Sophia's Switching Thread / Wildferret

[Heather]

Name:Angela
HF Forum Username:Sophia

1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?

I learned about it from a ferret site.

2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. Be sure to include if you are interested in feeding whole prey (live or frozen-thawed) and if you are wanting to FULLY switch to a natural diet or PARTIALLY. If you are unsure what kind of diet you want to put your ferrets on, please express that and we can help you find the best type of natural diet for your ferret.




I would like to feed frozen whole prey and natural.

3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?

I found that it is the best possible thing I can do for her because dry kibble is full of not so good things.

4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?

100%

5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?




I have 1 girl, Sophia who is going to be 11 months. She does not have any health problems. She is at a good wieght. She has got to be 3-4 pounds. She is big for a girl I am told. I have had her for 5 mos.

6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?

She already eats the chicken soupie.

7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?

This is my first ferret.

8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?

My world revolves around her.

9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?

24/7

10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).

11. Have you met the requirements for this program? Do you have your scale, a place to access meats, hearts, livers, etc?

YES and YES I can go to Bottom Dollar, Dutchway Farm Market, Hershey's Farm Market, Walmart for thighs I don't know about hearts, haretoday, southfloridarodents,bigapplepetsupplies,reelrawdog.


Hi and welcome to the mentoring program . In a little while your mentor (Wildferret) will introduce himself and you can get started on a new adventure in natural ferret care and diets. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun :boing: . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
ciao

[Deleted]

Hi! I'll be your mentor through your switch. I own seven fuzzies and twenty cats, all raw fed and healthy. So your ferret is at the soup stage? How long has she been eating soup?

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Hi nice to finally meet you! You have a full house! I actually have 2 girls. Sophia 1yr and ISabella 10 mos. Sophia is on the Frankenprey diet and Isbella is on chunky soupie. Isabella has been on raw for a month. She has had rabbit and chicken thigh. In conjunction with the heart and liver, kidney. She tears it up! Isabella usually eats 2-2and 1/2oz per sitting. She eats 4-6 times a day in btw she has egg 3 days out of the week. Sophia eats about 2oz twice a day and also has egg 3 days out of the week in btw meals. I also give them Salmon oil twice a week and coconut oil twice a week when I do nails. I brush their teeth in coconut oil twice a week and they think it is a treat! Their nails are growing faster now so I know I am doing something right! And their ears aren't as waxy YAY! Their coats r BEAUTIFUL! Their poop is normal for where they r in their transitions. Isabella is still having the detox from horrible 8 in 1 that she was on before I got her. She was a rescue. I got Sophia at Petco. I was going to go thru a rescue but the rescue closest to me were dragging their feet too much and I was like heck with this. She is very lovable a friendly with everyone, but there is just something about a rescue. DOn't get me wrong I love them equally but they have their own personalities. Sophia likes being cuddled and kissed but she only takes so much and she is back on the floor. Isabella eats it up cuz she never got it! I have been spoonfeeding Bella for a month! She eats a little bit on her own now and then. Did you look back in my thread before it got deleted and see my pics of my girls? If not I will take some tomorrow when I weigh them, let u know how much they weigh. Btw I have a planner which I keep track of how much they have eaten each day and etc if you need any info. Bringing my girls together was the best thing I could have done for them besides getting them on natural diets. They r the best of friends! They went from being down to just being happy in every way! They like going outside for air while it is not bitter cold here in PA yet thank goodness! Isabella is still too small for her harness so I have to wait to take them for walks. We r going to take them to Petsmart soon and let them pick out some toys YAY! Well my girls should be up soon for their last time to play for the night.

[Deleted]

You sound like the kind of ferrant I like to work with. Why can't everybody be as conscientious as you obviously are? Yes, post some pics so I can see your babies and post their weights. They have a loving home, that's what makes them happy.

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Today my bf and I took them to Petsmart and let them pick out their own toys some for now and some for their yes Christmas Stockings! They had a blast. I brought a blanket obviously cuz it is getting cold and I put it in the cart so they would be comfy and they sat there looking around at everything! They hardly tried to climb out of the cart. I don't crate them unless we r at the vet and a big dog comes in or something. They sit on my lap and look out the window on the way there and back. Isabella is my newest edition and I will have had her a month on Nov 18 already!! She is very relaxed in the car which is a big help cuz Sophia is a bundle of boundless energy in the car esp today! I could not have asked for better behaved ferrets!!! They played for a short time and ate a little when we got home then they went to sleep. My bf said"This won't be the last time we bring them". In my mind I am screaming YAY
I weighed my girls today and they lost a few but I know it is totally normal. Bella my newest and smallest weighs .86KG Sophia weighs 1.14, so they each lost 3ozs but they r gaining SO MUCH muscle!! My bf said "Soon they will be opening doors"! On the 18th I will post before and after photos of my babies. That will be Bella's month and I wanna see the changes she has made. She came to me looking frail and weak and now she is pulling laundry baskets around by her teeth and pushing an underbed container filled with leaves!! SO PROUD OF MY BABIES!!!

