Mermaidsirena"s Switching Thread / Sherry

[Heather]

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.


If you create a transition thread, please copy the link below for reference: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/23772/tallahassee-transitions-ghost-branch


Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Sherry), 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

[mermaidsirena]

I just saw this! I'll repost my post here.

Week of 1/8 Ghost and Branch (both bowls topped with very thin soup)

Monday
Game hen with some bone
chicken chunks

Tuesday
raw egg/duck grind
duck grind

Wednesday
duck grind
heart

Thursday
Venison grind/duck grind
Venison grind/duck grind

Friday
quail with bone
heart, kidney, liver

Saturday
Turkey necks
chicken chunks

Sunday
chicken chunks
kidney and liver

Ghost is 1330 grams
Branch is 1030 grams

The soup placed on top of the food is more like chicken flavored water but it seems to still be needed so I am going to continue for another week. Both are eating organs (including heart) very well when I keep the pieces smaller. The turkey necks are definitely chewed – but not always eaten. I will keep trying the real bone-in food and try hard to move away from so many grinds. The venison was eaten well as was most everything else. Each boy lost a wee bit of weight so I am going to go back to four ounces each feeding for the week.

Stools have been good. A bit bony after the turkey necks but that is understandable as the neck has way more than the grind (I think).

On a happy note, I got a new scale! And this scale does grams!!! So I will be switching the ferret weights to grams from now on. It seems much more accurate that way.

All in all, a great week for the boys. A good week for me as well. I seem to be feeling better about raw feeding and more at ease with it all. I don’t seem to panic quite as much that I am not feeding them the right thing at the right time. I do like that know when it is feeding time and are happy to run around. We got a new box and they are really enjoying the heck out of it.

[Sherry]

So far so good! Something you could consider is using chicken wings for 2 of the duck grind meals, and substituting pork chunks for the chicken chunks. That would give 2 more solid bone meals, as well as add an extra protein.

[mermaidsirena]

They have been doing really well with eating. Today we did dinner without soupy on top and used a beaten egg instead. It was eaten very well.

It has been a great week of eating for them and using less and less soupy. The weather has been odd so they are sleeping lots on some days (cold here) and then up and about others (our warmer days). Silly boys.

On another note, Kennedy, my short term foster is not doing well in his new home. They have tried but he just doesn't get along with other ferrets. I have offered to help transport but feel bad it isn't working out for them.

[Sherry]

It sounds like they are doing really well Have you considered the changes I mentioned in their menu?
And I wonder if your little foster isn't missing you! How did he do with your two, or were they introduced at all?

[mermaidsirena]

I added game hen pieces yesterday to their bowl and one out of two was eaten. The one with the thinner bone piece (most likely hip bone) was the one eaten. Neither seemed too interested in the backbone piece. I am going to look for pork tonight when I go shopping -- without bone, right?

Kennedy did NOT get along with my boys, either. He attacked after about ten minutes each time I tried. The attacks were violent and I was not willing to let them get to the 'peep and poo' stage. The person adopting indicated she had had multiple ferrets and was a stay-at-home mom willing to take the time for introductions. She picked him up on Christmas Eve. It has not been even a month but I believe she thinks he really doesn't like other ferrets. She is looking slowly and continues to keep him separate and did indicate her children were getting attached to him. He is a really sweet ferret --- alone. Some toe nipping but that really isn't an issue. He loves to be cuddled and held. I think the new person just wants him where he could be an 'only ferret' if someone out there has the inclination.

[Sherry]

Looks like he does need to be kept as a solo. Some do.
Okay. Yes, pork is boneless. For the larger bones for now, try chopping them fairly well with a cleaver. That should help.

[mermaidsirena]

We tried pork tonight for the first time. I'll see if it is gone in the morning.

I keep watching Branch lick all the watery soup off before eating. He is smart enough to do that at both bowls! Silly guy. Ghost doesn't seem to mind though. I have found that both of them prefer the same feeding den -- is that normal? I find many times I have to move the uneaten bowl of food to the preferred den for them to eat it. Maybe they are just lazy as there are times when both bowls are empty when I don't have the chance to move the bowls. Anyway -- I am sure the one den is the favorite. Should I consider just using one bowl for food (with more food, of course) and letting them take turns to eat? The den only fits one ferret head. They seem to take turns now anyway.

[mermaidsirena]

They LOVED the pork!! Success with a new food. And, success for myself finding a new food and giving it a try. The bowls were empty this morning -- not unusual as my Saturday routine is different and they end up eating breakfast later because of it.

Now for working pork into the week next week!

[Sherry]

Fantastic! Pork is a favourite here as well

[mermaidsirena]

Ferret's name: Ghost
Ferret's weight: 1371 grams
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. A bit grainy after bone-in meal. Much darker after organ meal.
Activity levels: Active as always!

Ferret's name: Branch
Ferret's weight: 1000 grams
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. A bit grainy after bone-in meal. Much darker after organ meal.
Activity levels: He sleeps a bit more than Ghost but will also be the one to start the tussles.
It has been a week of trying pork and keeping the soup very watery. That being said, Ghost gained and Branch lost weight. Is this something I need to worry about? Do I wait another week and watch? It is hard to know who is eating what but most times the bowls have food left over in them so I know there has been something available. I don’t think Branch has attempted true bone crunching, but he will eat the grinds well.
Week of 1/14 Ghost and Branch (both bowls topped with very thin soup)

Monday
Turkey necks and chicken chunks
Turkey necks and chicken chunks

Tuesday
Raw egg/duck grind
Duck grind

Wednesday
Quail grind
Heart

Thursday
Venison grind/duck grind
Venison grind/duck grind

Friday
Quail with bone
Heart, kidney, liver

Saturday
Turkey necks
Pork chunks

Sunday
Pork chunks
Kidney and liver

[Sherry]

I don't worry too much about small gains/losses unless there are accompanying issues.
Also I think it time to reduce the amount of soup"topping" used. They need to get used to eating the plain meat. Let's also focus on getting Branch crunching bones. How much are you chopping the necks up? Or the quail? Also- would it be possible to get CHICKEN necks and TURKEY chunks? Just that the chicken necks would be easier for him to eat as turkey neck is a pretty heavy bone.

[mermaidsirena]

Yesterday there was no soup topping as I forgot to defrost some -- the food was gone. :-)

I was going to make soup today as I am almost out -- should I just turn it into chicken chunks instead?

I chopped the necks into one or two vertebrates but that was about it. I will by another game hen as those bones were smaller. I will look to see if I can find chicken necks.

So -- I will try little to no soup topping this week. I'll try to skip soup all together at night feedings as I can watch more. Morning soup topping dependent on what was eaten during the evening.

[mermaidsirena]

I put both food bowls out tonight without the soup/water topping. Branch just turned his nose up and walked away. I only have a little bit of soup left so I added even more water to it and then spooned some of the 'meat water' over the food. Branch sniffed and then started eating. I watched. He ate the chicken chunks.
I have now learned that turkey necks stink more than other raw meat in my house - once they are gone I am not sure if I will buy them again.
I bought a game hen and am waiting for it to defrost some before chopping it up. I still have the makings for soup now defrosted -- what should I do with it all?

[Sherry]

Leave off the soup for now. If necessary just mix with a wee bit of warm water instead.
You can make some soup if you like and freeze in portions. I still give mine soup every 2-3 weeks. That way if they are ever sick I know they'll eat it