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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 7:39:05 GMT -5
As I researched Ferrets just prior to bringing Monster into our home late last August, I learned the are obligate carnivores. This is a fact I did not know when my husband and I had a ferret back in 1984, whom we were advised to rehome when our daughter was born at 26 weeks gestation; NO pets is what the Drs said. It was certainly a blessing for our Misty as she was in a cat carrier as a home and being fed plain old cat food from the grocery store. I am thankful to be older, and wiser, now with the internet at my fingertips and be able to learn more about this fabulous little creature! So, now knowing they need meat and that raw is the best thing for them I decided to make a transition. Through several Facebook groups dedicated to Ferrets I learned of the HFF group and asked to join. I had already "met" one of the Admins and had established a bit of a friendship with him (I believe he felt me to be serious in learning) so my request for membership was quickly approved. Since then I have been scouring the files, reading articles, asking questions, making lists, and gathering supplies; over-all absorbing as much knowledge as I possibly can! Since Monster came home we have added another family member, Brandi. Brandi joined our family on the 2nd day of November. She was a rescue of sorts; found on Craig's List, malnourished, and dehydrated. Although she was weighed by a friend the day I picked her up and was 1lb 2oz she was skin and bones. It broke my heart. There was no meat on her. She has since gained a half of a pound! Proud mama here!! Yesterday I completed my Application for a transition Mentor. I know there is a waiting list and this is a good thing as I have an out of state visit with my dad scheduled for the end of February and will not be returning home until the first week of March. My husband, who will care for my kids during my absence, has no interest in raw, nor does he have the time with his work schedule being what it is. In the meantime I will be shopping today for the making for Raw Soup so that me kids can begin getting a taste of it; with the hope they will enjoy it making the full blown transition easier. I have a notebook ready to document, a camera ready for weekly photographs, a scale that will measure both grams and ounces (in my application I didn't think it converted to grams, but it does!), and a shopping list! I've started this thread, on the recommendation of Sherry, for any tips and/or advice that may help me while we wait. Until next time, be blessed!
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jan 4, 2017 8:25:52 GMT -5
 Hi and welcome to the forum and thanks for rescuing a little one from craigslist. Nice to hear that she has put on weight under your care  (craigslist girls here, too). People will be happy to give you advice while waiting for a mentor.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 4, 2017 11:31:25 GMT -5
Hi  Glad to see you made it! I bet you get them well on their way before you have to leave  |
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Post by unclejoe on Jan 4, 2017 20:44:54 GMT -5
Hi and welcome. Our Lola came from craigslist and she is just amazing. And this is one amazing forum. We do all we can to help anyone with transitions, advice and tips, anything to make our fellow ferrents and fuzzies happy. We'd love to see pics of your little ones.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 12:15:35 GMT -5
Thank you all for your encouragement. I am really loving the HFF on Facebook and am positive I will here as well. Every member has been amazing!
I came earlier to see if I had any tips or suggestions, made a reply similar to what I am doing now, tapped the 'reply', saw my post, and now it is gone. Not sure what I did wrong. Hopefully this time it will post. I am not very familiar with how these things work.
Yesterday was shopping day. I was able to get a food processor, chicken thighs, chicken liver, and chicken heart. I have bone meal on order which should arrive tomorrow. Processor is cleaned and assembled, egg shells ground nice and fine using a mortar & pestal I had already purchased for the fuzzbutts for this very purpose, and the liver & hearts are all put up in vacuum sealed packages in one ounce increments (13 bags of each!), setting aside the portions needed for our first batch of soup. I was allowing the sealer to cool before I portioned out the thighs. I am getting ready to do that when I'm done here. I will measure the soup into ice cube trays so I can keep track of the amount each fuzzy is eating for my documentation. This evening will be my first attempt at feeding them the raw so when I'm done putting everything up I will go back into the files here for tips on the best way to do that.
