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Post by tsslilsis on Aug 7, 2009 14:59:09 GMT -5
I think the ferret snatchers came today and stole Bastien! The little sable boy that got left in his place ate about a whole ounce of pheasant all by himself and then about another 1/2 ounce off my finger tonight! And then - he played. He chased Melinda around the room and then chased me. Then he let me trim his nails without raising a fuss and.... he gave me ferret kisses on the chin!!! I don't know where this adorable little sweetheart came from but I hope he stays around for a while (I wonder if there's something in the water... hmmm) I apologize for my laziness in having not checked the thread in so long. This post is WONDERFUL news! *Happy ferret dance!* Has he been keeping it up or was this a teaser? -~Ketlin
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Aug 7, 2009 22:41:23 GMT -5
Both of the babies are doing ok. Actually eating small pieces of bone occasionally! They won't eat it all the time but at least we are back to accepting it as food Melinda is getting downright pudgy! Bastien is still being a pain... unless I'm feeding them pheasant or duck. Everything else I have to chase him down and hand feed him. He is still playing a little more but I haven't gotten any more kisses (Good thing Melinda Loves to give kisses. Otherwise, I would feel really unloved ) Is it ok if they eat mostly poultry (pheasant, duck, game hen, chicken)? I can get them to eat beef and pork (and even goat every now and then) but it takes much more coaxing and persuasion. Is there a ratio of one type of meat to another that I should be careful of? (My mom is going to have to have surgery again on the 17th to adjust one of the screws in her hip which should alleviate most of the pain she has been experiencing. We are just about done going through her house and getting it ready for sale. Hopefully, by the end of this month things will be a little less crazy and I will be better at posting regularly. Of course, then I have to get really serious about finding a new job - it's always something teri
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Post by Heather on Aug 12, 2009 13:42:22 GMT -5
Hi Terri Just a quick answer to your question. Yes, to the poultry thing, especially if all those different types are what you're serving. Just try not to fall into the trap of feeding only chicken. Three different types of proteins be it duck, chicken, quail and I would try to feed occasionally a red meat. I try to get that in about once a week, or if things are tight every other week. I've just found a new supplier for beef so they may start getting that a bit more often. ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Aug 17, 2009 19:31:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the answer Heather! That will make life easier, I think. They absolutely love duck and pheasant. CGH or chicken comes in a close third (still have to hand feed it to Bastien). I can get them to eat beef and pork but it takes more patience (which I am a little short on these days) and they never eat as much of it. My mom had her surgery today and there were complications so what was supposed to be 20 minute outpatient procedure ended up being 3 hours and she will be in the hospital for 2-3 more days. The surgeon says she will be ok and should have a lot less pain - prayers, candles, good thoughts and crossed fingers are all welcome! Thanks again for all of the patience you have all had. It may be slow but the monsters are still eating all raw and even a little bone now and then. teri
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Post by Heather on Aug 17, 2009 22:09:21 GMT -5
You're doing well. There is no time line that says you have to push your little ones to get them eating raw within a given time. Considering the stress you must be under with your mother's surgeries and such...you're doing fantastic. How about you create a menu for me. Just an actual weeks worth of eats that your guys are eating so that we can see where you're at. This will give not only myself but yourself too an idea of where you can improve or if you even have to improve your diet. Good luck ciao
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Post by tsslilsis on Aug 25, 2009 15:37:08 GMT -5
Hey Terri.. Just bumping this up. You've not been on for a bit, I hope everything is alright. I hope you and the kids and your mother are doing wonderfully.
-~Ketlin
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Aug 27, 2009 20:35:36 GMT -5
Well, once again... sorry it's been so long I think this is my fourth attempt to post...After Mom got out of the hospital from the 2nd surgery, she had a reaction to all the meds and ended up back in another hospital. She's doing ok now but is still weak and having some difficulty getting around. Anyway... the fuzz butts are doing fine. An average menu for the week is: Monday AM - ground pheasant PM - ground pork Tuesday AM - ground beef PM - CGH with bone pieces Wednesday AM - ground duck PM - ground pheasant Thursday AM - ground beef PM - CGH Friday AM - ground pork PM - ground duck Saturday AM - CGH with bone pieces PM - ground beef Sunday AM - ground pheasant PM - ground pork All of the ground meat is from Hare Today with bone, organs, etc. So far they are still not eating much of the CGH bone but I keep trying. Bastien really doesn't like the beef or the pork but will eat it as long as it's mixed with chicken baby food and he's hand fed. Unfortunately, I ran out of pheasant and duck this week so he really hasn't been very happy. I have an order in for more but apparently the package was "damaged" when they attempted to deliver it so he's going to have to deal with it for a few more days I ordered 1 pound of white fish this time just to try... is that ok for ferrets? If not, the dog will be very happy Does anyone know of a raw meat supplier in the southeast US? Hare Today is great but it's so far away that shipping costs as much as the food and takes 3-4 days. teri
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Post by Heather on Aug 30, 2009 0:17:08 GMT -5
