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Post by kattadragon on Mar 22, 2017 16:57:23 GMT -5
I gave Crash and Eddie some chicken thigh to see what they thought. After a bit of coxing Eddie likes it, and Crash thinks it is not food. That said, I just gave them a quail leg and wing. Wow, now that was a battle!!! Crash was not giving up that leg!! Oh and I saw Eddie trying to eat some rabbit this afternoon.
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 23, 2017 0:10:19 GMT -5
Sorry I've been mia the last few days. Life has been crazy. Congratulations on your new babies!! I don't mean to criticize, but you really should quarantine new ferrets for two weeks before introducing them to your existing business. Keep an eye out of any serious changes in poops between the new ferrets and your existing ones. Even if the new ones seem healthy, they could be carriers of a few viruses common to ferrets.
For the new ones, stick to what they seem to like for now and slowly introduce new proteins. Glad they seem interested, though! That's a big bonus!
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 23, 2017 9:15:29 GMT -5
I hope it was a good kind of crazy, mine has been fairly busy too. I am working extended shifts six days a week and then I went and got Crash and Eddie, so yeah, busy. Good point. I had not considered that they could be carrying an infectious viruses. I do kennel them separately, until they decided to sleep together after play time I will not for them into the same kennel, but we can make separate play times. The babies do seem to play much longer than everyone else, no surprise there. I let them out to play in the house yesterday and they loved that! Jack is my alpha, but he could not catch or keep up with the babies to "put them in their place". It was hilarious to watch him try to keep up. They seem to eat anything I give them now, as long it is not play time, must play first! They like to eat the soupie. I put a double helping in their kennel this morning because every time I go to check on them they have eaten all of the soupie. Oh and I put some thigh in it last night and it was all gone, so I put it in their breakfast again this morning. I will chop up some chicken and cornish game hen tonight and see what they think of those. I think Crash and Eddie are still "tummies with teeth". Crash is a chewer, previous owner gave her rubber dog squeaky toys (those when straight in the garbage). Since she was chewing on the quail last night I figure I will try a chicken wing tonight.
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 23, 2017 19:01:57 GMT -5
How old are they? If they are under a year then they should be pretty open to just about everything. If they are under 6 months, feed them until they won't eat anymore. Ferret kits are tummies with teeth but that usually drops off around 6 months of age.
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 23, 2017 22:59:10 GMT -5
No idea on age. I am their second rescue. They do seem to eat a fair bit. Tonight I started them with Cornish game hen wings. That was a hit! I had to put it away so Jack would not eat the wings for them. I mashed them up with the cleaver, but left them whole. Eddie was eating them, Crash just wanted to stash them, I think she was busy playing.
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 24, 2017 9:49:23 GMT -5
Crash and Eddie ate most of two game hen wings last night. When I gave them their breakfast of soup neither one acted like they were starving so I think they both ate the wings! I game them 4.4 ounces of soup in one bowl and chunks of game hen in the other. I will see just how much they ate when I get home.
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 26, 2017 17:48:00 GMT -5
Do you have a weight update on everyone? I'd also appreciate a listing of how each of them are doing. What each one is and isn't doing well with (organs, bone-in, what meats they don't seem to like that you are trying to feed, etc).
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 27, 2017 9:07:09 GMT -5
Things Jack, Jezzy, Bill, and Tiny like: Chicken, Eggs, Hearts, blended internal organs, game hen, quail.
Things they don't care for, but don't complain about: Pork, rabbit, duck
Things they reluctantly eat, eventually: Beef
I will see about getting everyone's weight tonight.
Crash and Eddie are still mostly on soup. I diced up some heart and liver and mixed it with the ground turkey and an egg (and bone meal) too see how they like it a little chunky and a little thicker than typical soup. Crash was eating it last night and back at it this morning. I am not worried about Eddie as he seems to have a good appetite. I have seen Eddie eat quail, rabbit, chicken, and game hen.
After the vet visit yesterday I now know that Crash was the one who was most picked on by previous owners. Her undercoat of fur it broken and wiry. She has a toe nail that is growing a little cockeyed, but that should heal. And her bad tooth will need to be removed. If the tooth is causing her pain it would make sense that she would stay away from any chunks.
Eddie was just adorable at the vet. He gave kisses and flopped on the table and let them rub his belly. He as no medical issues and was 1040g. Now he is finally getting to a healthy weight. His coat is still wiry, but that will come with time. I have only had them 6 days.
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 27, 2017 11:35:23 GMT -5
Should I go a step farther and separate everyone out so I can track how much of what is getting eaten by whom? My only concern about that is they get depressed if I separate them out and they all seem to be maintaining a healthy weight. I am going to switch the pork and beef meals to just pork and beef (with an egg each), that way no one can run over, eat two or three pieces of chicken and totally avoid the pork and beef. Thoughts?
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 27, 2017 23:06:56 GMT -5
Weights: Jack: 1162/1395/1282/1287/1320/1315/1327 Bill: 1134/1286/1179/1109/1137/1150/1186 Tiny: 652/765/752/783/800/772/795 Jezzy: 603/957/796/710/729/744/765
Crash:778/828 Eddie: 977/1040
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 27, 2017 23:32:06 GMT -5
Looking good. Do you have any questions about things so far?
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 28, 2017 9:24:00 GMT -5
Should I go a step farther and separate everyone out so I can track how much of what is getting eaten by whom? My only concern about that is they get depressed if I separate them out and they all seem to be maintaining a healthy weight. I am going to switch the pork and beef meals to just pork and beef (with an egg each), that way no one can run over, eat two or three pieces of chicken and totally avoid the pork and beef. Thoughts? Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/22424/kattadragons-switching-thread-sveta?page=9#ixzz4cd9uYKBr
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 28, 2017 20:13:57 GMT -5
Everyone's weight so far seems good so I don't think tracking what everyone's eating is needed. It would be a good baseline to have but it is up to you.
I actually advocate having as few different meats in one meal as possible. This is in case anyone develops a food sensitivity (I've had it happen). If it happens, it is a massive pain to have to deal with it and all your prepared meals have mixed meats.
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Post by kattadragon on Mar 29, 2017 8:46:57 GMT -5
Good point. I will keep it mixed up a bit then. I have not really been pushing to get Crash and Eddie past the soup, been busy, but I will start cutting up chunks of thigh and mixing it in with their soup. I will give my vet a call and see about getting Crash's tooth pulled. I just feel bad for the little girl. I hope they do not have to pull both cainines.
Oh, and all that effort to put together an order for hare today and I forgot the feeder mice!!
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 30, 2017 21:16:14 GMT -5
Her tooth may not need to be pulled but the vet will be able to figure that out.
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