And... I think I just figured out what I did wrong initially and why my "post" disappeared!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 14:01:44 GMT -5
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Post by unclejoe on Jan 5, 2017 17:11:52 GMT -5
Good luck!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2017 8:06:07 GMT -5
Am so thrilled with Monster! He took to the soup without any difficulty at all, eating about 2.5-3 tablespoons. Brandi was not so easy to coax. She did manage maybe 1.4 teaspoons from my fingertip with a little oil. I am still proud of her, but was hoping she would take more.
I have just learned I need to pick all kibbles up about 3 hours before feeding. I feel like I may have seen that somewhere else during my "studies", but it didn't register with me. I wonder if this is the case with this slow introduction I'm doing as well? I can't have them not eating kibbles while I'm away next month. With my husband's work schedule; never knowing what hours he will be working, the time needed will likely not be there. Something for me to look in to further...
Picking kibbles up now in preparation for breakfast.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 6, 2017 10:24:17 GMT -5
It depends. If they have taken to the soup this well, you may have them fully transitioned by the time you leave lol. Then all you need to do is portion out enough meals in bags(a day or two worth in each) that all he has to do is defrost and feed |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2017 8:12:50 GMT -5
Well, Brandi would have absolutely nothing to do with the soup yesterday, at breakfast or dinner. She would clean the bit that I touched to her lips, but nothing else. Struggled to be away from me and then wouldn't come anywhere near me when I'd go for her to try again. I'm in no rush and WILL continue working with her slowly. Monster did well at breakfast and ate the entire portion, which is about 3 tablespoons (the ice cubes are 2 tablespoons, but I was using what didn't fit in the tray). At dinner he wasn't as hungry and only ate about 1 tablespoon before cleaning his face on the meal mat and walking away. I left the bowl down for about an hour before picking it up. I am wondering how long I can leave it down before needing to pick it up?
Am going to attempt to print some articles out today. Have been having some difficulties with my router connected to my desk top computer since our move in October. Just located the user's guide so hopefully I can get it to work. I'm struggling with educating my husband. He is very "set in his ways" and doesn't seem to get that I'm not just listening to folk on Facebook in regard to proper diet. I'm not sure what his issue is, but am hoping seeing some printed material on the importance of a carnivore diet for ferrets may help.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 7, 2017 11:28:59 GMT -5
If you want something to work, and fast- we have a video under insulinoma of a ferret in a screaming seizure.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 10:24:20 GMT -5
First - thank you Sherry. I will find and share that video!
Monster is still doing real well with eating the soup. I'm thinking I may go ahead and try some very small amount of grind in with his soup since he's doing so well with it. Is this a good or bad idea?
Brandi is still struggling with acceptance. She will only eat it from my fingertip and the last 2 meal, last night's dinner and this morning's breakfast, would only take about 1/2 teaspoon total before she is done and refuses any more. Even then I have to coax her with a bit of oil first. I will be persistent, and I am far more stubborn! I was just hoping she might take to it a little quicker than she is. She is so tiny and slender, I'd like to know she's getting a healthier diet than she is with kibble.
I'm hoping to get them both weighed today. I think they knew I was "up to something" because they've both disappeared! Good playtime with running through the house chasing and being chased after breakfast tuckered them out! I'll try when they wake in a few hours. I also need to get photos...
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Post by Aftershock on Jan 8, 2017 12:46:29 GMT -5
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Post by Sherry on Jan 8, 2017 13:28:16 GMT -5
Definitely add the grind. I have found it can often come down to a case of "monkey see, monkey do" with ferrets. And yes, she will get there. Don't forget small females eat less than their male counter parts. One of my females eats 1- 1.5 oz a day and that's it  Once fully on raw, her appetite will pick up for a while. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 14:48:56 GMT -5
Oh my goodness that video is heartbreaking. I'm still crying. I thank you, both, for sharing; I may not have found it on my own unless one of mine had been diagnosed. I have to say I almost wish I had not seen it.
I have some ground chuck that I was putting up for my husband and I. I pinched off a bit, maybe a packed tablespoon. Would this be acceptable to add to Monster's evening meal?
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