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Post by murphysmom on Sept 17, 2009 10:02:44 GMT -5
I did the dish thing again, with the different commercial raws on it and S&C's seem to win! That is usually the first to go. And I surprised that Murphy seems to like the commercial raw too. That's all for now.
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Post by cristina on Sept 17, 2009 11:25:15 GMT -5
Ok good, then keep uping the S&C and decrease kibbles, this may be slow but dont worry it will happen eventually where they will love raw!
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Post by murphysmom on Sept 18, 2009 23:19:20 GMT -5
Still working on it. Gotta go to the store tomorrow and pick up some meat for the kids. Gave them more of the S&C. Athena loves them!
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Post by cristina on Sept 20, 2009 9:12:49 GMT -5
With the meat you get, let me know how you prepare it for them and who eats it.....from there we can see if we can up the meat and see their reaction to it Also we can start them on bone soon hopefully as well
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Post by murphysmom on Sept 22, 2009 15:56:00 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't been on in a couple of days. I have been having some ferret dynamics that are keeping me busy. But here is what I can tell you about food wise. First- Ollie has been getting baby food (chicken) with some dried duck soup. It is this southshoreferretcare.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=6&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=17&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1 . Saphire gave me some, so I have been trying it out. Athena is eating the dry S&C crunch treats no problem. I am still introducing Diamond to raw type foods. Murphy and Hammy will take soup, but it still has to be thin soups, not thick. Koda still thinks I am trying to kill him. So, not really any progress other than getting Ollie to really eat some baby food (he did so off a spoon) and Athena's zeal for the commercial raw. Oh yay, Murphy does really good with the Wysong. I forgot to add that! So that is good. Umm- qiuck question, I give Salmon Oil everyday in the food dish and in the soups. Can it increase their smell?
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Post by cristina on Sept 24, 2009 13:27:36 GMT -5
Thats ok! I was actually going to say sorry for not being on as much myself, I recently had a death in the family and now things are just getting back to normal. Anyways, Im not sure if it wil make them smell, I do know fish days are a bit smellier than the rest at my house lol, but it doesnt last for more than a day or 2 (and thats just mostly with the poops though) I feed my guys fish oil and it doesnt seem to enhance their smell so I am not too sure since it could even differ from ferret to ferret...I would suggest testing it for a week or so and see if theres any difference as for their eating, it sounds ok so far...some will be farther than others, thats totally normal....though I would suggest putting some patty meat in with the baby food and duk soup for Ollie, see how he takes to it, masking a little meat in with their normal foods helps get them going and use to raw (texture and taste), just try with very small amounts first off Diamond hoepfully will respond quickly, just make sure of introduce raw in that ways you do with the others it sounds like your on the right track, just keep up the good work!!
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Post by murphysmom on Sept 26, 2009 20:54:48 GMT -5
Nothing new to report.
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Post by murphysmom on Sept 28, 2009 13:42:59 GMT -5
Today I gave some canned EVO with some ziwi peak in it. Murphy went to it willing and that was about it.
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Post by cristina on Sept 29, 2009 13:10:36 GMT -5
Good, see little steps are the way to go sometimes!! you can even start lessening the canned evo with Murphy now....actually I think ziwipeak has canned as well, so that would be good to maybe start supplementing in with the evo (then eventually the evo will be out of the diet....by adding less evo and more raw/ or canned raw)....please correct me if I am wrong about the canned raw, I dont feed commercial (I just feed pure raw meats and bones) although I have read up on commercial, but obviously I dont know everything about it (I am learning everyday something new though! )
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Post by murphysmom on Sept 29, 2009 21:33:47 GMT -5
Hmmm... not sure if I understood your question. The canned EVO, I am using to get them to try the ziwi peak (commercial raw). I have been giving baby food chicken kibble bits to Ollie to help get some bulk on him. If I can go raw, it will be commercial (S&C, ziwi peak, and Wysong). and to be honest, I am struggling... a lot. It is so much easier to just put some kibble in the dish. I have yet to make it to the store to get raw meat and to be honest once again, they seemed to prefer the commercial raw better anyways, so that is what I have been giving them. Here is a ferret update: Murphy- Likes Wysong (surprise there!). Body weight - huge and fluffy! Hammy- Like baby food soups and canned evo soups, doesn't seem to like thick wet foods. Good weight and fluffy. Koda- thinks I am trying to kill him....still. Solid weight, coat looks good. He had just been swimming in the tub, that's why his coat is all goofy. Athena- Loves S&C, likes Wysong- Good weight, soft coat. Ollie- Will eat soups if I spoon it to him. He is on Bach's RR (Loves it!). Can feel his ribs very easily, coat a little coarse, estimate his age between 6 and 7 years. Lady GaGa- She will try the soups, have not really forced anything on her. Good coat (improving everyday), good weight. She was on Marshall's and 8 in 1 walmart brand before I got her. Not sure what I should do. I want to get them to be healthy and happy.
