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Post by kelseyjosine on Aug 29, 2010 11:26:21 GMT -5
Oh I'm not really worried about it defrosting, it's just much more expensive and I'm trying to avoid spending money haha.
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 29, 2010 16:27:58 GMT -5
Just think, though- you order a large amount only 2-3 times a year, and save a TON on shipping AND you can actually order ground mouse, too
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Post by kelseyjosine on Aug 29, 2010 16:50:51 GMT -5
Yes but first I have to order small amounts in case they don't like it or react badly to it. Plus I'm living at my parents house for a few more weeks until my condo is ready and there isn't anywhere to store that much meat right now. I would like to try ground mouse though since I can't bear to put a mouse in the blender myself haha.
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Post by kelseyjosine on Aug 30, 2010 9:19:08 GMT -5
Last night they got 3.2 oz of chicken back and 2.4 oz of chicken neck. They didn't eat either of the necks, and they didn't eat the big bone of the back. Do you think I gave them too much food or they just don't know how to eat/don't like the rest?
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 30, 2010 13:20:54 GMT -5
They may still be having a bit of problem with bone just yet. They have to build up jaw strength to crunch through it properly. You may have to chop it up a bit.
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Post by kelseyjosine on Aug 31, 2010 19:27:28 GMT -5
I got my meat cleaver in the mail today! It was $40 and I love it. It makes getting their meals ready so much easier. It slides through bone like a knife through butter haha.
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Post by sherrylynne on Aug 31, 2010 21:12:40 GMT -5
Now picture me with a cleaver in my hands at 7am chopping turkey necks because I'd forgotten to do them ahead of time A cleaver does certainly come in handy. If you can, pick yourself up a pair of kitchen shears. They work SO well for chicken, cornish hen, etc. Almost slides right through them!
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Post by kelseyjosine on Sept 1, 2010 20:27:27 GMT -5
So I ordered from Hare Today and I got duck pieces, turkey hearts, turkey necks, ground quail, and rabbit chunks but it won't be here until next week. I'm really excited just to see if they'll go for any of it. I just pray that they won't refuse it and make me waste my money haha. It seems like you have success switching them and then you get stuck....and it's really annoying sometimes.
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 1, 2010 20:49:19 GMT -5
They do plateau sometimes. That's to be expected. And if they don't take to it right away- just stick it in the freezer, because they will That's the point most people quit at, when the ferrets plateau. When that happens, just stick with what they'll eat for the moment, and start moving ahead again in a couple of days. I'd also like you to start a food diary. It will help you keep track of how much of what they are actually eating. Especially since they are starting bone in now. Example would be, Monday morning, 2 chicken wings given. Bone from drumette left, with ends chewed. Do that for about a week or so, 3-4 times a year.
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Post by kelseyjosine on Sept 8, 2010 20:24:20 GMT -5
If I feed them ground that has organs, meat, and bones...would I count that under a bone in meat day or how does that work?
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 8, 2010 23:20:24 GMT -5
The more whole ground you feed, the less of the "real" thing. I feed commercial raw every morning, and in the evenings I give mostly muscle meats, and some bone in. I don't worry about organ meats so much(which is one of the reasons I started feeding commercial ). All in all- it really depends on how much commercial ground you are going to feed.
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Post by kelseyjosine on Sept 9, 2010 21:12:35 GMT -5
Well like I said before, I ordered some ground quail because I figured they'd be more likely to try that than whole quail. Although I don't know why I thought they'd be more willing to try that because so far, they'll eat soup no problem but won't eat ground lamb or ground turkey haha. I'm not sure if it's the consistency or what. Maybe I'll have to make it into a soup or something. I just wanted more variety.
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 10, 2010 10:09:38 GMT -5
Why not take the protein they are familiar with for soups, and using the same protein in ground, just start mashing it up with enough water to make a "soupy" consistency? That way, they'll get some soup they like, as well as getting them accustomed to a different texture. You may have to spoon feed it for a while to get them used to it.
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Post by kelseyjosine on Sept 12, 2010 20:25:44 GMT -5
Well we had success with the turkey heart as opposed to the beef heart. I had made a soup of just the beef heart, but 2 of them still threw up crazily afterwards. No puking after turkey heart soup though! They also liked the ground quail soup when I was watching them eat it, but then they didn't finish eating it unfortunately. They make no sense haha.
I got a coffee grinder. How many eggshells will I need for 3 ferrets? I don't eat eggs alot so I don't want to waste any.
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 13, 2010 11:05:37 GMT -5
Considering you add 1/2 tsp per 8 oz of meat, you shouldn't need a lot. I never premixed mine, just added a couple pinches per serving for the original 4 I was switching Rinse them out, let them dry completely(or you'll make a mess of your grinder!), then grind 'em up, see how much you get! I would generally leave them to dry for two or three days just to make sure, especially after the first time. Took a bit to get that thing cleaned
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