Post by mermaidsirena on Nov 11, 2017 19:18:12 GMT -5
Ferret's name: Ghost
Ferret's weight: 2.9 pounds
Ferret's Daily Medications: none
Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. Eats between 2 and 4 ounces morning and night.
Stools on various proteins. Dark to brown. Smaller than when on kibble. A bit grainy after bone-in meal. Much darker after gizzard or liver meal.
Activity levels: Off the chart busy when up – but born 7/10/17 so only a baby even if he has grown like a weed!
Weekly menu:
Week of 10/29
Sunday: very thick soup; organ mix with egg yolk; soup with turkey/bone grind mixed into the soup (he is still growing so I am trying to keep up with him)
Monday: thick soup/organ mix; chicken wing and chicken foot
Tuesday: thick soup/turkey with bone grind; chicken grind
Wednesday: thick soup; thick soup with turkey/bone grind mixed in
Thursday: thick soup with organ grind (he really isn’t fond of the organ grind); chicken wing
Friday: thick soup; organ grind
Saturday: thick soup; chicken with bone grind
Week of 11/5
Sunday: duck w/bone grind; chunky soup
Monday: chunky soup and raw egg; chunky soup
Tuesday: chunky soup; chicken wing
Wednesday: chunky soup; kitten mix grind
Thursday: gizzards; heart and duck with bone grind
Friday: chunky soup; kitten mix grind
Saturday: chunky soup; chicken wing
Ferret's name: Branch Adopted on Sunday
Ferret's weight: 2.2 pounds
Ferret's Daily Medications: none
Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. Eats between 2 and 4 ounces morning and night.
Stools on various proteins. First few days were kibble stool. Liquid stool the morning after the first 2 ounces of soup feeding. Now they are small, already smelling less and he is drinking way less water than the first few days.
Activity levels: We are not sure of his age. My guess is over three. He is a sleeper most of the time. Evenings when we rouse them for play he is active. Found his is quite the climber and has scaled the ferret nation cage twice!! He can hold his own with Ghost in a tussle and I am not sure who is alpha yet. They are still in separate cages.
Weekly menu:
Week of 11/5
Sunday: mixed purina kitten chow and wysong; mixed purina kitten chow and wysong
Monday: mixed purina kitten chow and wysong; mixed purina kitten chow and wysong but tasted the thick soup by my fingers
Tuesday: mixed purina kitten chow and wysong; thick soup from fingers and then from spoon; left 2 ounces of thick soup in cage and it was gone in the morning
Wednesday: thick soup; thick soup
Thursday: thick soup; thick soup
Friday: thick soup; thick soup mixed with a duck grind in the evening
Saturday: thick soup; thick soup mixed with a duck grind in the evening
Name: Leanne Grillot
HF Forum Username: MermaidSirena
Please confirm that you are 18 years of age or older:
Yes. One of my sons in 18.
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
On the Facebook page: Ferret Lovers Community
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 am interested in a total natural diet. I am not sure if I am ready for the whole prey diet yet, but if I do it would be frozen-thawed.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I have had five other ferrets in the past. Most died earlier than I think they should have. Two died of insulinoma and one died most likely of some type of cancer. The internet was in its infancy at that time so there was only libraries and the random vet to talk to about ferret care. I want to do better by these two and give them the best chance even though they are Marshal guys.
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 necessary time commitment?
I completely get it. Thankfully I am extremely patient (my background is teaching blind children). I have been at it since I got Bad Rabbit and found this board. I will continue to try my best but do hope for help to make sure I do it right. Time is sometimes an issue and I struggle with some of the technology of this thing (photos right now are a pain in the hiney!). Both boys have actually transitioned quickly so I want to get them the right proportions.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? If so, what medications are they currently on? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?
Two males. Ghost (white) is four months and Branch (black masked) is likely over three years old. Neither have health problems. No medications. No overweight. Branch is pretty thin. We got Ghost on Labor Day weekend. Branch joined us last Sunday.
