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Post by carriee on Mar 25, 2010 0:07:51 GMT -5
I got a sample pack from Casey's Hidden Pantry....I am trying to switch Bandit to the freeze dried food.....I have tried putting it in his dry kibble and he will not touch it....I tried to put it in soup he will not touch it and I wet his kibble and mix it in there and he will not touch it....I am not comfortable taking his kibble away from him for 12 hrs...I have tried everything.....What else can I do to get him to eat freeze dried food.....I have had him lick some off my fingers and a few licks off of a plate but that's all he will do and he wont go back to it again....he only wants his hard kibble and nothing else....
Thanks
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Post by spiritualtramp on Mar 25, 2010 13:04:41 GMT -5
It takes patience and a little ingenuity, sometimes. If he is eating it off of your fingers, continue to feed it that way for a while. You could try removing kibble from his environment a few hours before you offer the freeze-dried, so that he is peckish by the time you bust it out. Ferrets need a lot of reassurance when trying new things, too, so finger-feeding can really be useful in getting him to trust that the food is good. He will come around. Try breaking it up into small pieces and hand-feeding dry after he hasn't had kibble for a few hours. You can also try scruffing him and stuffing small pieces into his mouth. He'll chew automatically and either swallow or spit it back out - but either way he's getting the taste of it onto his tongue. Be consistent, offer at the same time each day, to make it a routine or a game or a special bonding time. Good luck and don't lose hope! He will get there!
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Post by carriee on Mar 26, 2010 16:50:26 GMT -5
I have a lot of patience with him....it's going to take a little time with him he just lost his cage mate Mika(Meka) on the 16th of this month Mika had JL......I have tried mashing up his kibble in water and putting a pinch of freeze dried in there but when he gets a little piece of the other food or a taste of it he will stop eating it and not go back to it so being sneeky with him is hard he seems to know there is something in it.....I have tried the scruff and stuff he always spits it back out.....I had put some Zeewinkies in his chicken treats they are made by Browns Company I left the Zeewinkies in the treat bag for a couple of weeks and I offered him a piece of them he took it he started to eat it but then when he took a bite he noticed it wasnt his chicken treat and he wouldnt eat it....but thats a start....I wont give up hope.....I will keep working with him....
Sorry I didnt respond last night I had a migraine but I did read your post...I wanted to respond when I could think better and get my head to quit hurting
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 26, 2010 19:54:49 GMT -5
Can't blame you for that! You are going to have to let them get a bit hungry most likely before they'll be very willing, though. Even 4-5 hours would help. As long as they are healthy, it really won't hurt them.
Your little one who lost his cage mate, is he eating alright now? Sometimes when that happens, it's best to let them settle a bit first before introducing new things.
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Post by carriee on Mar 26, 2010 21:21:59 GMT -5
Bandit is healthy....i will try 4 or 5 hrs without his kibble in his cage i am comfortable with doing that.....i had a break through with Bandit today i got his chicken treats out but i still had the ziwinkies in there instead of giving him the chicken treats i gave him the ziwinkies he ate about 10 of them without any trouble, but if i offer him without the ziwinkies being in the chicken treats he will not eat them....
Yes Bandit is eating great he will eat his kibble....he is playing and pooping and me and my boyfriend are spending alot of time with him and playing with him....Bandit has a cat that he is very close too and they both play together he will chase her around pounce on her but he never uses his teeth on her....he has free roam in the living room when we are up when we go to bed we put him in the cage or he will go into his cage when he is ready for bed....
Bandit is doing very well
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 26, 2010 21:29:54 GMT -5
That makes for a really good start! I actually had to leave my brats overnight without their kibbles to even get them to taste the raw meat soups  They've now been on raw meat, and whole prey for almost 2 years! |
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Post by carriee on Mar 26, 2010 22:29:07 GMT -5
I have been doing it slow with him....but i was very happy he tried the ziwinkie but i had to trick him lol.....when i go to bed i put a pinch of the chicken/beef steak Stella and Chewy in with his wet kibble i mash it up that way he dont know its in there and he will eat it that way....we are getting there slowly and i am willing to work with him and get him on the raw food...
i am going to take all the food out about 8 AM and when i get up at 2 PM i will try the raw food and see how he does
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 27, 2010 22:04:23 GMT -5
That's a good idea! He may still take a bit of coaxing, but with perserverance, you'll get him there  |
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