicken leg. Up until that point as far as I could figure she was only eating ground meats and bone. I had just been putting the stuff in the cage and then letting the other guys eat it when it was left over. I had up until that point been leaving the ground mix (a mixture that has the same consistency as one would have if one was making hamburgers or meat loaf) knowing that she was eating that at night. It's just an idea, that may be worth investigating. It sounds like you're progressing and your guys are moving along. Are you adding more raw to your soupy? ciao
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Post by faunafreak on Apr 20, 2009 22:26:26 GMT -5
I put in a little more raw tonight (it's about half a tsp now). Oatmeal wouldn't touch it. Period. Keller, Llullu, and Ushba ate some, and later I saw Keller eating Skit's ground. I put a little more raw into Anna and Morphia's salmon, too - Anna ate some, but Morphia hasn't been out to eat yet.
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Post by Heather on Apr 20, 2009 23:56:45 GMT -5
Oatmeal is a little poop I take it he wouldn't even try?! What a brat. Ok, for him take it back a step and get him eating again. He wasn't really stuck on eating it before and we've just given him a reason not to eat any That's great that Anna ate some...there is hope I will be interested to see how Morphia takes to it. Hopefully it won't upset her stomach. I know with Samurai, I had to wait for him and his tummy. It was really hit and miss. Good luck. Let me know if you were able to convince our little stick in the mud Oatmeal to eat anything. ciao
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Post by faunafreak on Apr 21, 2009 22:09:28 GMT -5
Went out and picked up some of the ingredients that I put in their old soup, as well as a new ingredient (goat meat). I'm going to make a batch, then mix it in with the batch I have now to see if Oatmeal is more amenable to it. In spite of eating the soup (usually) since I've made this past batch, he hasn't seemed to enjoy it nearly as much as he used to. Maybe once I get him on a soup he likes, it would be easier for him to accept larger bits of raw. What do you think (also, what do you think of goat?)
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Post by Heather on Apr 21, 2009 22:49:44 GMT -5
I think it's a great idea. Poor Oatmeal is really not happy with the changes and maybe by stepping back we can let him catch up with everyone else. I have more than a few who really enjoy goat and lamb. I know that the goat appears to be leaner than the lamb. I would definitely push the lamb for anyone who wants to put weight on their guys. I had more than a couple of really fat butts when I was feeding it on a regular basis ciao
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Post by faunafreak on Apr 22, 2009 22:45:10 GMT -5
Great. I'm cutting up/cooking the meat tonight. Also, I gave Skit some chunks of turkey (no bone), and she was very happy with them! How should I go about transitioning her to the bones and stuff from the pre-ground (I want to make sure I give her the right mix of everything - also, she really needs to lose weight. I can't remember ever having a female cat that was a bowling ball by the end of her first year)
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Post by Heather on Apr 22, 2009 23:30:23 GMT -5
Offer her some chunked meats about the same size that you're offering her tonight. I'm hoping that these aren't fingernail sized . Smash up a wing or even offer her a wing, just break it or cut it at each of the joints and give her one of those pieces. You can also break them in half if you think she might be overwhelmed. I've actually caught Merlyn munching on a leg bone (though he doesn't often grace me with the privilege of catching him doing that ) He might actually have to chew something otherwise...brat I know he eats bones because he hunts. I think he's not near as finicky as he likes to let on You will find that once you get her eating whole meats or even ground but it's easier with whole meats for her to start loosing weight. The reason being is that you're in total control as to how much fat she's getting. You may find that Skit actually may prefer to eat chunked meats. Some do. Like I said in the beginning with cats it's much more difficult because they do what they want to....and when they want to and what works for one may not work for the other. Frustrating. Give it a try....you may find that she likes the chunked meats. ciao
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