|
Post by Heather on Apr 26, 2011 22:23:38 GMT -5
Name: Kristin HF Forum Username: Kristin 1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets? I've been interested in natural diets for cats for a few years and started researching ferret diets soon afterward as I learned more about nutrition. 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'd like to fully switch to a natural diet. Raw and some whole prey (frozen).
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I want them to be the healthiest they can be and live a long time.
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?
Yes, I'm willing.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight?
Currently just one ferret -- a kit named Cricket. She is about 11 weeks old. She is a healthy weight and no problems.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
She is currently eating raw with some small bones (chicken wings and necks). I've picked up some hopper mice but haven't offered them yet.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
Cricket was eating kibble when I got her this week but I switched her to canned Wellness for one meal and then to raw -- she seems to eat anything I put infront of her and really enjoys the meaty bones.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I've had lots of ferrets in the past but it's been about 10 years since. Also I plan to add additional ferrets in the future - at least one - but wanted to bond with Cricket and potty train her first.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
All the time, unfortunately.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Jackie) will introduce herself 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 . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2011 0:43:04 GMT -5
Hello! Here's a little about me. My name is Jackie, I'm 18 years old (soon to be 19). I'm a pre-med student majoring in chemistry/biology. I'm about to finish up my third year, and will then start writing my thesis all next year! I work in a chemistry lab, and that takes up most of my free time. I spend the rest of my time with my bf of 6 years or playing with my three fur-girls. My ferrets: Pixie- She is my soul ferret. I got her when she was 8 weeks old. She was my first and only ferret for a long time (about a year). We have a very special bond. She is the sweetest ferret ever and I love her with all my heart. She is now almost 2 and a half years old. Trixie - She is my nutty one. A bit slow at time, but adorable and very sweet. She's about a year and a half old. Her and Pixie are very good buddies. Dixie - My newest addition! She's about 4 months old and is the funniest, fiestiest little ferret ever! She's a bit nippy, but she's improving every day. Holistic feeding experience: I started feeding raw with freeze dried foods from Stella & Chewys. It was a very easy transition and the transformation was so dramatic I never looked back My girls (Pixie and Trixie at the time) were so much healthier I couldn't deny how good raw was for them Freeze dried is VERY expensive, so I eventually transitioned to raw meats from my grocery store. Pixie was the hardest to switch, but she is finally eat raw meaty bones and chunks like a champ! Dixie has eaten raw from the moment I got her home
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2011 0:44:36 GMT -5
So can you give me a quick run down of what you're feeding throughout the week? I'm excited to work with you!!!
|
|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 27, 2011 14:16:51 GMT -5
Hi Jackie! Thanks for the intro. I'm so excited to work with you! I could definitely use some guidance because I'm having "new mom" syndrome and a bit unsure about what I'm doing. I've had Cricket for a little over a week now. Currently I am feeding her 2-3 times a day (depending on whether or not she finishes her meal -- trying to keep food in her bowl all the time). For the past few days I've been feeding her: ground rabbit (with bone - frozen from the pet store) turkey necks (fozen from the pet store) chicken necks (frozen from thepet store) chicken wings (fresh from grocery) ground lamb (fresh from grocery - made in my blender) ground chicken (fresh from grocery - made in my blender) beef ring bones (mostly just marrow) cornish game hen (sawed off quarters and gave it whole) I've also offered her a hopper mouse and a fat meal worm, neither of which she was interested in. I thought it might be the fur in the case of the mouse, so I bought a pinkie mouse last night but haven't given it to her yet. I have some other items in my freezer awaiting dispatch: a whole goose, a whole duck, some other things, I'm sure. I have access to anything under the sun, fresh-killed and/or frozen. I also have a very large snake so I feed whole prey to her already. My boyfriend just bought me a deluxe electric meat grinder that supposedly handles rabbit, turkey and chicken bone, so I will have that at my disposal probably this weekend. Cricket seems eager to eat most things I offer her. She especially likes the wings, necks, and hen quarters. She wasn't keen on the rabbit but I mixed a teaspoon of Wellness canned cat food (grain-free) into it and she gobbled it up. She will eat ground and whole but so far has not eaten chunks. Some questions I have: 1. Is it best to offer one item at a time or a variety? (I'm afraid she didn't eat the mouse because I also gave her a chicken wing, which she already knows and loves) 2. How long can she go without eating? Since she's a kit, I've hear they need to eat frequently. I don't know how old she is -- maybe 10 weeks now? I guess that's it for now. Thanks a million for helping me out on this journey! It's so generous of you to donate your time, especially when you're so busy with school. I was interested in Biology, too, but Orgo killed me. It's there to separate the men from the boys, as they say, and apparently I'm a boy.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2011 14:32:04 GMT -5
Wow, you have one lucky fuzz with all that variety. So to answer your question, I offer one meat at al time because I have picky fuzzies. Sometimes I offer like chicken chunks + turkey necks to add some more meat to the meal. I would try offering one thing at a time for now. Once she is more comfortable with eating everything you can start experimenting with multiple meats in one meal. You have pretty much all the work done now it's just time to organize it and figuring out where you want to be with her diet. Since she eats most meats well, I think adding some organ meat and heart is a good next step. Liver should make up about 5% of the entire diet. That's about 2 oz a week (give or take ). If you have access to other organ meats, that should make up another 5% of the diet. So 10% organ meat, 5 is liver, 5 is all other. Examples of other organ meats are kidney, spleen, pancreas, thymus. Heart is another important component that the diet needs. 1-3 meals in the week should be straight heart. Heart contains taurine which is necessary for fuzzy heart and eye health. So how much whole prey would you like to incorporate? As for a general guideline: If feeding 2 meals a day: 8-9 bone in meals a week 4-5 boneless meals (1 of which is heart) 1 organ meal (half liver, half other) As for how many meals, I'd just make sure she always has access to food in her bowl. Babies eat a TON and it will slow down a bit Remember that ground meats don't help clean teeth, and can definitely make the teeth gunky. Just remember to feed bone in meats, and it will be fine I hope I've answered all your questions for now Yeah, organic was really tough. Not a fun class As for the mouse, definitely offer the pinkie. You can also pour some oil over it or cut it in half, or even blend it up. Try it whole first - hopefully she was just put off by the fur
|
|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 27, 2011 14:34:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply Jackie!
