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Post by cristina on Oct 2, 2009 7:38:38 GMT -5
Thanks for your input Heather! I am learning more and more about commercial raw...I didnt know there was so much out there! I use jerkey as a treat too, ziwi peak makes so many products and I actually didnt know that....jerkey is good to use to try to get them to like new types of raw but then again its not a complete nutrition source (although it is very good for them as a side dish!) so we will need to add in with it some more types of commercial raw as well. Have you ever tried or thought about trying the commercial meat patties? the dried meat is good, I am just looking at some more options (that your fur babies may take to as well) I dont know if you know about this posting on the forum about some commercial raw sources... holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=raw&action=display&thread=202and holisticferret.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=raw&action=display&thread=197These are just to provide you with some more options if you like....the s&c is a good source and so is the wysong, you mentioned you like it to be as easy as possible when feeding (dont worry, we all do!! ) so these patties are pretty easy too! Let me know your thoughts on what you want to do
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 2, 2009 17:37:09 GMT -5
I got some S&C Lamb patties today. Sophie loves them, so it is a good item that I can get.
I shredded one pattie up and mixed it in their kibble, plus I put some S&C Chicken crunch treats in with it. Plus I made an additional bowl of baby food (chicken) with some shredded patty mixed in that also.
I got Ollie to some of the soup mix. Murphy was eating the kibble mix (saw him eat some of the S&C). Lady G and Athena both snagged a S&C crunch. Hammy and Koda were too busy playing to notice food. I am going to(when I can) pick up some ziwi peak treats too. This way I can give them a wide meat range to eat.
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Post by cristina on Oct 3, 2009 11:18:16 GMT -5
Thats perfect! I would also suggest now that you use the patties (shredded) mixed with the kibble from here on out so they dont get the choice of plain kibble (this will make your switch easier! ) If some dont like the idea of the patty in with the kibble then just lessen the amount, but make sure at least some raw is in with the kibble now Then once they get use to it, you can add more patty and less kibble gradually
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 3, 2009 14:42:56 GMT -5
That's what I am going to do, thanks. It is dry, so it wont go bad and the kids tore into yesterday. I refilled their bowl before I put them in the cage and both kibble and patty had been ate! So I put some more kibble with shredded patty in there.
This feels right. This is what I wanted to do. I have been looking to at some other foods that I can add and S&C has a wide range, so I will be able to get all what I need to in. Plus I can throw in some ziwipeak too. I am excited!
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 3, 2009 20:29:28 GMT -5
Refilled the dish today for tonight and tomorrow ( I work a 12 tomorrow). I put some more in there. So far it is going well. I think that I will have to buy one bag of EVO ferret while I am transitioning them (still have a lot of the Orijen cat left), but then hopefully I will be mostly switched over!!
Question- I want to start giving Olive Oil instead of FerretLax. How much can I give and how often? And does it matter that they get Salmon Oil everyday?
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Post by cristina on Oct 4, 2009 16:45:21 GMT -5
I use olive oil, probably about 1 tsp weekly per ferret (sometimes less if I give vivify as well, its made of emu oil which is very good for them too!) I dont know if I would do salmon oil everyday, maybe at least every other, they dont need it that much i dont think (unless they have course coats that need to be helped/softened) but I will ask the other mentors just to make sure b/c I am not quite sure of whats too much and so on
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 4, 2009 20:23:01 GMT -5
The Salmon Oil s not given directly to the ferrets. I just put a couple of pumps on their kibble and mix in it in. Just FYI on what I am doing. Could I do the same with the Olive Oil?
So, when I got home the kids had eaten their kibble and shredded S&C's lamb, plus S&C chicken crunches! Go Ferrets! I made some more up for them and I think that tomorrow I will start adding a bowl of just the S&C's alone too.
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 5, 2009 23:56:54 GMT -5
Good news! The shredded patties seem to be the first to be going! YAY! I am still doing kibble as I have not seen all the kiddos eat the patties, but am feeling good about it all! I get paid this weekend so, I am going to pick some more food up for them(raw) after work. I have cut back on the Salmon oil a bit on giving it every other day. Also the Bach's RR seems to be helping Ollie as he had perked up a bit, but still sleeps a lot. He is older though, so I am too concerned.
Murphy has gotten huge! How much weight could be winter weight? He had several health issues, that I think I have finally gotten rid of and he really likes the raw. But I can't believe the weight gain he has had.
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Post by cristina on Oct 6, 2009 12:28:24 GMT -5
you should only use olive oil once a week because its plant based, especially since you use salmon oil on a regular basis Thats great about them liking the patties! Now is the time to see who eats and who doesnt, so try to catch each of them eating at some point and watch if they eat the raw (even the littlest bit) and we can go on from there Their winter weights can fluctuate anywhere between gaining a pound (my male gains quite alot and so does one of my girls, although one of my girls doesnt gain that much) so it all depends on the ferret....but you will notice some weight gain and thick beautiful undercoat!
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 7, 2009 21:41:27 GMT -5
So I set some raw out and some kibble out to see who would eat what. S&C eaters Murphy Athena Lady G Hammy
Kibble eaters Koda
In Between Ollie- He will eat it in the soups(when I am spooning it to him)
When they went back into the cage for the night, I went ahead and mixed the two dishes up, plus I put the soup in there too.
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 10, 2009 18:25:59 GMT -5
Well those that are eating S&C def get to it first and finish it off first! I did buy some more EVO ferret today as the majority of kibble I had left was Orijen cat. I am hoping that will be the last bag of kibble I have to buy! The S&C is going so well! I went to the holistic pet store to get some more, but they were all sold out . They are getting a shipment in on Wed, so on Thur I am going to go up there are restock on the raw patties. Is there any other food that you think I should add to the patties? I am giving them S&C chicken crunch treats, so that they are getting some different types of meat. Any other brand? I am hoping to get some Ziwipeak soon too.
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Post by murphysmom on Oct 10, 2009 18:27:10 GMT -5
And btw, thanks for the thread links, I book marked them.
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Post by Heather on Oct 10, 2009 23:34:38 GMT -5
Perhaps, posting your question regarding various freeze dried foods to the open forum might work too? There are many different types and there are a lot of people on the board who use them. Unfortunately, I can't help you...as many of the types you can get aren't even available up here . ciao
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Post by cristina on Oct 11, 2009 19:05:02 GMT -5
I am sooo sorry I have been distant this past weekend, I had to go out of town for family issues but I am back now and I will be all caught up tomorrow, again I am so sorry for this....I didnt know I would be without internet and by the time I left there was no way to let anyone know I hope you can forgive me!
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Post by cristina on Oct 11, 2009 19:10:04 GMT -5
You dont have to add anything if you dont want, unless theres something that may entice Koda and Ollie who are kinda "on the fence" (maybe drizzle soup on top) Just try to start getting in different meat patties (like one day do chicken, the next beef, then next duck, lamb, etc....) starting to develop a taste for different meats is the next big step
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