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Post by snowbunnie on Dec 5, 2010 1:24:29 GMT -5
ok that might work.. today all the raw was eaten when i got home and most of the second batch was aten that my boyfriend put out... so im pretty sure now that rambo is chowing down i just need to get rocky on the same page, on my days off im gonna work with him a little, might start wetting down the kibble then slowly adding in raw with it to get him to eat it. Do you think thats a good idea??? Im going to add some chicken chunks to the normal mix im doing and cut down on the kibble Im so happy that Rambo is eating all by himself Cheers, Cassie
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Post by Heather on Dec 5, 2010 2:04:03 GMT -5
Congratulations and a special hug to Rambo. I've never had any success with wet kibbles, personally. It seems to create a stinky, cement type mixture that doesn't appeal to many. I would tend to lean toward using the same mix for both ferrets, JMO of course Maybe a little more water to your mix....so that it's a more liquid. I don't know how thick your soupy is so it already might be very liquid. I would spend just a bit more personal time trying to convince the little fuzz that it is indeed food and you're not trying to poison him Some of them need a little one on one persuasion and move on reasonably well after they get over that bit of a roadblock. Let me know how it goes ciao
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Post by snowbunnie on Dec 5, 2010 20:02:25 GMT -5
right now its pretty thick because the kibble soaks up all the water. Today i made some up with chicken chunks and some liver and gizzards it was all gone when i got home i didnt even put ferretone on it! im going to work with rocky over the next two days and see how it goes from there.
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Post by Heather on Dec 5, 2010 23:15:15 GMT -5
Sounds like progress. You've got one tucking into your soupy. Now, just some more personal work should bring the second one around too. It helps that his friend is eating it . Often they are more willing to try if they see others eating it. I still think that he's not going to make a move on it on his own at the moment but he might after he gets over his sensitivity to the new texture and flavour. Let me know how it goes ciao
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Post by snowbunnie on Dec 13, 2010 0:41:26 GMT -5
ok i have noticed that rambo wont eat the ground unless it has sat out for a few hours and looks like its ready to toss.. is that normal for them not to like fresh meat??
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Post by Heather on Dec 13, 2010 19:22:07 GMT -5
My guys like their food at room temp. Once it gets that dried up look most won't touch it. Are you still mixing kibble with your mix? Remember that will raise the bacteria count of your mix, so be careful how long you leave their food out. I would try and start pulling back the amount of kibble and adding more meat, just considering your fellows penchant for "leaving" their dinner to ripen . Sounds like progress, now to get them to eat a fresher meat. Please keep me posted to your progress, even if it's just to say that they ate their food and what it was they ate. I know that it's a busy time but your little ones's health is an issue especially at this stage of the switch where you are working with an unbalanced diet ciao
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Post by snowbunnie on Dec 13, 2010 19:32:34 GMT -5
yeah, it has been a gong show latly... im not mixing the kibble in it anymore, rocky still wont touch it either way even if its 80% ferritone, its like he smells the meat and runs the other way. And since i out both food in the cage during the day rambo is still eating the kibble because its there... so he will go back and forth kinda... buh... and we just got another boy today... i seen him at the pet store the other day and it made me soo sad, he has been there for 4 months and is really really fat... so im guessing he is the same age as the boys.. he might be easier to switch to raw since i can control his kibble since he will be seperated from the boys for a while... we shall see how that goes.
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Post by Heather on Dec 13, 2010 19:45:58 GMT -5
I still think you need to sit down and hand feed that boy. They don't recognize meat as food. It's some form of toxin in their opinion By taking time out to see that he gets that food in his mouth and tastes it means that you will get him moving on it sooner. I've known ferrets who never get past where you are right now. The switch is often labour intensive, but once they get the idea....there's no turning back . Ferrets under a year of age (9 months specifically) are much easier to switch as they're not imprinted on their food yet. After a year, then they get more difficult but they can be switched. The oldest I've ever switched was a 9 yr old that was dumped off at my place when the owner didn't want to watch her die The switch allowed her another 18 months of good quality life. Oh, just a word of warning....just because this new boy is fat don't think he can be left to be hungry and will eat. Ferrets are prone to fatty liver disease same as cats and the fat ones are at the greater risk. Good luck, and enjoy your newest addition ciao
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Post by snowbunnie on Dec 13, 2010 22:15:39 GMT -5
i have tried to spoon feed rocky but he just freaks out, thats why i was thinking a syring... and even putting some on his nose is almost impossible,,
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Post by Heather on Dec 13, 2010 23:26:11 GMT -5
As much as I'm not fond of the method, have you tried scruffing him and dabbing some on his nose....just so you can catch up with his nose It is amazing as to how far that head and face can go when you're trying to put something in their mouth ciao
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