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Post by cristina on Sept 30, 2009 17:01:43 GMT -5
ok I am going to talk to some of the mentors that feed commercial and I am going to ask them about ways they use to switch (since there are many) and see what we can do to make the process go a bit faster.....if your worried about any weights, you can feed them cream (heavy whipping cream) its used to fatten them up a bit and works pretty fast, although make sure it doesnt contain carrageenan!
Ill let you know what I find out
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 1, 2009 11:41:01 GMT -5
I am not worried about making it go faster, I just wanted to let you know that I wasn't pushing the raw. I need to be able to feed something that requires little prep time. That's what I meant that it is easier to put some kibble in their dish. I need to know what would be a balanced diet going commercial raw. I might email CHP and see what she says and go form there. I will let you know what I hear back.
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Post by Heather on Oct 1, 2009 12:42:57 GMT -5
Just popping in not taking over Why don't you just go to commercial raw? As long as you keep adding kibble your guys are going to keep going to the kibbles. I know it's easier and at the moment I won't deny it but if you start to move forward with the raw it will become much easier (probably not easier than opening a bag of kibbles and dumping it in the bowl but just about ). I only open a bag of thawed meat and put it in the bowl. It's that easy, the switch is what determines your resolve and your patience Your ferrets will certainly work that part I'm going to pry a little into the products you're using....I'm Canadian and they don't have them up here so I would like to know what I'm dealing with product wise I've heard them used but have never really looked into them. S & C is?? Ziwi peak is raw?? canned?? I know what Wysong is I actually ordered that when it first came up...it's freeze dried or something like that or are we talking about something entirely different (they make kibbles too)? My guys wouldn't eat it, so it was a real expensive experiment...my mice loved it thought Let's take a look at that, and we will see if we can come up with a working plan to get you feeding something simple but is healthy for your guys (healthier than feeding the kibbles ) ciao
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 1, 2009 13:29:32 GMT -5
Hey Heather! Why don't you just go to commercial raw? That what I want I want to do. I was confused and thought I should be pushing the raw raw. S & C is?? Stella and Chewy's - dried meats www.stellaandchewys.com/Ziwi peak is raw?? canned?? kinda like a jerky www.ziwipeak.com/nzl/home.shtmlI know what Wysong Murphy actually seems to like it, plus they have canned too. Let's take a look at that, and we will see if we can come up with a working plan to get you feeding something simple but is healthy for your guys (healthier than feeding the kibbles Simple! That's what I want. Easy (some would say lazy ) I did email CHP- caseyshiddenpantry.com/And she has 6 ferrets too and advised me what she feeds and how she feeds it. So when I can I am going to put in an order and start it then. Until then, I will do what I can with what I have. Thanks!
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Post by Heather on Oct 1, 2009 23:21:03 GMT -5
Ok, it looks like we're talking about 2 very different types of commercial but that's ok. I've never fed jerky, except what I make...I use it as training treats You may want to fill in your mentor as to what you're planning to do so that she can better assist you in the transition. She will need to know what you're going to use and in what manner. Please keep us posted ciao
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