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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2013 4:02:38 GMT -5
Good fuzz! Nice big chunks. Keep it up, they will build up those chomping muscles and get better at the bigger pieces. With slop like that, you could do ice cubes. You can make soupie ice cubes to keep on hand for cold days too. I often feed my boys frozen food. It's good to change up the presentation of their food. The heart soup is JUST heart meat right? Silly fuzz. I always wonder what goes on inside their heads.... There is nothing wrong with feeding them heart in soup form. It is best to keep them familiar with soup by feeding it every now and then anyways so that if anyone is ever sick, they still see it as food. Heat is rough on ferrets. They do so much better in the cold than the heat. The frozen water bottle was a good call; I'm glad the store owner let you guys bring him in! It has cooled down up here, lots of clouds today so we are all hoping for rain soon. It's been super dry so the fire hazard is very high. The wildlife are being affected too. I saw an article today saying that thousands of fish have been dying in lakes in internal Alaska because the water temps are so much higher than what the fish are used to.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2013 15:03:08 GMT -5
Oh wow! I hope it cools and rains for you soon! Where we are, east of the Seattle-Tacoma core....toward the mountains... it's going to touch 100 degrees later this week. Not going to be a fun next few days with the fuzzies. The air conditioning keeps inside down, but after about 3 days of high temps outside, the house gives in and starts to heat up. More than likely I'll take the air conditioner in the ferret room and cool it down...that should be easy and not take very long...then keep the door shut up tight. They won't like not free roaming but it will be better to get them through the hot period. I also have net hammocks that they sleep in during hot weather. Thank the gods that it doesn't get like this very often!
Oh yeah, I knew yesterday that the trip would be hard on Mickey. I loaded up Karl's lunch box (one of those lined and insulated ones) with ice packs, frozen water bottles, a metal bottle with water in it and a bowl to give him water from (which I forgot last time). Some of the ice packs I put on top of the carrier...I figured that the cold goes down so hopefully it would more directly cool the inside of the carrier without him having to give up room inside the carrier. All ended well and I got him home safely.
Yep, the heart soup is just heart... a tiny bit of water so it will actually make soup rather than a heart "ball". But the water is only about 1 tablespoon.
Last night's dinner was half liver, half brains. They ate most last night and then finished it off this morning. Man, you do NOT have to tell Yogi twice that dinner is served! LOL AND....this is good.... Karl let them into our bedroom last night and they went to the kitty food bowl (cat chow kibble)....Yogi and Daisy both rooted around in the food and then walked away from it! No kibble for them! It's no longer a food source from their perspective...just something to play with (or maybe poop in) hehehe. Mickey loves kitty food....He ended up getting one or two pieces before we snagged him and took him out.
Today's breakfast had the remaining brains and liver with some bone in chicken. They all went back to bed early...I figured that would happen with the heat coming on so strong today. So they haven't eaten any of their breakfast yet. I put the liver in frozen so hopefully that will help keep the food good a little longer.
At 10:00 this morning it was already 85 degrees outside...today will be a good day to go grocery shopping and other indoor a/c'd places. Or just sit and melt in front of our a/c. Oye...speaking of, I better get outside and refill the kitty's water bowl for them. I'm sure that they are under the house where it is cool. A little later I will let them inside to keep cool during the hottest part of the day.
Hoping for rain for you! Take care!
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2013 18:08:52 GMT -5
Gew! That is way too hot!!!! * My boys had pork brains and uterus last night. Their poops today.... hahahaha I hope it cools down for you guys soon! It is chilly and cloudy today....still no rain.
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2013 18:10:29 GMT -5
Question - sorry if I have asked this before. Are you wanting to continue on to whole prey?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2013 19:30:39 GMT -5
I know! It's f'ing brutal up in here! LOL And it's not going to get any better for at least a few days. The 4th is supposed to be under 80..so that will be nice. No, I'm only wanting to go on the frankenprey diet for the babies. It seems that I am nearly done But gosh, it sure seems like some days I back track a bit. But I suppose that's to be expected. Some days they just don't want to eat! I don't blame them when it's warm like this. Oye! HOT!!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2013 19:33:33 GMT -5
Btw...how do you think we are doing? Have we passed at least most of the tests?
