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Post by msav on Aug 27, 2014 21:56:40 GMT -5
here is a slightly altered menu for Koufos/Cassia I may supplement on rodent days some kind of poultry for Koufos until I am sure he will eat mouse/rat.
Sunday AM - 1 whole mouse per ferret PM - 1.5 oz of bone in rabbit per ferret
Monday AM - 1.5 oz of Heart per ferret PM - 1.5 oz Bone in duck per ferret
Tuesday AM - 1.5 oz sirloin Beef per ferret PM - whole quail
Wednesday AM - whole quail PM - 1.5 oz of liver per ferret
Thursday AM - 1.5 oz Bone in Cornish Game hen per ferret PM - 1.5 oz Pork shoulder
Friday AM - 1.5 oz bone in Chicken per ferret PM - 1.5 oz chicken gizzards per ferret
Saturday AM - 1 whole rat pup per ferret PM - .5 oz liver, .5 oz heart and .5 oz kidney per ferret
Cassia will likely get liver/heart slivers with a light coat of soup until she is seen eating liver regularly.
other meats that I feed. Salmon, swordfish, Goat, Lamb, and wild birds (shot with lead free pellets (frozen for 1 month))
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 28, 2014 8:12:00 GMT -5
Ok, last requirement is a bit of a quiz on raw feeding in general:
What are some good emergency taurine sources if you run out of heart?
Your ferret is constipated and his stools are very hard and dry. What is this a sign of and how can you adjust to fix it?
Do chicken, turkey, and cornish game hen (CGH) count as different proteins?
List 3 organs aside from liver.
Are gizzards a muscle meat, or an organ?
How much can a ferret's appetite and weight change seasonally?
How much food on average should a male and female ferret each consume per DAY?
What is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it?
How can you tell if your ferret is too skinny?
Is it a good idea to mix muscle meat, bone in and organs all in one meal. Explain why.
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 28, 2014 8:15:43 GMT -5
Also, could you add any additional proteins you feed to the end of that menu post that may not be in that menu? It just shows more variety if you are providing it.
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Post by msav on Aug 28, 2014 10:42:27 GMT -5
Ok, last requirement is a bit of a quiz on raw feeding in general: What are some good emergency taurine sources if you run out of heart? Beef tongue, taurine powder, Fin FishYour ferret is constipated and his stools are very hard and dry. What is this a sign of and how can you adjust to fix it? Too much bone in their meals, you can add some more fatty meat with less bone, you can also give 1/2 tsp of olive, salmon, or coconut oil to help. Do chicken, turkey, and cornish game hen (CGH) count as different proteins? Yes, they are different animals even though they are both poultryList 3 organs aside from liver. Lung, kidney, pancreas Are gizzards a muscle meat, or an organ? Muscle meatHow much can a ferret's appetite and weight change seasonally? as much as 2 lbs, 3 oz of food per meal to 1 oz. How much food on average should a male and female ferret each consume per DAY? anywhere from 3 - 8 oz of food per day for males and 2 - 6 oz of food per day for femalesWhat is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it? Olive oil, coconut oil, or salmon oil 1/2 tsp 2 times a week max.How can you tell if your ferret is too skinny? you can feel the ribs where they connect to the spine Is it a good idea to mix muscle meat, bone in and organs all in one meal. Explain why. This will provide a well formed poop that will make it easy to pass. This mimics whole prey that they would naturally eat.
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 28, 2014 12:18:19 GMT -5
You did pretty well. Only few corrections.
How much food on average should a male and female ferret each consume per DAY? anywhere from 3 - 8 oz of food per day for males and 2 - 6 oz of food per day for females
The numbers are a little tighter than that but they do vary quite a bit. Generally it is 2 to 4+ oz for males and 1 - 4 oz for females. Kits should always be eating more than adults.
What is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it? Olive oil, coconut oil, or salmon oil 1/2 tsp 2 times a week max.
Actually the correct answer was eggs. Oils only help slightly and are more for their coat and other benefits. You should actually add eggs once or twice a week into your menu. The lechithin in the raw eggs prevent the fats in their diet from clumping together any hair they consume into a bezoar. Eggs are especially important during shedding season.
Is it a good idea to mix muscle meat, bone in and organs all in one meal. Explain why. This will provide a well formed poop that will make it easy to pass. This mimics whole prey that they would naturally eat.
