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Post by klindshill on Feb 27, 2010 16:41:26 GMT -5
I went to the store today and purchased: Chicken Drumsticks Chicken Liver Chicken Gizzards Chicken Hearts Im totally grossed out  I divided them into baggies. I have no clue how to start this process. I have two ferrets. Should I mix it in the blender with their kibble? How much do I give? I have very picky eaters. Id like to try it out tonight and see how it goes. Any suggestions? By the way, I did sign up for a mentor. While Im waiting I thought Id try to start on my own. |
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Post by lnsybean44 on Feb 27, 2010 17:21:05 GMT -5
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Post by klindshill on Feb 27, 2010 20:26:47 GMT -5
Thank you for your reply. I tried to give them tiny pieces of chicken- they wont touch it even from my finger. Im going to try to do a soup.
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 28, 2010 0:57:25 GMT -5
That's how I had to start mine as well. Be prepared for gagging, retching, squirming, fighting you, and just in general believing you are poisoning them  . Took me 6 weeks for my last one to realize this was actually a food group! And they haven't looked back since.  |
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Post by klindshill on Feb 28, 2010 14:15:17 GMT -5
Well, mine do not like it. Its almost as bad as ear cleaning. Im going to try the soup again today.
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 28, 2010 15:10:46 GMT -5
You may find you have to scruff and dab it on their noses to get them to even taste it. But try to keep in mind that once they decide they will actually eat this strange stuff, they will be far healthier than they are now!
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Post by klindshill on Feb 28, 2010 16:11:21 GMT -5
WOOO HOOOOOO! Success!!!! Ok, so I made a soup of sorts. I used the meat from a chicken leg, gizzard, heart, water and some of this duck soup mix I had in a packet in case of emergencies. I dont know how good the duck soup portion is for them. I put it in their kibble crock and Kiwi wasted no time investigating and immediatley lapping it up! I almost passed out from shock. She took a piece of meat out and stashed it on a blankie in the bottom of her cage. She then came back up and ate more. Peekah wasnt the least bit interested. I had to take her out and put it on my finger where she did lick it off. She didnt eat very much and wont go to the bowl on her own. However, Im super excited that it went better than yesterday. See the pics below. Kiwi dives in:     Peekah says NO WAY MOM!  I can leave this in for six hours correct? Should I put Kibble in overnight in case they get hungry since I will sleep more than six hours? |
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Post by sherrylynne on Feb 28, 2010 20:20:23 GMT -5
Doesn't hurt a healthy ferret to go up to 12 hours with no food. Just make sure they've eaten enough before you go to bed. About 1/2-1 1/2 oz each at least.
Generally, I'd take the kibble out before I went to bed, give them raw soup in the a.m., then put the kibble back in before I went to work for the day. Then it came out again once I got home. That way, they actually had an appetite when soup time rolled around.
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Post by klindshill on Mar 1, 2010 21:16:15 GMT -5
Kiwi is eating the soup without any issues. However, Peekah will not eat it unless it is on my finger and she can lick it off. She will not touch it any other way. I tried a spoon and a separate container she wants nothing to do with it. Do you think if she gets hungry she will eat it out of the crock if I make another batch and leave it in overnight? Im really worried she wont eat and shes tiny as it is. I gave her as much as she would take from my finger, I even put it on her nose. She wouldnt eat anymore than probably two tablespoons of it if that much. Any ideas? I know for Kiwi to put more and more meat and less of the other stuff until its all raw. I guess I should be thankful that atleast one of them will eat it willingly  |
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 1, 2010 23:11:44 GMT -5
Let's figure out just how much she's actually eating of the soup. 4tbsp is 1/4c, which is 4 ounces. She's eating about 2tbsp, which is 2 ounces. My females eat between 1-3 ounces of meat per day each. So, at 2tbsp(2oz), she's doing pretty good for a meal You will likely have to continue giving it to her off your finger for a while yet. If she takes it willingly that way, just keep lowering your finger til it's sitting in the bowl or spoon. Sooner or later, she'll make the switch to one or the other. |
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Post by klindshill on Mar 2, 2010 10:18:44 GMT -5
sherrylynne- Thank you so much for your help! I check this thread multiple times a day to get as much help as I can. Ill keep feeding Peekah on my finger until she will accept it some other way. It was quite funny but, last night I tried to lower my finger into the bowl while feeding her hoping that she would lick the bowl....no such luck. They are super smart! Ill post my progress later today. Im determined to switch them and the dog! The dog is giving me zero issues he is totally willing but, Im still learning about what he can eat.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 2, 2010 11:13:34 GMT -5
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Post by klindshill on Mar 2, 2010 15:11:52 GMT -5
thanks, Ill take a look at that.
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