Post by Heather on Jan 27, 2011 1:04:25 GMT -5
Name: Christopher Smith
HF Forum Username: chrylis
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets? A number of different ferret books and the Texas Ferret Rescue.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. I'm not wanting to go to a live-prey diet for practical reasons, but I would like to move toward a partial- or whole-frozen-prey diet, possibly with added meats. Kiwi is 8mo old and has always eaten kibble, so in the meantime I have her on the best kibble I could find (Foster & Smith Natural).
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet? Primarily health benefits.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? I'm aware, and Kiwi can be a bit on the picky side, but I want to get her onto a diet that's best for her (along with similar diet changes for myself!).
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Kiwi is an 8-month-old sprite in fine health.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? Foster & Smith Natural kibble, plus FerreTone, a couple of flavors of Marshall's Bandits treats, and F&S liver bites.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? No; I adopted her New Year's Day.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share? Not sure what's relevant; ask me!
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer? Essentially constantly.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible). www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2129567&id=54603122&l=59ebd2e56f
Hi
I'm Heather, and we're going to be working together for the next little while trying to convince your furbaby to change to a healthier diet
I've been feeding a raw/natural diet for a little over 10 yrs. I have a small private rescue/sanctuary, just outside of Toronto, Canada where all ferrets turned into me are switched immediately over to a raw diet that consists of ground raw/whole meats or frankenprey/ and prey diet. At present every ferret eats this full range of diets. I don't keep kibbles in the house. All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 12 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 1 yr to my senior citizen, Dr. Pooka Dooks who is approx. 10 yrs. My most difficult switch was a little senior who was turned in at 9 yrs of age (she by the way has been my biggest raw switch challenge, which had me at times wondering why I was doing this to her) She eventually was completely switched and putting on a beautiful dark black coat, teeth that were nicely cleaned up, and she actually has a lot of fun investigating the house (she used to do nothing but sleep when she first was turned in). She has made me aware that every ferret no matter how old, can get a new lease on life by eating a species appropriate diet. She eventually passed on at 11 yrs of age to complete organ failure....old age.
Raw soupy is my favourite switching tool and one that I've had the most success with.
You can try to get them to eat a raw soup immediately. You will need a blender/food processor, and the following raw items:
8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat)
1/2 tsp of crushed eggshell powder (take a raw eggshell. Rinse it out. Let it dry. Crush to powder)
1 raw chicken heart
1/2 raw chicken liver
Water or broth(use more to make it soupier, less to make it thicker)
Blend ingredients together. Some prefer it at room temp. Try putting a dollop of "soup" onto your ferret's nose and they probably will lick it off. I use my finger. Sometimes this takes a little bit trying to convince them that you're not trying to poison them I find within a very short time they're licking this off my finger. When I see that they're willing to eat freely off my finger then I use a small spoon to try and get them to eat from that. Try to get them eating the soupy on their own. It might pique their interest.
Most ferrets will willingly eat the food once they actually TASTE it, so the only struggle you *should* encounter is them not wanting to taste it. Don't be surprised if your furbabies' initial reaction is to gag, spit and look at you like, what are you trying to poison me with But don't let them get away with it The hardest part is to insist and be consistent. Please also be aware that after years of kibbles they aren't aware that what you're offering them is indeed food. Once they willingly eat from your finger and spoon, work to try and get them eating this out of a dish or plate.
Each time you make your soupy, use a little less water to make it thicker/chunkier. Replace soup with fresh soup every 4-6 hours. You can make a large batch if you like and freeze into ice cubes or cupcake trays. Then you just thaw a portion and serve. OR you can put a frozen "cube" into their bowl and let it slowly thaw.
This is a good way to slowly ease them into wet foods. I use this method to switch all my furbabies and I've personally switched approximately 30 ferrets of my own in the last few years.
I will let you read through and if you have any questions please ask.