Actually we advise people NOT to feed this way as it can cause issues with identifying food sensitivities, allergies, or contaminated meat. For example if you mix everything together and freeze your meals ahead of time, you have to throw it all out if a meat recall occurs. Also, if one develops a food allergy / sensitivity it is much harder to determine what the trigger is with everything fed together.
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Post by msav on Aug 28, 2014 12:43:01 GMT -5
Mine must be little piggies, perhaps that question should be read as a "mature/adult" male and female ferret. I generalized and averaged the 6 month to 8 month old range in there.
yes, I forgot about the eggs I generally don't feed them cause they don't like them.. is this something I should try to get them to eat? and was it suppose to be 1 whole egg per ferret 2 times a week? correct?
I always thought that mixing the foods together with multiple ferrets was a good Idea since one likes liver he will only eat liver and one likes meat he will only eat meat.
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 28, 2014 13:27:15 GMT -5
Yes, you need to try and get them on eggs at least for shedding season. Whole prey helps to clean them out as well but eggs are a necessary thing in the spring and fall. I have to hand feed Wilma eggs as she doesn't like them much either. Socks will eat them until she pukes (greedy guts).
As for mixing meats. That is part of the problem. If one is snubbing organs it is hard to tell if everything is mixed together. Once you KNOW that everyone is eating everything it isn't such a huge deal but definitely not something we advise for those new to raw. The menu strategy is laid out the way it is for many reasons. As you get more experienced it isn't so carved in stone as long as the nutritional balance is there.
Anyhow, I'll get your menu submitted and we'll wait to see what the grand poobas say.
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Post by msav on Aug 29, 2014 9:58:14 GMT -5
I gave them a single beaten egg. nobody was really opposed to it. they each willingly went up to it and gave it a few laps. however 1 egg 5 ferrets and they did not finish it. how much egg should they eat during shedding season?
alright I stand corrected. Bleu, while I typed the above decided to finish off the rest of it.
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 29, 2014 10:41:50 GMT -5
1 small chicken each per week minimum. With Wilma I have better results if I hand feed her. It's a pain but once a week isn't to bad. If they are all willing to try it then they'll probably get used to it. Wilma won't even try it unless I hand feed her. You do feed whole prey though which helps as well. You can really see the difference in whole prey poops vs. frankenprey poops. Those little whole prey cork screws help to clean them out.
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Post by msav on Aug 29, 2014 10:47:17 GMT -5
the first time I fed whole quail the poops freaked me out. it looked like large worms in their poop. after a close examination I noticed that it was feathers. Still can't get used to the look of feathers in their poop.
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Post by msav on Aug 30, 2014 17:30:56 GMT -5
Ok
I am going to have to get used to this, now with 5 ferrets eating meat, my frozen portion size is all out of whack. I just started getting a feel for how much to pull and feed the 3 of them. Now when I put food into the cage I look back in there an hour later and it looks like a land piranha went through the cage.
I guess I will just pull double until I get a feel for it, again
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 30, 2014 19:51:40 GMT -5
Lol, also keep in mind that we are moving into the end of summer and they might be starting to bulk up for the winter early. A few of us in the north have noticed early shedding this year.
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Post by Heather on Aug 30, 2014 21:17:42 GMT -5
Congratulations :boing: You've graduated and you're ready to walk this path alone, now . You have the foundation to help you feed your fuzzes in a more natural and healthy manner. Please remember that your learning never stops, and dietary needs change from ferret to ferret and throughout each their lives. I would like you to be aware that though you now have the capability and the knowledge to create your little ones diets you are never alone and that your mentor (you need only pm) is always available to you. The list is also a very good resource and you should always be aware that it's available to answer any questions you may have either about diet or care. I would also continue to try and introduce new proteins as you've listed only 4 proteins in your menu. This will help your little ones get better nutritional coverage. Good luck, in a few days Sherry will lock down this thread and place it in the archives but be aware that you can always look through it as a reference tool but you just will not be able to post to it . Your mentor will be in to congratulate you shortly ciao
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 31, 2014 7:34:39 GMT -5
Congrats Msav!! I'm glad we finally got Koufos on board!! I knew he was on the edge and would eventually step over (which he did in one fell swoop). I'm sorry that Hammie pasted over during this time and the loss of employment certainly didn't make any of this easier. It has been a roller-coaster for you and yours. Don't hesitate to contact me here or on FB anytime you have questions. Once a mentor, always a mentor
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