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2013 20:36:01 GMT -5
Yes, some days they will just be stubborn. Other than heart, which I think you have under control, I think you have passed all of the tests with flying colors. Only the Final remains. haha I just wanted to double check on the whole prey first. Since we are not going that route, it is time that I ask you to post your final menu for approval for graduation! The menu isn't something set in stone that you rigidly adhere to but a guideline. It should show that you know how to provide proper balance and variety. As soon as you post it, I will check it over, we can make any tweaks if needed, and the I will submit your menu to Heather for final approval. (dance)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2013 1:30:56 GMT -5
OMGosh! Really?!?!?! that's so exciting! I'm going to be sad to not be checking in with you all the time though! Here's the meal plan I've been working from (of course I've had to tweak things a bit if I forgot to thaw something...but basically this is what I've been shopping for): Monday- 1) pork button bone / cornish hen 2) pork button bone / cornish hen Tuesday- 1) cornish hen 2) chicken heart / hen Wednesday- 1) quail / chicken liver 2) duck wings / chicken (bone) thursday- 1) turkey (muscle only) 2) hen Friday- 1) chicken (bone) / pork brains 2) pork bone / chicken (bone) Saturday- 1) chicken (muscle) / pork brains 2) chicken liver / chicken heart Sunday- 1) chicken (bone) / pork brains 2) chicken heart I've kind of changed things up a bit to get a whole meal of heart. Then added a meal of half heart, half liver. They really like the liver and the brains so whenever I put it in with other meats, the whole things goes quickly. Actually, the liver/brains combo seems to be a big hit too. I follow up the heart meal with two of bones to firm things up. Let me know what you think!
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Post by katt on Jul 1, 2013 2:21:21 GMT -5
Quick question. Pork button bones and hen. Do they eat the pork bones, and is all of the hen bone-in?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2013 15:22:58 GMT -5
They do eat the smaller pork bones. About 1/2 of them get eaten...the ones of the outside of the pieces. The hen I cut every time to get at least some bones. The breast has a smaller amount of bone since the meat is thicker. They eat the entire bird....sometimes the back which has less meat and more bones, sometimes the breast..less bones more meat. The day that I told you I sat and watched Mickey wrestle with a bone that was stuck...it was the round little pork bone. He tries and tries and tries...he will give up if the bone is too hard and big. But usually they eat about half the bones on the pork.
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Post by katt on Jul 1, 2013 19:20:26 GMT -5
Okay. So much easier to look at on my computer! haha Overall it looks good, I just have one more question - the meals that are half liver and the ones that are half brain - is it Actually HALF liver/brain? If so, then you are a little heavy on the organs. I'm assuming it's not based on your spreadsheet from earlier, and that the total organ is 10%? Another note - are you able to get any other organs? Brain is super nutritious, but I would try to add some other organs in there here and there if you can. I have submitted your menu to Heather.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2013 19:44:39 GMT -5
hehehe I know...I tried to look from someone's tablet and it was hard to see.
No, it's not half liver/brain...it's one or the other. Although I think since they seem to like it so much, I just might make one of the meal all 50% liver & 50% brains. That worked good the other day.
I can get the duck uterus...I'm going to buy some next time I'm at the asian market. I tried dried lung treats once at the pet health food store and my babies didn't know what they heck that is. I would like to try some new things with the babies, but I haven't come across anything else yet. I'll keep looking though. You never know when something shows up. I keep my list with me so when something does, I'll be sure to know what it is! LOL
Thanks! Keeping my fingers crossed!
