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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 26, 2008 1:01:33 GMT -5
Yay! That is great. Don't worry, Smucky will 'come round. So did Mo chew on it or did he just stash it? You are making great progress, you should be excited!
BTW-Thats good that your dog doesnt gulp, and that's cute that he looked at you like "I'm supposed to eat it?"
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Post by moddedmama on Jun 26, 2008 10:22:44 GMT -5
Well he just stashed it at first, then I found it and left it with them all night, I checked this morning to see if they'd chewed on it anymore. The very tip is gone, but that's it. I figure it's a decent start though, at least they aren't rejecting it. I dont' know who chewed the tip off though as it was the middle of the night sometime.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 26, 2008 10:26:50 GMT -5
It might not sound like a huge step, but you are right, its a step none the less. Keep us posted and let us know when they munch down on the wingtip!
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Post by amyandfuzzies6 on Jun 26, 2008 11:44:30 GMT -5
You can also try cutting little strips (but still leave attached) on the wing tips to give the ferts a "head start" and make it a little easier to eat. That way, they can taste, smell, see the chicken under the skin. I know wing tips are pretty small so you probably don't need to do much cutting. Please keep us posted  |
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Post by moddedmama on Jun 27, 2008 0:03:25 GMT -5
This morning when I fed them I gave them another wing tip but cut it in half this time, caught Mo going to town on it later, but stopped as soon as he saw me, lol. Tonight when I fed them i had a couple of pork chops left over from supper, so I cut up some of that and added it to the bowl with the chicken chunks, Mo really seems to like it, Smucky not so much. I also cut the flat part of the wing (with the two bones) in half lengthwise in between the bones, we'll see what's left in the morning. Sadly there will be no more pics for a while though, my batteries went dead on my camera. I guess I've been taking too many pictures lately, huh. So that's the update for today. I won't be around much this weekend, it's a busy one, so don't worry if you don't hear from me until Monday or so. Have a great weekend!!!
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Post by amyandfuzzies6 on Jun 27, 2008 8:19:28 GMT -5
 They do tend to like their privacy when eating! It sounds like they are making great progress - yeah! Little steps, but still progress! I got those titanium batteries for my digital camera and they last a long, long time - hint, hint,hint Have a great weekend and keep up the good work!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 27, 2008 12:50:10 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to your update on Monday.
Things seem to be going well. Keep pushing and they'll be totally switched before you know it!
So Mo ate the wingtip and pork bits, but smucky didn't? (trying to update my notes on your ferrets progress) Just be sure that Smucky is eating something.
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Post by amyandfuzzies6 on Jun 30, 2008 14:17:57 GMT -5
How did Smucky and Mo do over the weekend?
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Post by moddedmama on Jun 30, 2008 17:00:45 GMT -5
Well I completely forgot batteries while out and about this weekend, so no pics....but great news.
Mo is eating wings, , I caught him on Saturday, hee hee. He is also eating pork chunks. He even seems to go for the wings before the chunks in the bowl, now.
Smucky is eating, I know, the chicken chunks for sure, and I saw him take a few pieces of pork. I saw him at least attempting to eat a wingette today, I couldn't stay to watch so I'm not sure how much of it he actually ate. But I'm encouraged that he's trying to eat it.
I don't know exactly who is eating bones but at least one of them is. Each time I put in a wingette, usually just the tip or flat part for now. All I find after is about a one inch piece of bone in the morning. The other (smaller) bone from the flat part is gone, so yay. Any ideas to figure out which one is actually eating it, or if they both are? Short of investing in a video camera and taping them all night, which really isn't a viable option, lol, I don't know how to tell. I did put a crushed eggshell on their food Saturday, and they ate most of that.
