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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2014 21:52:49 GMT -5
Hey Sherry. Have to admit, the grater idea was my husband's. Worked pretty well except for a couple of grazes on the knuckle and it gets more difficult when you're down to a little nub of meat. Here is the update for 9/4:
Annette
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2014 22:19:31 GMT -5
Okay, have to admit...I am feeling really discouraged. First, I am concerned about BC (I have been worried about her for a while). She just doesn't seem like herself...or like she was the first few months we have had her (we have had her for only 7 months). At first, she was very eager for the soup...not anymore. Her activity levels vary drastically from day to day. And she feels like she has lost a lot more weight than what the scale seems to indicate. I took her in for blood work (for the first time) on August 9th. Everything came back within normal parameters. I would expect activity levels to vary somewhat from ferret to ferret and from day to day. Right now Lily and Miss P are the most active, which makes sense since Miss P is 8 months old and Lily probably spent most of her life in a cage. I am also not so worried about Max because he is almost always a hearty eater and he feels solid. But I am worried about BC. Second, everybody's poop looks like crap (ha!). Seedy, mucous-y, etc. And I don't know why. As I mentioned, i have been feeding beef, chicken, pork, and turkey along with chicken hearts/livers, beef heart/liver/kidney, and pork heart/liver/kidney/spleen. Nothing else goes in the soup (well except for egg shell and water). The ferts were on chicken soup for a while, but maybe I introduced the beef, pork, and turkey too fast. Maybe I should "start over" and go back to just chicken until everyone's poops look better. I don't know. As I said discouraged. And worried. Don't know what I am doing wrong. But I have to get to bed, so maybe we can talk more over the weekend. Thanks for listening Annette
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2014 23:41:21 GMT -5
Here is the update for today, 9/5: Annette
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Post by Sherry on Sept 6, 2014 10:05:22 GMT -5
Okay- exactly what ARE their weights, from beginning to now? They aren't on the charts. Also could you post some recent pics of them? Weights you've listed are good still. Don't forget, they will lose carb weight(fat) BEFORE adding on the muscle weight. They have only been on full raw for not even 3 full weeks yet. I am assuming kibble is completely gone now? Also, we need to start pushing them more so they don't get stuck here. Can you post some pics of the sliver size they are getting now? Also, what is the ratio of sliver to soup?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2014 22:48:47 GMT -5
Hi Sherry. Apologies for taking so long to respond. Spent a lot of time this weekend assisting my father-in-law. Anyways, to answer your questions.... See below for a graph of all their weights. To explain the Vets and minus 16 rows - We are estimating a 16 gram difference between the vet's scale and our scale at home.
See this week's overview (which I will post after this) for body pics that were taken today. For BC, Max, and Miss P - I have been leaving a small amount of kibble (1 ounce) in the cage overnight. For Lily, she still has a full access to kibble since this is the first full week for trying soup. Should I take kibble away completely from BC, Max, and Miss P? What about Lily?
See below for the current sliver size:
As I mentioned, I used a cheese grater. Current ratio of slivers to soup is about 50/50 for Max and 75 (soup)/25 (sliver) for the rest. I will increase the ratio of slivers to soup. Should I also increase the size of the slivers?Thanks! Annette
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2014 22:55:32 GMT -5
Overview for the week of September 7th - 13th
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2014 22:56:53 GMT -5
Update for 9/7
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2014 22:16:54 GMT -5
Hello Sherry. Here is the update for 9/8: I did not leave any kibble in the cage for Max, BC, and Miss P. Let me know if I should do differently. I left kibble for Lily. I also increased the ratio of slivers to soup, but not the sliver size. Also, no poop pics...no one pooped while they were out. At least that I could see. I probably have poops under the bed. Let me know what you think. Thanks! Annette
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Post by Sherry on Sept 9, 2014 9:31:34 GMT -5
Sorry! I can only read your graphs when I get a chance to get back on the computer, so sometimes takes me a couple of days depending. Alright. Weight losses look more than okay. It is to be expected at the beginning of the switch. Now, correct me if I am wrong. They are all eating an AVERAGE of two ounces a day, correct? Also if you are concerned about poops you can always just add a pinch of eggshell powder per meal extra. And yes, if they are at a half and half ratio then start increasing sliver sizes. For now just add in 5-6 larger bits until they accept them. Alternatively you could try them with all slivers and just a topping of soup like gravy on it and see how they do.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2014 22:22:25 GMT -5
Hey Sherry. Today's (Sept 9th) update: Let me know if my method is too burdensome. It makes it easy for me to remember and track things, but don't want to make things difficult for you. I would say for the past few days, yes...the average is at least 2 ounces per day. Average. Today, no. Beef is the least favorite and everyone was more interested in playing. I will keep increasing (slowly) the ratio of slivers to soup. I will also add a bit of extra eggshell. Will have to wait a day or two for the larger slivers. Need to get to the store for more meat. That's about it. Let me know if you have questions/comments. Annette
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2014 22:25:02 GMT -5
Forgot to mention that I appreciate your patience!
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Post by Sherry on Sept 10, 2014 8:48:02 GMT -5
However you choose to do this is fine Problem is MY comp died and I have to use hubby's that he uses for business so obviously that takes priority Let me know how they do on the increased sliver amount!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2014 21:57:16 GMT -5
Update for 9/10:
I have not been able to catch BC and Max pooping. And BC and P were a challenge tonight...had to finger feed. Annette ")
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Post by Sherry on Sept 11, 2014 9:06:26 GMT -5
Over all really good! On that poop is just a bit of meat that slipped straight through. It happens, and nothing to worry about And it looks like they can officially be off the kibble now, and just on the raw :banana: Did you have to finger feed the ENTIRE meal, or just "prime" them to get them started?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 22:00:09 GMT -5
Update for September 11th: Beef continues to be a challenge. Going start feeding beef in the evenings so there is more time with everyone. What else would be considered a red meat? Annette
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