Transitioning in Mice

[Zoshi]

Just wanted a separate place to write about the progression of getting my fuzzbutts hooked on mice. x3

So far, yesterday the ferrets got 3 pinkies chopped up in their beef chunks. A few pieces of pinkies were left over after they finished up.

Today they got four pinkies chopped in halves into their organ soup. They're starting to recognized them as food, I think, but they're still not entirely sure about them.

I can, however, get Tikki to eat most of one if I cut it open and smother it in salmon oil, then play tug of war with her. Mis and Coco won't even take them in their mouths, although todays soup seems extra appetizing to them, so I did manage to get Mis to pick up a piece of pinky mouse and carry it over to the feeding den. He knows it belongs there, he just doesn't know what to do with it once he puts it there!

I'll keep you all updated on their progress. :3

[Heather]

Sounds like you're making progress. Keep at it
ciao

[Zoshi]

All right, yesterdays soupie-mice did not go over well. I tried the scruff-n-stuff with Mis and Coco, but no go. They ate around them when I left them in the soupie, too.

Today I cut three pinkies in half and smothered them in salmon oil again. Tikki is starting to eat them herself, but only if I give her a piece and don't let her see there's more salmon oil to be had. If she does notice there's a plate that she can lick the salmon oil off of, she will leave the piece of pinkie she has and come back for more. xD She's also leaving behind the feet. She'll eat the inside of the pinkie, and she ate the head off of one half, but she leaves the feet and the tail.

Mis wasn't too keen on it yet, but I did get him to chew on half of a pinkie by stuffing it in his mouth, and he ate almost all of it. I think he knows it's food, it's just different and I think the texture is throwing him off.

Coco got half a pinkie in her mouth, and she acted like it was the most horrible thing in the world. You'd think I was trying to poison her. Finally I got her to keep it in her mouth, but not chew it. Instead she was holding it delicately in her mouth, the little tip of pinkie tail sticking out the front of her mouth between her teeth. I wish I had remembered my camera, it looked so silly. xD

I'm not sure if its the pinkie itself, or the salmon oil that's throwing her off, though. I'm going to try tomorrow with just the pinkie, no oil, for Coco and see how she reacts.

That's the update for today! There's still three pieces of pinkie left that I mixed in with their chicken, so I'll see later how they do. :3