Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2015 3:46:13 GMT -5
Name: Katrina
HF Forum Username: LycheeMilo
Please confirm that you are 18 years of age or older: Yes
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
My sister used to have ferrets and so did one of her friends. Her friend did the raw meat diet but that was years ago. I decided to go with the raw meat diet when I asked on some threads regarding my ferrets poop and someone had mentioned it.
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 have already started the process, my boys are passed their soup stage and now eat large chunks of beef, chicken liver, chicken thigh, and chicken heart witch powdered egg shell that I powder myself.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
For my ferrets health. My sister had a ferret with IBS and even though he was getting help from a vet he passed away the next day. The moment I saw my ferrets poop look slightly similar I was looking for anything that would help. I am not sure if he has IBS but I wanted to be safe rather than sorry. Also I cant seem to find a kibble that is 100% healthy for my boys.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It requires a commitment of several months at minimum. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switching your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as committed. The switch takes time and effort every single day. It can also be extremely frustrating at times. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc), or limited time due to work, then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing and realistically able to make the neccessary time commitment?
I wouldn’t have gotten my ferrets if I didn’t have the time to do what I need to keep them healthy and happy. I live by the rule of never getting a pet if I don’t have the time or effort to put into them.
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 3 boys. Their names are Lychee (7 months), Milo (7 months), Stitch (11 months roughly). None of them have health problems that I know of so far. Lychee did have some loose stools when I first got him but they thickened up before I started his switch to meats. Currently all of them have weird sludge looking poop from their meat transition and its nasty but I’ve been told it’s normal to have weird poop during the switch. Lychee I feel may be over weight! He weighed 2.4 pounds a week ago. He is the smallest but also the heaviest. It doesn’t feel like fat though it feels like muscle on him. Milo is just at 2 pounds but he is HUGE! And by huge I mean he looks like hes going to be a raccoon or a cat! (kids at my daycare say “here kitty kitty” when they play with him). Stitch I got with a cage I was purchasing for my boys. He doesn’t seem like he was being fed well and did have a nail completely clipped off. To my surprise it has grown back perfectly with the help of medicine from the vet and he has started to gain weight. He is around 1.5 pounds as of last week. I have had Lychee and Milo since July 2015, Stitch since August (he was a surprise in his cage).
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
All three boys have finished soup and graduated on to chunks, they are getting large chunks currently. They get beef, chicken thigh, chicken liver (sometimes beef if the stores out of chicken and sometimes both), chicken heart (cant find lamb here). I crush eggshells into powder for their calcium and sprinkle it on each meal. I give them ferrevite (the tubed 8 in one stuff) I know its not the best but their boys and they seem to use the litter if they get it (yep still working on that too). I also give them egg yolk as a treat on the odd occasion.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
Currently doing it. So far they love it. They were sceptical at first but they love it now. My only concern is their poop at this moment and getting them fully transitioned.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I am a daycare provider and a student, I work with my sister and on occasion bring the ferrets to visit the kids. We let our ferrets have free roam of our house with exception of night time or when we go out so they are typically tired by night time.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
All the time as long as I’m not working or at school.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Added below!
11. Have you met the requirements for this program? Are you at least 18 years of age? Do you have your scale, a place to access meats, hearts, livers, etc?
I hope I have, and I am over 18. I do have a scale for food prep.
HF Forum Username: LycheeMilo
Please confirm that you are 18 years of age or older: Yes
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
My sister used to have ferrets and so did one of her friends. Her friend did the raw meat diet but that was years ago. I decided to go with the raw meat diet when I asked on some threads regarding my ferrets poop and someone had mentioned it.
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 have already started the process, my boys are passed their soup stage and now eat large chunks of beef, chicken liver, chicken thigh, and chicken heart witch powdered egg shell that I powder myself.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
For my ferrets health. My sister had a ferret with IBS and even though he was getting help from a vet he passed away the next day. The moment I saw my ferrets poop look slightly similar I was looking for anything that would help. I am not sure if he has IBS but I wanted to be safe rather than sorry. Also I cant seem to find a kibble that is 100% healthy for my boys.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It requires a commitment of several months at minimum. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switching your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as committed. The switch takes time and effort every single day. It can also be extremely frustrating at times. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc), or limited time due to work, then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing and realistically able to make the neccessary time commitment?
I wouldn’t have gotten my ferrets if I didn’t have the time to do what I need to keep them healthy and happy. I live by the rule of never getting a pet if I don’t have the time or effort to put into them.
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 3 boys. Their names are Lychee (7 months), Milo (7 months), Stitch (11 months roughly). None of them have health problems that I know of so far. Lychee did have some loose stools when I first got him but they thickened up before I started his switch to meats. Currently all of them have weird sludge looking poop from their meat transition and its nasty but I’ve been told it’s normal to have weird poop during the switch. Lychee I feel may be over weight! He weighed 2.4 pounds a week ago. He is the smallest but also the heaviest. It doesn’t feel like fat though it feels like muscle on him. Milo is just at 2 pounds but he is HUGE! And by huge I mean he looks like hes going to be a raccoon or a cat! (kids at my daycare say “here kitty kitty” when they play with him). Stitch I got with a cage I was purchasing for my boys. He doesn’t seem like he was being fed well and did have a nail completely clipped off. To my surprise it has grown back perfectly with the help of medicine from the vet and he has started to gain weight. He is around 1.5 pounds as of last week. I have had Lychee and Milo since July 2015, Stitch since August (he was a surprise in his cage).
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
All three boys have finished soup and graduated on to chunks, they are getting large chunks currently. They get beef, chicken thigh, chicken liver (sometimes beef if the stores out of chicken and sometimes both), chicken heart (cant find lamb here). I crush eggshells into powder for their calcium and sprinkle it on each meal. I give them ferrevite (the tubed 8 in one stuff) I know its not the best but their boys and they seem to use the litter if they get it (yep still working on that too). I also give them egg yolk as a treat on the odd occasion.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
Currently doing it. So far they love it. They were sceptical at first but they love it now. My only concern is their poop at this moment and getting them fully transitioned.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I am a daycare provider and a student, I work with my sister and on occasion bring the ferrets to visit the kids. We let our ferrets have free roam of our house with exception of night time or when we go out so they are typically tired by night time.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
All the time as long as I’m not working or at school.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Added below!
11. Have you met the requirements for this program? Are you at least 18 years of age? Do you have your scale, a place to access meats, hearts, livers, etc?
I hope I have, and I am over 18. I do have a scale for food prep.