I picked up some chicken livers, and hearts and gizzards at the store on Friday, so I'm thinking to try to get them to eat that tomorrow. About how much of these should they get. I separated it all into individual bags when I brought it home. There is about a palm size portion of mixed livers, hearts, and gizzards. Is one of these enough or should I feed two. Or one in the morning and again at night. Does that make sense? I'm going to thaw out some chicken thighs tonight as well. Not sure if I should just offer it whole or cut it uup some, I guess I'm gonna see how the do on the whole wing and go from there.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 30, 2008 19:44:16 GMT -5
Well I completely forgot batteries while out and about this weekend, so no pics....but great news.No problem  Now for the great news! *rubs hands together excitedly* Mo is eating wings, , I caught him on Saturday, hee hee. He is also eating pork chunks. He even seems to go for the wings before the chunks in the bowl, now. Whooo hoooo!!!!! Almost there! Almost there! You are so close to being "totally natural" I can feel it! Smucky is eating, I know, the chicken chunks for sure, and I saw him take a few pieces of pork. I saw him at least attempting to eat a wingette today, I couldn't stay to watch so I'm not sure how much of it he actually ate. But I'm encouraged that he's trying to eat it. It might take him some time to learn, but its excellent that he is trying! Go Smucky! I don't know exactly who is eating bones but at least one of them is. Each time I put in a wingette, usually just the tip or flat part for now. All I find after is about a one inch piece of bone in the morning. The other (smaller) bone from the flat part is gone, so yay. Good! It takes them time to learn how to eat the bone, but they'll get even better at it, sounds like they are well on their way! Any ideas to figure out which one is actually eating it, or if they both are?Can you seperate them just for the day? If you dont have two cages you could always clear out a room like the bathroom and stick one in there. That way you can moniter them seperately. I did put a crushed eggshell on their food Saturday, and they ate most of that. Good, so they are getting some extra calcium until they become champs at eating the bone. Sounds like a plan. I picked up some chicken livers, and hearts and gizzards at the store on Friday, so I'm thinking to try to get them to eat that tomorrow. About how much of these should they get. I would feed no more then 1 liver per ferret, and as many hearts and gizzards as they will eat (palm sized is good) you might need to feed more if they get hungry. I separated it all into individual bags when I brought it home. There is about a palm size portion of mixed livers, hearts, and gizzards. Is one of these enough or should I feed two. It depends (see above)
I'm going to thaw out some chicken thighs tonight as well. Not sure if I should just offer it whole or cut it uup some, I guess I'm gonna see how the do on the whole wing and go from there. sounds like a plan! Im excited! I would go with the wing first. Cut some gashes into it (to make it easier to grab) and then let em at it! Keep us posted, Im so excited!
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Post by amyandfuzzies6 on Jul 1, 2008 8:34:58 GMT -5
Way to go Smucky & Mo!!
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Post by moddedmama on Jul 2, 2008 19:17:02 GMT -5
I didn't get a chance to post an update yesterday...so let's see. I forgot to thaw out the liver on Monday, so they they got that this morning instead, along with some hearts and gizzards, I can see they've eaten some of it, though not with as much enthusiasm as the wingettes. Speaking of..they won't yet eat much of a full wing, but if I cut it into pieces they are fine with it. Still not sure if Smucky is eating bone. I don't have an extra cage to seperate them. Nor do I have a room to use. If I had an extra bathroom it would be a possibility, however, with only one bathroom and two small children in and out of it all day, it just wouldn't work. I'm still trying to figure out a way to seperate them, but coming up blank.
I did see him and Mo sharing a wing part yesterday, so I know he's eating the meat off the bone for sure. I've got one more chicken breast left, and after that the plan is to just cut up some thigh meat. I'm going to the store tomorrow, so I'll look at getting some game hens, and some turkey as well. Not sure what we have around here as far as turkey parts go. I'm sure breasts, and I think I may have seen some drumsticks as well. Pretty sure I've never seen turkey necks though. We'll see what I can find.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 2, 2008 19:20:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the update, I was wondering how things were going. Hey just a suggestion, I know that a dog owner once told me that her dog HATED organ meat, but as soon as she bought ORGANIC organ meat her dog flipped out and loved the stuff! Keep and eye on Smucky, you might just be able to catch him munching on bone. Oh you are almost there! Try your babies on the turkey, can you get pork? or find a cheap (quality) source of rabbit or lamb? Once your babies are eating THREE different types of meat, then I can officially review your schedule, and you'll be one step closer to "graduating". Ah Im so proud! |
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Post by moddedmama on Jul 2, 2008 19:59:10 GMT -5
They are eating pork, they both took to that really fast, they love it. Just chopped up pork chops, that's okay right? I'll look for the organic organ meat, but stuff like that is hard to find around here. Organic meat, maybe, organs, not so sure.
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Post by amyandfuzzies6 on Jul 3, 2008 14:57:15 GMT -5
I noticed that my ferrets will eat more of the bone in all natural Cornish Game Hens (which can be purchase @ Wal-Mart for $1.98-good deal!) than those that are not. They certainly seem to know the difference.
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