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Post by Heather on Dec 9, 2009 1:18:54 GMT -5
Congratulations, you're making progress with Odin . It may not seem like much but for him that's a huge step. Keep up the good work. It sounds to me that the soupy that your other little ones was on was a kibble based soupy. You just add water and it really stinks Seems to me that they just might be willing to dive in after you've introduced your soupy to them. Great work. ciao
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Post by willowwynd on Dec 15, 2009 8:55:58 GMT -5
Not much has changed since I last checked in. Right now I am concentrating on working with everyone so they all eat the duck soup. I kinda gave up for now on mice. Just trying to get them too eat the soup is enough for now. I hope soon Odin will start eating it on his own but at least he will lick it off his lips now maybe next will be my finger? who knows. Gynuara is still eating only a little a day, but she still has kibble in her cage. I was wondering I have been giving them the duck soup after they have been out for about an hour running around before trying with them, or I wait until just before they go back into their cages for the night. Should I take the kibble away from them for a period of time before they come out to play or what I am not sure. As for Willow and Rowan well Rowan will eat some like Gynuara but will trys to avoid it all. I have a feeling thou once she gets used to it she will go for it hog wild.
Thanks
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Post by Heather on Dec 17, 2009 2:19:51 GMT -5
You've discovered one of the necessary components about switching....patience. Everyone's healthy right? If they are take the kibbles away for a little bit. I don't know your set up. I'm home during the day. So what I did was I removed the kibbles during the day. I would hand feed them their soupy (or try to) about every hour or so depending on where they were in the switch. If they were just like Odin, then I would pick them up more often and offer soupy more often. At lunch I would put them in their cage for half an hour (we free roam here) and give them their kibbles. After about half an hour then I would take them out and proceed the same as in the morning, trying to get them to eat their soupy and their kibbles would be put back in the cupboard again. Eventually, the only time they would get their kibbles would be at night. Once I was assured that they were eating a couple of good meals of soupy then I would offer them their bone in meat at night and take away their kibbles all together. Quite often during this time I would sit down and hand feed one or two meals, especially if I didn't see them eating their meat or just stashing it, just to make sure they weren't starving themselves. You're making progress this is great. The small steps are very important, in fact sometimes they're more beneficial as the ferret is less likely to backslide. Good luck and keep me posted ciao
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Post by willowwynd on Dec 24, 2009 9:30:53 GMT -5
The whole group is in good health. Things are looking better now. I am able to have all 4 out together to play. I wish I could have them out all day but because of my cats I feel more comfortable with supervised play time. I try to get them out alot during the day. Generally I am home but I do have one son that has a lot of appointments. So I work around his schedule and Odin now licks the soupy off my finger and will eat small amounts out of a bowl as long as I am holding him. For him that is a big improvement. Gynuara and Rowen both eat small amounts out of a bowl by themselves. Willow is the one not wanting anything to do with it yet so I will keep working on her. I feel she might be on the same path as Odin but that is ok we will get thru it. I was wondering if I could try to put bits of minced meat into their soupy? Here is a pic of the whole crew.
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Post by Heather on Dec 25, 2009 0:46:19 GMT -5
Looks like a real happy crew Sure, put some tiny little bits of meat in their soupy but make them really small and sparse to begin with. No bigger than your fingernail tip. They have to get used of the texture as well as the taste. Patience. You're doing fantastic. Have a Merry Christmas if you celebrate ciao
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Post by weloveourweasels on Jan 9, 2010 6:56:53 GMT -5
Hi, I got bored and decided to read through some swithing threads. I am not a mentor or anything but I have been offered the position. I'm not ready to be a mentor yet but hopefully one day I will be. Anyway just thought I say that soup from petco your bonded pair was eating is Uncle Jim's duck soup which actually isn't bad for them but the recipe you are using now is better indeed. It isn't sold on petco or petsmart's website but they used to be, maybe it is in stores. But you can order it online www.ferretdepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=FS230 I think it might be useful for you to help the switch.
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