I have had five ferrets in the past. The first was my soulmate from college, Toby. He slept with me, joined me on every walk, and was my best buddy. That was back in 1991. When he passed I waited a year and then rescued a girl and boy together. The boy, bandit, died about a month after I took him – not sure what at the time but have some ideas now. Sasha, the girl, lived a good six years but insulinoma took her. About a year later I got two more, Sundance and Shadow. My husband worked from the Army (and is a disabled vet) and we were transferred to California. I couldn’t take them and had to find them a new home. At the time I had a three year old and a three month old. California didn’t allow them so I waited. We moved to Florida (and hubby retired) but we waited until our boys are 16 and 18 as I knew small children and ferrets don’t always mix well.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
Total raw diet now. We have some freeze dried raw from Aunty. Haven’t really tried it with them as raw has been enough. Don’t really see the need for treats. I do try an egg a week but the new ferret hasn’t tried that yet. Ghost eats soup, chunks, chicken wings, hearts, gizzards, egg. He is not a huge fan of the organ mix but it is beef. Branch eats thick soup but we haven’t tried anything else yet.
See diet of the last two weeks above for a breakdown as well.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
No. This is new but so far very successful.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I am dedicated. I love the idea of raw feed and pray it extends their little lives. I have a family who has been interested in this journey and they pitch in to help as well.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
Daily but for websites like this it is evenings and weekends. Work doesn’t allow it.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Branch and then Ghost
imgur.com/gallery/m8KJU
11. Do you have a scale sufficient to measure soup ingredients AND to regularly weigh your ferrets?
I weigh food for myself all the time so weighing theirs is a piece of cake (been doing that since I started). It only does pounds and ounces.
12. 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?
Yes, yes and yes. Finally found heart!!! It is a challenge in my area but I have enough frozen for the next month. I have asked two of my hunter friends to save hearts for me.
13. Do you understand that if your mentor or an admin recommends seeking veterinary care and you refuse to seek appropriate care you may be dropped from the mentoring program?
Yes, I do.
14. We occasionally have a wait for a Mentor to be available. While you wait we encourage you to get started by creating your own switching thread under Diet Transitions where all of our mentors and members can help you while you wait for your personal mentor.
Ferret's weight: 2.9 pounds
Ferret's Daily Medications: none
Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. Eats between 2 and 4 ounces morning and night.
Stools on various proteins. Dark to brown. Smaller than when on kibble. A bit grainy after bone-in meal. Much darker after gizzard or liver meal.
Activity levels: Off the chart busy when up – but born 7/10/17 so only a baby even if he has grown like a weed!
Weekly menu:
Week of 10/29
Sunday: very thick soup; organ mix with egg yolk; soup with turkey/bone grind mixed into the soup (he is still growing so I am trying to keep up with him)
Monday: thick soup/organ mix; chicken wing and chicken foot
Tuesday: thick soup/turkey with bone grind; chicken grind
Wednesday: thick soup; thick soup with turkey/bone grind mixed in
Thursday: thick soup with organ grind (he really isn’t fond of the organ grind); chicken wing
Friday: thick soup; organ grind
Saturday: thick soup; chicken with bone grind
Week of 11/5
Sunday: duck w/bone grind; chunky soup
Monday: chunky soup and raw egg; chunky soup
Tuesday: chunky soup; chicken wing
Wednesday: chunky soup; kitten mix grind
Thursday: gizzards; heart and duck with bone grind
Friday: chunky soup; kitten mix grind
Saturday: chunky soup; chicken wing
Ferret's name: Branch Adopted on Sunday
Ferret's weight: 2.2 pounds
Ferret's Daily Medications: none
Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. Eats between 2 and 4 ounces morning and night.
Stools on various proteins. First few days were kibble stool. Liquid stool the morning after the first 2 ounces of soup feeding. Now they are small, already smelling less and he is drinking way less water than the first few days.
Activity levels: We are not sure of his age. My guess is over three. He is a sleeper most of the time. Evenings when we rouse them for play he is active. Found his is quite the climber and has scaled the ferret nation cage twice!! He can hold his own with Ghost in a tussle and I am not sure who is alpha yet. They are still in separate cages.