I forgot to mention that I included some liver in the ground chicken. I have a lb. of frozen beef liver. Is it okay to use beef? I know in the "wild" you don't see ferrets taking down a 2 ton heifer...
As far as heart and spleen, etc., where's a good place to find those? I looked for heart and kidney at the grocery but they didn't have it. Is an Asian market a good place for that?
Thanks for your help!
|
|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 27, 2011 14:36:35 GMT -5
Oh and for whole prey -- what's a good amount to incorporate? I was thinking twice a week but I'm open to suggestions.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2011 14:37:07 GMT -5
Beef liver is fine I find chicken liver at every grocery store (Publix, walmart, etc). As for heart, I'd ask your butcher at your local grocery stores and see if they ever have it or if they can order it for you. You can also talk to some private pet stores that sell raw - they sometimes have the ability to order it. Besides that, look for a good Asian market. They have tons of interesting meats
|
|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 27, 2011 14:40:18 GMT -5
Perfect - thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2011 14:43:24 GMT -5
Oh and for whole prey -- what's a good amount to incorporate? I was thinking twice a week but I'm open to suggestions. Twice a week sounds good just treat them as a bone in meat and balance it out with everything else you're feeding. Remember that the majority of whole prey should be adult. A variety of ages should be fed to cover all the bases, but most should be adult. Mice are also rich in taurine
|
|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 28, 2011 17:22:43 GMT -5
I tried the pinky mouse last night with Cricket and she wouldn't eat it. I smeared some canned Wellness on it, too. I ended up giving her the ground rabbit after a few hours of letting her go hungry. She wolfed it down. Strange kit. Meat's meat, isn't it? This weekend's project is to find some heart and at least one other organ. I feel like I'm on a scavenger hunt!
|
|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 28, 2011 17:28:11 GMT -5
Oh and 1 question for you. In this scenario: If feeding 2 meals a day: 8-9 bone in meals a week 4-5 boneless meals (1 of which is heart) 1 organ meal (half liver, half other) Does it matter whether the "bone in" meals are ground bone or whole bone? For example, the ground rabbit with ground bones vs. a chicken wing? Or should "boneless" be just meat? Also, what's the best ratio of ground vs. chunks vs. meaty bones? Is the goal to get her off the ground and onto just giant hunks of meat with the bone in there? Sorry -- that's waaaay more than one question!! Thanks for your help - I appreciate it!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2011 17:47:37 GMT -5
Does it matter whether the "bone in" meals are ground bone or whole bone? Nope. Bone-in meals can be ground, whole, crushed, etc. Or should "boneless" be just meat? Boneless meals should only have meat, no bone. lso, what's the best ratio of ground vs. chunks vs. meaty bones? That depends entirely on you. What is more convenient, accessable, affordable, etc. Whole bone in pieces are better for teeth, but as long as they eat them a couple times a week you should be covered. Is the goal to get her off the ground and onto just giant hunks of meat with the bone in there? Again, it's up to you. What fits your lifestyle, budget, preference, etc. Raw is raw, and the benefits (besides teeth) will be present with ground and whole meats equally.
|
|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 28, 2011 17:56:24 GMT -5
Thanks, Jackie. That makes sense.
So I'll supplement the ground with turkey necks, chicken wings, duck necks, etc. for the whole bone tooth benefits.
I'm thinking something like this:
8-9 bone-in ground rabbit with bone in turkey necks chicken wings duck necks cornish game hen quarters
4-5 boneless ground chicken, duck, lamb, goose, etc. heart
1 organ beef liver kidneys
Does that make sense? The ground is easiest for me to get and prepare and store. And the bone-in necks and wings come that way in the pet store and she loves them.
I know I'm probably over-thinking this, but I really want to do the best thing for her!
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2011 18:58:10 GMT -5
Sounds exceptional! Does your baby eat all of those meats without an issue? If so, I need you to make a weekly schedule of what you will feed. For example: Monday: Duck necks AM Ground chicken PM Etc for every day. Then I'll pass it on to Heather and she will look over your menu. After that, you graduate!
|
|