jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
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Post by jon on Mar 8, 2010 23:17:32 GMT -5
Sorry it's been so long between posts. Everyone is doing fine. All 13 are at 100% raw/chunk food. All are living together peaceably (mostly). We discovered tonight that Pippen thinks that sweet potatoes are yummy and apple sauce is nasty (he snuck up on a table where there was a mostly empty dinner plate). Londo still loves the crunch of kibble when he can find it, but will happily munch on chicken or pork.
As for diet, I'm afraid it's not a strict schedule. I buy quartered or halved chickens now, and chop up everything - no complaints. They get raw eggs 1-2 times per week, pork 3-4 times per week, and organ meat once per week. I still try to sneak in turkey or beef, but they don't like it much.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 9, 2010 10:08:55 GMT -5
I'm glad they are taking it so well now! But I'd really like to see another protein in there. Eggs and chicken are just too similar. Can you get lamb or goat? Or it might just be that they've really imprinted on the chicken and pork, and need to get used to the turkey. I wouldn't worry too much about the beef. I've got one who simply can't tolerate it, and a couple of others who just plain don't like it.
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jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
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Post by jon on Mar 9, 2010 23:12:53 GMT -5
I'll keep trying on the Turkey. Lamb is available once in awhile - very expensive, for some reason. Goat is not available at all. We're going to try sneaking in a few minced mouse pinkies next week.
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Post by sherrylynne on Mar 10, 2010 10:09:37 GMT -5
That's great! Once we get another protein in there regularly, we can graduate you finally They can be such stubborn little sots, can't they
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 1, 2010 22:06:25 GMT -5
Hi Jon- how's it going?
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jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
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Post by jon on Apr 5, 2010 22:19:09 GMT -5
The final chapter. Everyone is now eating 100% meat (and whatever they can steal). At this point, I buy either whole chickens, quartered chickens, or leg quarters.
Monday AM 1/4 Chicken
Monday PM Pork steak
Tuesday AM 1/4 Chicken
Tuesday PM Turkey (wing)
Wednesday AM Pork neck
Wednesday PM Mouse parts (chunks) Chicken wings
Thursday AM 1/4 Chicken
Thursday PM Pork steak
Friday AM Turkey (thigh)
Friday PM Pork Neck
Saturday AM 1/4 Chicken
Saturday PM Chicken thighs
Sunday AM Eggs raw, scrambled, and every other week, hard boiled.
Sunday PM Chicken livers, gizzards and hearts
Snacks 8-in-1 daily vitamins 8-in-1 skin and coat Ferretone and ferrevite - 2x per week Pumpkin (2-3x per week) Duck soup mix (with their chicken, most days) I add Prozyme 2-3 times per week.
Occasionals These are foods that, while not part of their diet, we provide in very small quantities as part of their enrichment: Asparagus (small nibbles) - Midas Cheerios (1 or 2, no more than once per week) Londo Beer (one lick only) Mal Wheat thin (small corner) Inara Non-dairy whipped cream (cool-whip) Otis Sweet potato (G'Kar)
Everyone is doing well, and they have a grand time competing for the 'best' piece (you know, the one that's already in somebody else's mouth).
Every couple of weeks, usually to go with the eggs on Sunday, they get a little bit of kibble. Everyone likes meat, but there are still a couple who crave the crunch.
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 6, 2010 9:48:36 GMT -5
That sounds really good! While I'm not too fond of either the ferrevite(sugar based), or what you've listed as occasional snacks, as long as it's not often, I guess it's not too bad I'll contact Heather about getting you graduated!
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Post by Heather on Apr 6, 2010 16:05:34 GMT -5
Ok....your menu is good...your little one's snacks...not so much Can I ask you a favour....if you're going to feed veggies, note asparagus and sweet potato please make sure it's cooked (blockages are not fun). Asparagus is better than sweet potatotes too. The beer is really too high in sugars and could cause insulinoma later on. I know it's only a lick but....a lick for a ferret is a whole beer for you Tell Londo only the plain cherrios...no sugar coatings and Otis should really get off the non-dairy whipped products..it's hard on his pancreas (tell him to convert to real whipped cream it's much better for him but he will get a big butt ) Tell Inara that her wheat thins are just kibble substitutes and they're really not good for her . Congratulations, you and your furbabies have gone the distance, you've graduated Please remember that your mentor is always there for you, you need only pm her with your questions. Great work. Good luck and I hope that I will continue to see postings about your little furbabies and their escapades. ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 6, 2010 16:15:31 GMT -5
Well, you made it! Congratulations! Wow- switching 12 ferrets. Tough job, but you got it done Please keep popping back in, I want to hear about how they are doing!
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jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
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Post by jon on Apr 6, 2010 16:37:39 GMT -5
Thanks! And to Sherry and Heather - the treats really are few and far between - usually just a taste.
Oh, and the business is 13, not 12.
As always, time to go and chop up some chicken.
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Post by sherrylynne on Apr 6, 2010 16:53:18 GMT -5
I had a niggling suspicion it was 13, but couldn't remember for sure Oops!!!
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jon
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 109
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Post by jon on Apr 6, 2010 18:18:10 GMT -5
Oh, and I forgot - Thank You!!! And all of the other helpful folks on the board as well!
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