Weekly menu:
Week of 11/5
Sunday: mixed purina kitten chow and wysong; mixed purina kitten chow and wysong
Monday: mixed purina kitten chow and wysong; mixed purina kitten chow and wysong but tasted the thick soup by my fingers
Tuesday: mixed purina kitten chow and wysong; thick soup from fingers and then from spoon; left 2 ounces of thick soup in cage and it was gone in the morning
Wednesday: thick soup; thick soup
Thursday: thick soup; thick soup
Friday: thick soup; thick soup mixed with a duck grind in the evening
Saturday: thick soup; thick soup mixed with a duck grind in the evening
Name: Leanne Grillot
HF Forum Username: MermaidSirena
Please confirm that you are 18 years of age or older:
Yes. One of my sons in 18.
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
On the Facebook page: Ferret Lovers Community
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 am interested in a total natural diet. I am not sure if I am ready for the whole prey diet yet, but if I do it would be frozen-thawed.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I have had five other ferrets in the past. Most died earlier than I think they should have. Two died of insulinoma and one died most likely of some type of cancer. The internet was in its infancy at that time so there was only libraries and the random vet to talk to about ferret care. I want to do better by these two and give them the best chance even though they are Marshal guys.
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 necessary time commitment?
I completely get it. Thankfully I am extremely patient (my background is teaching blind children). I have been at it since I got Bad Rabbit and found this board. I will continue to try my best but do hope for help to make sure I do it right. Time is sometimes an issue and I struggle with some of the technology of this thing (photos right now are a pain in the hiney!). Both boys have actually transitioned quickly so I want to get them the right proportions.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? If so, what medications are they currently on? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?
Two males. Ghost (white) is four months and Branch (black masked) is likely over three years old. Neither have health problems. No medications. No overweight. Branch is pretty thin. We got Ghost on Labor Day weekend. Branch joined us last Sunday.
I have had five ferrets in the past. The first was my soulmate from college, Toby. He slept with me, joined me on every walk, and was my best buddy. That was back in 1991. When he passed I waited a year and then rescued a girl and boy together. The boy, bandit, died about a month after I took him – not sure what at the time but have some ideas now. Sasha, the girl, lived a good six years but insulinoma took her. About a year later I got two more, Sundance and Shadow. My husband worked from the Army (and is a disabled vet) and we were transferred to California. I couldn’t take them and had to find them a new home. At the time I had a three year old and a three month old. California didn’t allow them so I waited. We moved to Florida (and hubby retired) but we waited until our boys are 16 and 18 as I knew small children and ferrets don’t always mix well.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
Total raw diet now. We have some freeze dried raw from Aunty. Haven’t really tried it with them as raw has been enough. Don’t really see the need for treats. I do try an egg a week but the new ferret hasn’t tried that yet. Ghost eats soup, chunks, chicken wings, hearts, gizzards, egg. He is not a huge fan of the organ mix but it is beef. Branch eats thick soup but we haven’t tried anything else yet.
See diet of the last two weeks above for a breakdown as well.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
No. This is new but so far very successful.
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I am dedicated. I love the idea of raw feed and pray it extends their little lives. I have a family who has been interested in this journey and they pitch in to help as well.
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
Daily but for websites like this it is evenings and weekends. Work doesn’t allow it.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Branch and then Ghost
imgur.com/gallery/m8KJU
11. Do you have a scale sufficient to measure soup ingredients AND to regularly weigh your ferrets?
I weigh food for myself all the time so weighing theirs is a piece of cake (been doing that since I started). It only does pounds and ounces.
12. 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?
Yes, yes and yes. Finally found heart!!! It is a challenge in my area but I have enough frozen for the next month. I have asked two of my hunter friends to save hearts for me.
13. Do you understand that if your mentor or an admin recommends seeking veterinary care and you refuse to seek appropriate care you may be dropped from the mentoring program?
Yes, I do.
14. We occasionally have a wait for a Mentor to be available. While you wait we encourage you to get started by creating your own switching thread under Diet Transitions where all of our mentors and members can help you while you wait for your personal mentor.