Yuki and Nikko go raw

[Forum Administrator]

Did you say A bare bone? As in ONE bone? Because if thats all that was left, congrats! Your little man DID eat some bone (the two thin bones in the middle section of the wing).



Thanks for posting pics

[quill]

Jul 6, 2008 8:13:38 GMT -5 Jaycee said:

Congratulations! I bet in the next few days they will be diving into the bone too. Can you tell if they are chewing on the bone any? My little kit eats bone now....makes for interesting poo at first!

Yes, Nikko is chewing on the bone...sometimes I hear him crunching, but I can't see where any is missing.

[quill]

Jul 6, 2008 9:14:17 GMT -5 Forum Administrator said:

Did you say A bare bone? As in ONE bone? Because if thats all that was left, congrats! Your little man DID eat some bone (the two thin bones in the middle section of the wing).

Actually, I think he may have eaten one of the thin bones in the middle section because I can only find one of them. Could be in the litter, haven't changed that today. For some reason Nikko takes his to his litter when he is almost finished. It's like he is clearing the table. That's where I usually find the bones.

[quill]

Last night when I put the wing in the cage Nikko ran and grabbed it as usual. For the first time Yuki followed Nikko around sniffing at the wing like maybe she wanted it. I think I'll start leaving two wings or cut the one into parts. Yuki just might be ready to chow down on one!!

[Forum Administrator]

Oh! I really hope she does! Go Yuki! (and Nikko!) Go!

Keep us posted (im getting excited, you are almost there!)

[quill]

Ok...my main concern about Nikko not eating bone is the lack of calcium since he will only eat raw meat right now.

I have asked if egg shells is suffecient but the question keeps getting buried in other issues. . So I looked around.

I found mustelidmusk's thread in the raw section about velvet antlers. I'll try those.

[Forum Administrator]

Have you tried smashing the bone in half (and exposing the marrow)?

[mustelidmusk]

The antler will have mineral and blood-related bone nutrients that egg shell alone probably won't cover.
Bone also has some EFA's, so a bit of flax seed oil or salmon oil makes a good treat.

here's another thing to try...small bones -cornish game hen...cut most of the meat off nd feed the bones with a tiny amount of meat first...when they're hungriest. If they're half-full when they get to the bone, they may be getting lazy!

Let us know if this helps! I'll be back to civilized internet access tomorrow!
-jennifer

[quill]

Today I have decided to take all the kibble from the cage (just for today) to see if Yuki will go ahead and eat the "good stuff." I know she will eat raw, but will choose kibble over it right now. She is almost trying the wings and meaty thigh bones.

[quill]

I want to give Nikko a mouse (frozen/thawed). Even though he will not eat the wing bones, I really think he may just crunch right into a mouse.

What size should I get?

[Forum Administrator]

Well you can start with pinky mice (and gradually work him up to bigger mice) or you can try just getting an adult mouse and offering that. Try cutting the belly open, playing tug of war, or coating it in ferretone. Some ferrets (especially babies) take to it right away, while others need a little more encouragement.

Im happy to hear the kibble is out of the cage (even if it is just for the day ) I hope Yuki does well. Keep us posted (oh.....and I would love pics if you can get some more hehe)

[quill]

Going to camp with my daughter next week. dh will be home taking care of the fuzzbutts. I plan on cutting up meat into individual serving sizes and freezing so all he has to do is thaw and serve. Do you think it will be ok for him to put meat out when he leaves for work and fresh meat when he gets home and a wing for the night. He works 8 hours, so with comute the morning meat will be out @ 9 hours if not eaten. I'm a little concerned since this is summer and the humidity is up.

Is this ok?

[Forum Administrator]

Here are the times the following foods can be left out (from Jennifer aka mustelidmusk)

Wet Kibble: 4-8 hours
Ground meat: 12 hours
Freeze-dried Diet (served wet) 12 hours
Commercial Raw frozen diet 12 hours
Meat chunks: 16 hours
Bone-in meat: 24 hours
Whole prey (meat exposed): 24 hours
Whole prey (no meat exposed) 36 hours
Freeze-dried diet (served dry) Over 1 week (the primary concern is palatability rather than bacterial issues)

[Forum Administrator]

As long as your home is below 80 degrees then the chart above should be accurate and with two ferrets in the house it SHOULD be below 80

Have fun at camp!

[quill]

Thanks Giuli, That's alot longer than I thought!!!

And, yes, temp says around 72