Sorry I can't offer you a local supplier, you might try posting that request in the raw food section Fish is fine if your guys will eat it. My guys love fish...the stuff I get is a commercial grind it's got whitefish, salmon and herring ...I think but they think it's great. Your guys eat all that without any trouble? How did the fish go over? Are you planning to go to some whole meats or are you going to feed commercial grinds? If you're going to feed commercial grinds I will post your menu to Giuli to see if she will graduate you. ok?? I think it looks really good, if all your guys are eating it ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Sept 7, 2009 22:12:13 GMT -5
Whitefish didn't go over at all Melinda and Bastien wouldn't even go near the dish - just ran away like it was going to jump out and attack them Maybe I will try a different kind or a mix of different kinds... I would like to get the kids eating some whole meats and bones but they will probably stay on ground meats for the most part. Melinda might eventually get on more meats but since I have to hand feed Bastien just about everything except duck I kind of doubt we'll get far with him. (I really wish I could get him to eat on his own but he's so skinny already that I don't want to push it) teri
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Post by Heather on Sept 7, 2009 23:36:47 GMT -5
What if you mixed a little bit of whatever, with Bastien's beloved duck...would he eat it on his own then?? Perhaps, you can wean him on to other proteins by gradually adding that protein to the duck as he already likes this. It's just a thought. You could do the same thing with the fish, place small amounts into something they already like and then gradually increase the amounts until they're eating the fish. I know that I've had a couple of students who had to get their furbabies to eat different proteins in this manner. It's a slower way to go but it means that you can convince them to eat other proteins even if it remains mixed with whatever their preferred meal is. You've got a good mix and I would like to see you convince Bastien to eat his meals on his own. Good luck ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Sept 15, 2009 8:38:04 GMT -5
I have started mixing duck in with almost all of their meals and have gotten a tiny bit of whitefish in them that way. Unfortunately, Bastien still insists on being hand fed even when almost all duck I have seen him show a few signs of interest in the dish, though, so I'm not giving up. Mixing other meats in the duck has another benefit, too - Bastien doesn't end up with runny poops I actually got them both to eat little pieces of chicken neck yesterday so I think we are finally getting back on track Overall, the little monsters are doing good and I think Bastien may have actually put on a few ounces - maybe just wishful thinking but he doesn't look quite as skinny to me. Melinda finally has fur on her tail again (been fighting rat tail all year - she HATES having her tail washed!). I had gotten so used to her furless tail that she looked really funny when it started growing in again (of course, I used to have a pet rat so her rat tail didn't bother me but I am sure she feels better now that she looks more like a ferret again ) teri
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Post by Heather on Sept 15, 2009 23:08:17 GMT -5
You're moving ahead, that's great. Each little step counts, Bastien is getting there. This is where patience rules Calypso was my little bane. I think it took almost 6 months before I was really comfortable leaving her to eat entirely on her own. I would think that she was eating and then I would pick her up and know that she hadn't been the bowl on her own again She now is eating entirely on her own and is even developing a bit of a belly That's great that Melinda is putting fur back on her tail. Sometimes, it's change of diet, change of season, blackheads...I've had a couple that have looked so much like little refugees with no fur on their tails (I have a couple that think this is their summer coats : Ghenghis at the moment is in process of putting on his winter coat and therefore his winter tail...which consists of fur at the tip (a beautiful plume of fur) and some at the bottom and completely naked in the middle Great work ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Sept 25, 2009 18:57:38 GMT -5
Bastien actually ate 2 pieces of chicken neck!!! Of course, they weren't very big but I will take anything at this point! He still won't eat on his own (except that he has discovered the dog's kibble and has no problem stealing bits of that and eating them ) I have given up on the whitefish. I think the smell is too strong - no matter how little I mix with anything, they still run away. Luckily, the dog has no such issues so it won't go to waste. Do you get your fish mix online or is it a local supplier? Poor Ghenghis. At least he has a beautiful plume! Kind of like the tuft on the end of a lion's tail - he's king of the business! teri
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Post by Heather on Sept 26, 2009 0:13:23 GMT -5
Great work Bastien....you're getting there. So slowly but getting there and that's what counts . One day he will surprise you and then he will go at it and you will wonder if he will ever find the full line (they seem to go a little crazy with stuffing themselves when they first switch) I get my fish mix from a local raw food supplier called healthy paws. My guys seem to like her mix, it's not strong smelling which may be the reason why they will eat it. I fed my dog a whole whitefish one time and found the ferrets playing in it....rolling and making themselves smell "pretty" stinky....they all got bathes after that little escapade Ghenghis is slowly getting his tail back...he still has the funny tuft on the end but he now has black fur on the naked part. Nicodemus is in the process of loosing his fur but he's my little confused boy...he thinks it's summer He's my little marshals from down under He's been doing this for the last 5 yrs so I don't worry about him anymore I just make sure he stays warm and doesn't play in the snow too long. Keep working with Bastien....he will get it He may go directly to whole meats and always expect his soupy to be fed to him . ciao
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glynus
Going Natural
RAW FEEDER
Posts: 143
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Post by glynus on Oct 6, 2009 22:22:04 GMT -5
Not really anything new... Bastien has put on a little weight - 2lb4oz - not quite back up to his previous 2lb8oz but getting better. Will just have to keep hand feeding Melinda is still doing fine - eating like a little piggie
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