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Post by wienercat on Jun 24, 2008 20:38:03 GMT -5
When i wet their kibble it looks pretty nasty in 12 hours. It's too expensive to keep throwing out so how long can it sit there, and what can I do keep it from getting gross?
It is COOL in my apartment. Now that it's summer, the AC stays on.
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 24, 2008 21:02:41 GMT -5
Maybe make less wet kibble at a time, and just add more if it is being eaten. I would't leave it out more than 6 or 8 hours though. I'd be afraid it would get nasty! bleh!
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Post by wienercat on Jun 24, 2008 21:07:32 GMT -5
i work 12 to 14 hour shifts, so it would have to sit there from 10 in the morning until midnight.
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Post by Jaycee on Jun 24, 2008 21:28:44 GMT -5
Well, ferrets don't have to have food available at all times. You could get them on a feeding schedule. Put less of the moistened kibble out before you go to work, and feed them again once you come home. What are you using to moisten, by the way? I like to use broth...either chicken or beef. I prefer chicken broth from swansons (low sodium), but you can make your own too, which is more healthy.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 24, 2008 22:22:31 GMT -5
Well, ferrets don't have to have food available at all times. You could get them on a feeding schedule. Put less of the moistened kibble out before you go to work, and feed them again once you come home. What she said I would give the girls enough moist kibble to last about 6-8 hours. Its okay if they go without food for 3-4 hours. I know everyone freaks out and says ferrets NEED the food constantly, but they'll be fine without it for that short period of time (providing that neither is insulinomic).
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Post by wienercat on Jun 24, 2008 23:27:26 GMT -5
i moisten with warm water... i dont know where to find broth, (never heard of swansons) and i dont have any time to cook with the hours i work. I dont even cook for me or my other half!
the fuzzies wont touch anything that doesnt smell or taste like their kibble... so as the breeder was sayin, use warm water instead. So we'll see what's left in the morning. I know Ana ate a ton, but i havent seen raspy eat it. It's also dark in here so she could have.
As for giving moist kibble to last 6-8 hours, i dont KNOW how much that is! Tomorrow, um later, i have to be at work at 10:30am, and will be gone until midnightish. So that means, they would either get NO food for all those hours, or they get moist food that will rot because i have no idea how much to put.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 25, 2008 5:04:36 GMT -5
Do this! I have an idea! Get TWO bowls. Fill them both with the moist kibble. This way, they'll have enough food, and if you give TOO much food, the spoiled kibble will be in the extra bowl. HONESTLY its ideal to replace the kibble after 6-8 hours but if you have to wait 12-14 hours to replace the mix (if there is any left at this time) its okay. Its when you get into 24 hours that the kibble will actually go rancid.
On your day off, why dont you offer the girls the moist kibble. Try and get a feel for how much they eat (use a measuring cup if needed). This way you know how much food to give on your days at work. Make sense?
Hopefully this suggestion helped you out a bit.
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Post by jojodancer on Jun 25, 2008 12:24:59 GMT -5
how about offering one bowl of moistened kibble, and the other bowl of frozen moistened kibble? That way the frozen one will thaw, but not get nasty or attract ants.
and to gauge how much they eat, try 1/4 cup of kibble mix in each bowl, and then see if you need to add more or cut back.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 25, 2008 12:26:44 GMT -5
how about offering one bowl of moistened kibble, and the other bowl of frozen moistened kibble? That way the frozen one will thaw, but not get nasty or attract ants. *smacks self* OMG why did I think of that! That is a GREAT idea! See, what would I do without you guys!
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Post by jojodancer on Jun 25, 2008 13:52:28 GMT -5
Now that I think about it, they say that defrosting at room temp is not sanitary - you should defrost in the fridge or in water. Or is that just for us hooomans?
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 25, 2008 13:56:32 GMT -5
I think its just for us Hoomans I've done it before for my ferrets and they've never had an issue. I think wet kibble is a bit different then raw meat, and even then, if you thaw it (mostly) in the fridge and then let it finish thawing in the cage I dont see a problem with that
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Post by wienercat on Jun 25, 2008 22:32:00 GMT -5
Well before i saw this post, this is what i did:
i had measured 1/4 cup and moistened it. I just got home from my long day and it's ALL gone!
So at least they had food for most of the day, and now i know what they can eat!
TY TY TY!!!!!
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