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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2011 16:51:20 GMT -5
It could be a genetic defect of her jaw or just not strong enough. Definitely try smashing them and see if she can manage them that way.
Great about the ground - about how big are the ground pieces?
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2011 12:45:19 GMT -5
Any updates?
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Post by kristin on May 12, 2011 15:15:08 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't updated -- been seriously under the weather this week. Feeling much better though.
We used the new meat grinder yesterday with a whole duck. It works amazingly well.
I've been feeding them "medium" grind, probably 1/4" bits and pieces. And a wing or neck every few meals.
Should the meats be rotated day to day? I was curious if it's okay to do the variety one animal at a time -- so feed a whole duck (ground) over several meals, then a whole rabbit, etc. probably averaging a week on each.
Or is it better to switch it up at each meal?
Thanks! Kristin
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2011 13:47:30 GMT -5
We used the new meat grinder yesterday with a whole duck. It works amazingly well. That is great! How finely ground are the bones? Are they having any issues eating the ground? I've been feeding them "medium" grind, probably 1/4" bits and pieces. And a wing or neck every few meals. Are you happy with this size? Are they eating the whole boned meats fine? If so, I'd like you to create a menu for the week with what you feed. Like this: Monday AM: Ground duck bone in PM: Ground chicken boneless Etc. Remember to have 8-9 bone in meats, 4-5 boneless meals (1 of which is heart) and 1 liver meal. You can spread them out however you'd like. Should the meats be rotated day to day? I was curious if it's okay to do the variety one animal at a time -- so feed a whole duck (ground) over several meals, then a whole rabbit, etc. probably averaging a week on each. It's really up to you. I usually feed a protein for 2-3 meals, and then start the next. Some ferrets start refusing to eat a meat after having it too much, so do whatever works best for you.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2011 20:39:16 GMT -5
Any updates?
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Post by kristin on May 16, 2011 14:45:56 GMT -5
That is great! How finely ground are the bones? Are they having any issues eating the ground? The bones are ground up in the food same size as the meat -- probably 1/16 inch? No issues other than Marlee got a piece of cartilage stuck on one of her teeth and I had to pull it off with tweezers. They seem to really enjoy their food. Here's my proposed menu - let me know what you think. I'm mixing it up in case they prefer one food over another and then they can eat a big dinner if they didn't eat a lot at breakfast and vice versa. I feed 2 meals a day. M turkey (boneless); chicken (boneless) T liver; rabbit (bone-in) W chicken backs (bone-in); goose (bone-in) R chicken (boneless); buffalo (boneless) F rabbit (bone-in); chicken necks S turkey necks; goose (bone-in) U heart; cornish hen (whole, bone-in) Let me know what you think. Thanks for your help!
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Post by kristin on May 16, 2011 14:49:57 GMT -5
Oh also I got some canned pumpkin -- how much should I add in?
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2011 17:37:25 GMT -5
I'll pass your menu to Heather and have her give it a look! Canned pumpkin - during shedding season I add about 1 tsp daily per ferret (plus some Extra virgin olive oil). When shedding is over, I use about 1/2 tsp per ferret. Good stuff for boneless days.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2011 17:39:25 GMT -5
Also, one question for your menu. When you say (bone in) and (boneless) those are all ground meats, correct? And the chicken and turkey necks and cornish game hen are all whole pieces?
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2011 17:39:58 GMT -5
One more thing. They should be eating around 2 oz a liver a week per ferret.
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Post by kristin on May 16, 2011 19:44:04 GMT -5
yes, correct.
I was thinking of adding the liver and the heart into the boneless ground chicken (2oz per) because they don't seem to like the taste of it straight.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2011 23:13:21 GMT -5
Thats perfectly fine! You can space it however you want, as long as they get the equivalent of one entire heart meal and one entire liver meal. You can also add a little extra heart into your ground mixes to make sure you cover their taurine needs. You can't really overdo it on taurine So you're menu looks great! Are you happy with what they're eating? Is there anything else you'd like to add or get them eating?
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Post by kristin on May 18, 2011 10:54:21 GMT -5
So you're menu looks great! Are you happy with what they're eating? Is there anything else you'd like to add or get them eating? I have been giving them super meal worms once or twice a week as well, which they really enjoy. Last night I gave them an egg, which was a HUGE hit! I would like to try feeder goldfish, perhaps. Originally I was interested in doing some whole prey, but they weren't into the pinkies and if the diet I've outlined is just as healthy for them, I don't see a need for whole prey necessarily. This menu is getting so much easier now, just prepping it all in advance and freezing in portion sizes. Also good for the BF when he has to feed. I had no idea raw was going to be this easy! Thanks for all your help and wisdom on this!
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2011 11:08:38 GMT -5
Giving worms is perfectly fine - maybe you can try crickets next! Pop them in the freezer to calm them down Glad they enjoyed the egg. - you might have some icky stools. Raw definitely gets easier once you get a handle on it. You can rotate meats in and out and change it up however you like, as long as it all works out in the end of the week
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Post by kristin on May 18, 2011 11:14:45 GMT -5
I'll definitely try crickets next. (Is it weird for Cricket to eat crickets? ) The stools have been very strange -- changing depending on what I'm feeding them. I was expecting it, but the differences are still remarkable. I'm prepared for the sulpher download!
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