Good luck
ciao
HF Forum Username: chrylis
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets? A number of different ferret books and the Texas Ferret Rescue.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. I'm not wanting to go to a live-prey diet for practical reasons, but I would like to move toward a partial- or whole-frozen-prey diet, possibly with added meats. Kiwi is 8mo old and has always eaten kibble, so in the meantime I have her on the best kibble I could find (Foster & Smith Natural).
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet? Primarily health benefits.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? I'm aware, and Kiwi can be a bit on the picky side, but I want to get her onto a diet that's best for her (along with similar diet changes for myself!).
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Kiwi is an 8-month-old sprite in fine health.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? Foster & Smith Natural kibble, plus FerreTone, a couple of flavors of Marshall's Bandits treats, and F&S liver bites.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? No; I adopted her New Year's Day.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share? Not sure what's relevant; ask me!
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer? Essentially constantly.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible). www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2129567&id=54603122&l=59ebd2e56f
Hi
I'm Heather, and we're going to be working together for the next little while trying to convince your furbaby to change to a healthier diet
I've been feeding a raw/natural diet for a little over 10 yrs. I have a small private rescue/sanctuary, just outside of Toronto, Canada where all ferrets turned into me are switched immediately over to a raw diet that consists of ground raw/whole meats or frankenprey/ and prey diet. At present every ferret eats this full range of diets. I don't keep kibbles in the house. All my furbabies are free roaming and have access to an outdoor play area that they can access at will. At present there are 12 little fuzzbutts who call this their permanent home. They range in ages of about 1 yr to my senior citizen, Dr. Pooka Dooks who is approx. 10 yrs. My most difficult switch was a little senior who was turned in at 9 yrs of age (she by the way has been my biggest raw switch challenge, which had me at times wondering why I was doing this to her) She eventually was completely switched and putting on a beautiful dark black coat, teeth that were nicely cleaned up, and she actually has a lot of fun investigating the house (she used to do nothing but sleep when she first was turned in). She has made me aware that every ferret no matter how old, can get a new lease on life by eating a species appropriate diet. She eventually passed on at 11 yrs of age to complete organ failure....old age.
Raw soupy is my favourite switching tool and one that I've had the most success with.
You can try to get them to eat a raw soup immediately. You will need a blender/food processor, and the following raw items:
8 oz raw chicken thigh meat (including skin and fat)
1/2 tsp of crushed eggshell powder (take a raw eggshell. Rinse it out. Let it dry. Crush to powder)
1 raw chicken heart
1/2 raw chicken liver
Water or broth(use more to make it soupier, less to make it thicker)
Blend ingredients together. Some prefer it at room temp. Try putting a dollop of "soup" onto your ferret's nose and they probably will lick it off. I use my finger. Sometimes this takes a little bit trying to convince them that you're not trying to poison them I find within a very short time they're licking this off my finger. When I see that they're willing to eat freely off my finger then I use a small spoon to try and get them to eat from that. Try to get them eating the soupy on their own. It might pique their interest.
Most ferrets will willingly eat the food once they actually TASTE it, so the only struggle you *should* encounter is them not wanting to taste it. Don't be surprised if your furbabies' initial reaction is to gag, spit and look at you like, what are you trying to poison me with But don't let them get away with it The hardest part is to insist and be consistent. Please also be aware that after years of kibbles they aren't aware that what you're offering them is indeed food. Once they willingly eat from your finger and spoon, work to try and get them eating this out of a dish or plate.
Each time you make your soupy, use a little less water to make it thicker/chunkier. Replace soup with fresh soup every 4-6 hours. You can make a large batch if you like and freeze into ice cubes or cupcake trays. Then you just thaw a portion and serve. OR you can put a frozen "cube" into their bowl and let it slowly thaw.
This is a good way to slowly ease them into wet foods. I use this method to switch all my furbabies and I've personally switched approximately 30 ferrets of my own in the last few years.
I will let you read through and if you have any questions please ask.
Good luck
ciao