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Post by katt on Jul 1, 2013 20:14:09 GMT -5
No what I meant was your meal that is say: chicken (bones / pork brains is that half chicken and half pork brains? Because if so you are half a meal heavy on the organs going off of meal size alone. I know you weigh your meats though. Uterus is great. Kidney is the easiest for most people to get, and when you think about anatomy, the two kidneys are a significant percentage of organ meat, so those are a good one to grab up if you can find some. It is hit and miss for me, but I can get some pork kidneys from the Asian market here. If you have any Halal markets those are good to check too - I get a lot of goat there, including goat kidneys. My boys LOVE the goat kidneys. I use freeze dried lung treats in their foraging toys. My boys really enjoy them. If you want to use those treats, maybe try sprinkling them over their food and increasing the size of the "sprinkles" to chunks until they like them? It's not vital that they love the lung treats or anything, but it is nice to have an easy, healthy FD treat to use - especially if you use foraging toys. I did get a quick note from Heather. Your variety is good, but it is heavy in poultry. I was wondering about this because it is so common for ferrets to have poultry (usually chicken) sensitivities I was thinking it might be good to add in another non-poultry meat and she brought up a good point that I actually didn't know or really think about. But apparently she was reading something saying that B12 is showing up short in a lot of raw diets...which is something they get from red meats. Here is here exact response: "She does cover all the necessary components. What about kidney? Can she get that? She might try some red meats but most of the components or proteins that she's using are species appropriate (except the pork). The brains (if they are indeed raw and not sweetmeats) are full of nutrients and more than probably works to cover what is being missed by not using kidneys. I think she's covered all her components that are required for a menu. As long as she understands how to modify her diet for her little ones and I would push for adding some red meats just for the blood component (B12). It's just a thought, I'm sure that her wee one(s)would do well enough without but I was reading that B12 is a component that is showing up short in our little ones' diets but it has a greater concern for breeders than people with farm ferrets ciao" With that in mind, I suggest adding a little beef into their diet. Bison is great too if you can get it. I also give my boys Moose meat if you know anyone who hunts. I'm not 100% sure, but I am pretty sure that goat meat is also red meat (see earlier note about Halal markets).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2013 20:36:50 GMT -5
My husband said that he knows were a Halal butcher is just south of me. I'll give the goat a try. I also saw goat at the asian market the last time...but they had it in full racks. I'd rather hit up the Halal butcher in Tacoma. You know that meat is safe....and kosher if it matters! hehehe
I will purchase some more red meats when I go to the market next. I don't have the beef on my regular menu yet...they have not been too receptive to it, but if I finger feed it to them, they love it. Stupid texture thing again! hehehe I will look for kidneys and then fight my husband off so I can start giving it to the ferts. I haven't seen any since i've been looking. Maybe i'll ask the butcher at Albertsons...I could be looking in the wrong spot, I've just never seen it.
I would like to have a good treat for them to start...I'll purchase some of the dried lung when I see it next. Since we've been off of the rad cat I haven't been to that store. But I need to get some more of that dried ziwipeak for emergencies. I'll check that out and give the crumbles a try. Thanks for the idea!!!
I get the pork brains from the butcher...they are fresh and just slaughtered from a farm on the reservation here. They do not feed anything un-natural to their pigs, which is why I like knowing where the meat comes from and the fact that local is always good.
I don't have a problem changing some of the hen and chicken into beef mince and some other red meats. Something nice and fatty too! LOL
Thanks, Katt!!!
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Post by katt on Jul 1, 2013 21:03:02 GMT -5
Try beef chunks instead of ground perhaps? I used to like buying the cubed stew beef because it was easy - no prep needed on my part! haha Now my boys don't get beef because Koda is allergic. They do get goat, bison (in small amounts only), and moose. Goat is a GREAT meat to have on the menu. It is a very gentle meat (very similar to lamb), which is great for them to recognize as food. If anyone ever has GI upset, food allergies, etc lamb and goat are nice gentle, hypoallergenic meats that can be offered. For introducing any new meat, do the gradual sneak in like we did for the switch. You can even use soup like you have been doing with the heart. Start with a pork soup and add a little beef. Gradually increase the beef and decrease the pork, then thicken the soup slowly. Add in small chunks or use the soup as gravy in ground beef, gradually changing the ratios until they eat the food you want them to. He likes to eat kidneys? What do they taste like? I am always curious about how people eat these strange meats I am always buying! haha Supposedly fried goat kidney is a delicacy. That is great you are able to buy local! I am a huge pro-local. Unfortunately, I can't always afford to buy local myself, but I always do try to when I can. Maybe you can ask the butcher what they do with the other pig parts? That could be a great resource! If you could get the other weird meats - kidney, spleen, uterus, pancreas, etc. Hmm...I wonder how they would take to eyeballs? Maybe they could even bag up an "organ mix" for you if it is something they usually just discard? I would definitely look into that because it could potentially be a really good resource for you! I'm going to miss having this thread when you graduate! lol
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