[Deleted]

That's a pretty baby. And it sounds as though they are in excellent shape. You say you're still spoon feeding your Bella?

[Deleted]

Yes. Thank u Do you think Sophia is getting too skinny? She is gaining muscle.

[Deleted]

She looks okay. What's her menu look like?

[Deleted]

She is on the Frankenprey menu. I have been giving them rabbit for a couple weeks. She gets her bone-in rabbit everyday and then
Tues PM-heart and gizzard
Wed PM-heart
Fri-1/2 heart 1/4 live and 1/4 kidney
Sat PM heart and gizzard
Sun-1/2 liver 1/2 kidney

She eats really well and she is also always playing with Bella and me,so they get lots of exercise. I leave them out all day long until 10-10:30pm cuz my bf has to get his beauty sleep :/ If it wasn't for him they would not have a cage. They don't mind it tho cuz they sleep all night very comfortably with a blanket over the front and sides to keep them warm and keep it dark. They have all kinds of blankets and different materials that I put it their cage which is a Ferret Nation. I like to go to Joannnes Fabric and get different kinds of fabric for them to cuddle up in. Problem is I am a phanatic about fleece in the winter so I am trying to tell myself to get other kinds besides that cuz they have a bunch of it lol. And I have knee high socks to match their blankets and fit over their ladders.

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Btw Sophia and Isabella usually eat close to 2oz at each sitting. Sophia eats twice except for 3 days when she has her egg in btw a meal. Isabella eat 4-6 times.

[Deleted]

They eat really well and I must say you're a very good ferret mom. I enjoy seeing the little ones in a truly loving home. How many different proteins are you feeding?

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They have had chicken of course, salmon,pork,Sophia has had turkey but not Isabella. They are going to have ground Bison after that. They will get turkey on Thanksgiving. They will have turkey thighs,turkey hearts,livers,gizzards. I am going to get them some Guinea pigs, Quail, pheasant, and kangaroo when I get my Christmas money. I am also going to get a big bottle of Emu Oil. It is hard to find different things like kangaroo and elk etc somewhere other than the UK. I can't afford to buy from the UK all the time, so I will do it at Christmas and on my birthday and if my bf has a little extra money. I can't wait until Christmas! My girls have about 3 bags of stuffed animals so far!

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Well it has been one beautiful and fast month since I got my Bella! I think I am going to give her a toy outta their new stuff I have put away primarily for Christmas. Do you know anything about Organic Coconut Oil? Some people say it is ok for ferrets and some people say it is not because it is not from an animal. My girls LOVE it. They get it about once or twice a week. I am told Wild Salmon oil is better and they get that every 3 days, but they look forward to mainly getting the coconut oil when they get their teeth brushed. Since I finally got Sophia to like the Salmon oil I give it for nail clippings instead of the coconut oil. I have to do their nails twice a week now!! Their ears aren't as waxy so that is a big plus! I just got done making Sophia's organ meals and thought, WOW today is a month and the day almost flew past me! How can I get Bella to eat bone? I try to sneak them in her soupie and she spits them out. She is taking the chunky soup really well I think she is ready but every time I give one to Sophia she just sniffs it and walks away if she should happen to see it before it gets stashed.

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Btw I finally used my brains and figured out how to organize the freezer! I put organs,wings and necks in gallon freezer bags so they would sit flat and take less speace. So now when I open the freezer, each bag is labelled. No more digging thru grocery bags yay! And only half the space is used up! Wow imagine that Angela lol! I used about 10-15 freezer bags cuz they have a ton of organ meats and bone-in,but hey they don't take much space at all! I am using what I have and not buying any more organ meats for a while or bone-in meats. At least not until btw Dec and Jan when I get a big order.

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Sophia weighs 1.14K. Isabella weighs .85K. Sophia has been wanting a midnight snack so to speak when I feed Bella at 9-9:30 every night. What should I give her more bone or organ as she is on the Frankenprey Diet?