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Post by halblingefrau on Dec 21, 2010 19:12:24 GMT -5
Wolfing down the turkey like I expected. Going to grind up the pork for tonight because I'm not convinced anyone but Asher got any.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 21, 2010 23:32:34 GMT -5
He really is a little piggy, isn't he  Is there any way for you to feed him separately? Maybe shut off a section of the cage for him? I do know my boys will eat twice as much as the girls, easily, so try him with double the amount one of the girls will get in his own space. It sounds like he's afraid they are going to take it all on him, and he'll be left without, so he solves that problem by taking all of it, and "hiding" it for later consumption! |
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Post by halblingefrau on Dec 22, 2010 12:16:34 GMT -5
I can definitely feed him separate in the evenings. Mornings at my house are rushed, so I basically get time to toss some food in the cage and then I'm off. He's a little turd, for sure. Loki is the mellow one in the business. He'll wait for everyone else to be done spazzing before he eats. Juno will try to steal the food from Asher, which usually results in some hissing and screaming. Very funny to watch the tiny girl and the huge boy play tug-o-war, especially since the tiny girl usually wins!
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 22, 2010 19:28:07 GMT -5
It's funny, but they normally do If you have time in the mornings, you could also just put some food on one level for him, and feed the rest on the next level. That *should* only take an extra few moments! That way, he'll be busy with his face in his food while the others get a chance at some elsewhere Sort of, put the main dish of food in on the top floor of the fn, grab him and a smaller serving, and plop his butt on the lower level with it. And don't forget- the girls won't eat nearly as much as a rule. I portion out food of the boys eating double what the girls eat. So, give Asher the same amount as you'd give both the girls. |
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Post by halblingefrau on Dec 22, 2010 23:03:05 GMT -5
Sherry, Loki is a boy. Juno is my only girl, and she eats like a pig.  |
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 22, 2010 23:53:10 GMT -5
Oh, sorry! For some reason, I thought Loki was a girl, too. DUH!!! It's a male name Ok, given Loki is a BOY, if you give Juno say an ounce, give each of the boys two ounces. Each. |
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Post by halblingefrau on Dec 23, 2010 14:40:55 GMT -5
I haven't been weighing out the food, so I will try to get an idea of what an ounce looks like in their various food forms. I'm not too worried though because Juno and Loki are plump little round things so I know they're getting plenty of food. I am considering feeding Ash separate when i can because he's just such a little piggy.
So I made a soupie last night. Apparently blending pork in with turkey heart and gizzard = YUMMY. So the kids will eat pork, just not readily in a chunk format.
Also, the only reliable way to make sure meat isn't stashed in the litterbox is to clamp it to the cage. This is easy to do with a wing, but any suggestions on how to do it with other parts? I need to skewer it somewhere in between bones or though sinew because Ash will just pull until he rips the meat off. So for example, turkey neck. They LOVE turkey neck but I'm paranoid that they'll accidentally injest some litter (yesterday's news) if they munch on it after it's been in the litterbox. I don't want to use string or yarn to tie it because those things could be edible. Do you think using a wire (instead of a shower curtain clamp) and tying the neck in between the vertebrae would work?
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 23, 2010 21:43:10 GMT -5
You can give it a shot. Have you tried a feeding den for them? Sorry- can't remember right now. The thing with feeding dens is they do take a bit of training. One of mine used to stash in the litter box, as well as stacking all the meat, and pooping on it  It's their way of saying "MINE!!!!!" They do outgrow it As long as it didn't have too much "gunk" on it, I just brushed it off, and gave it back |
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Post by halblingefrau on Dec 24, 2010 13:50:59 GMT -5
I tried a feeding den... Asher crapped in the den and stashed in the litter box.  I have recently rearranged shelves in their cage so the litter box isn't quite so cozy in the dark corner. I put a regular cardboard box (feeding den) there so we'll see. They're using the litterbox just fine even though it's slightly more out in the open. I haven't had solids to give since they got the leftover soupie this morning. I'll let you know. |
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 24, 2010 16:43:17 GMT -5
Oh, Asher Such a boy ferret, eh? So, how are they doing with more muscle meats in their diets? And how confident do you feel with the raw diet, and the way you are managing it? |
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Post by halblingefrau on Dec 25, 2010 0:44:21 GMT -5
They're doing fine with muscle meats. I am finding myself doing well in terms of the ratio of organ, muscle meat, and bone in meat. I am not sure I'm giving them enough variety. I have found if i mix in new meat with a familiar one (turkey or chicken) they take to it just fine. I still feel like I'm feeding them too much but they always polish it off.
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 25, 2010 10:55:42 GMT -5
They'll continue to eat like that for a bit yet. They are still trying to get all that good nutrition they need. Now, I'd like you to write up a new menu, with the extra muscle meat you are giving. As for the variety, they'll do well with only 3, but obviously, more is better! If you feel confident enough in what you are doing with them, I'm thinking it's time to get you graduated  |
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Post by halblingefrau on Dec 26, 2010 18:18:36 GMT -5
Ok, here goes my weekly menu (again, not specific to the day of the week, but for 7 days):
Day 1: chicken wing / turkey neck (if they finished the wing)
Day 2: turkey gizzard & heart, chopped up / ground chicken and lamb (no bone)
Day 3: turkey neck / pork soupie (pork chunks mixed with something chicken, either heart or gizzard)
Day 4: cornish game hen quarter
Day 5: turkey and chicken liver soupie / chicken wing
Day 6: lamb chunks (or soupie if they won't eat the chunks) / turkey neck
Day 7: commercial raw (rabbit or duck) / wild card (bone in or muscle depending on what I have thawed)
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Post by sherrylynne on Dec 27, 2010 0:12:47 GMT -5
That looks good I'll just have Heather come in and take a look at it! In the interim, you should go back and take a look at your thread from the beginning. It's always interesting |
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Post by Heather on Dec 27, 2010 1:52:51 GMT -5
Looks great to me. Congratulations....you and your furbabies have completed the assisted education part of your raw feeding journey and graduated from the mentoring program. You realize that your real raw feeding journey has just begun and you never really finish the learning aspect of this. Should you ever need assistance or have any questions you may pm your mentor, sherrylynne at any time. Please also feel free to post any of your questions to the group as a whole as well. I will leave your thread open for a few more days to allow Sherrylynne to pop in and congratulate you herself. She's an awesome mentor, you have worked well together.  and again  ciao |
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