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Post by jamien18 on Jun 5, 2018 21:49:30 GMT -5
My ferrets have been on raw for alittle while now. But I've had alot of problems with it, they're very very picky, my female puts all the raw food in the litter box , now they wont even use the litter box because she keeps putting food in it and yes I've tried a feeding box and they dont go in it. And now it seems like they aren't hardly even eating anymore. I'm just not sure what to do, I don't have the time for raw either anymore I have a crazy work schedule so I can hardly keep up.I know the kibble isnt the best but I cant keep wasting money on things they wont eat or even touch.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jun 6, 2018 6:41:08 GMT -5
My female puts all the raw food in the litter box Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/24439/back-kibble#ixzz5HdzFnbXkGot one of those but puts food on a potty pad I have in corner. My male will put meat in a potty,but I have two in my cage, so one stays free of meat. Luckily he does not do this everytime. Have you thought about grinds? Kind of hard to stash grinds;)) How many ferrets do you have? |
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Post by Sherry on Jun 6, 2018 8:07:35 GMT -5
It sounds like you've already made up your mind for whatever reason. Time wise, many of us work "crazy hours". But the good thing about raw is it only requires a couple hours prep time a month, then it's a matter of simply dumping into a dish to thaw. Other than prep no different than kibble. It is simply a matter of being organized. For the litter box, just shut off access to that level for the first 30 minutes so she can't stash there. Or else use pieces large enough that you can anchor them with shower hooks.
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Post by jamien18 on Jun 6, 2018 14:10:01 GMT -5
I've tried alot to get her not to put the food in the litter box. If I cut her off from it she wont eat. But right when she can do it she puts all of it in there so they poop everywhere else. And I don't know why they're so picky
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Post by jamien18 on Jun 6, 2018 14:10:24 GMT -5
My female puts all the raw food in the litter box Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/24439/back-kibble#ixzz5HdzFnbXkGot one of those but puts food on a potty pad I have in corner. My male will put meat in a potty,but I have two in my cage, so one stays free of meat. Luckily he does not do this everytime. Have you thought about grinds? Kind of hard to stash grinds;)) How many ferrets do you have? What exactly are grinds? I have 3 but only 2 of them are on raw |
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jun 6, 2018 18:59:50 GMT -5
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Post by lyles on Jun 7, 2018 1:19:53 GMT -5
How small are you cutting up the meat?
I've noticed from experience that the smaller the pieces, the more likely they'll eat on the spot rather than stash, though with multiple ferrets they may stash anyway just to be greedy butts.
Grinds are a good solution, but then you can have one or more that will try to down all the grind served at once for themselves and get a bellyache as a result. (Alice is one of those).
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Post by Sherry on Jun 7, 2018 8:49:42 GMT -5
I had one who used to poop on the meat when she couldn't stash it. That is actually normal ferret behaviour. Next best thing you can do is remove it and put into a feeding den inside the cage every time she does it. Sooner or later she will get the idea that it belongs in a den.
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Post by jamien18 on Jun 7, 2018 12:30:43 GMT -5
How small are you cutting up the meat? I've noticed from experience that the smaller the pieces, the more likely they'll eat on the spot rather than stash, though with multiple ferrets they may stash anyway just to be greedy butts. Grinds are a good solution, but then you can have one or more that will try to down all the grind served at once for themselves and get a bellyache as a result. (Alice is one of those). I've been trying to cut them small but shes still putting them in the litter |
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Post by jamien18 on Jun 7, 2018 12:31:25 GMT -5
I had one who used to poop on the meat when she couldn't stash it. That is actually normal ferret behaviour. Next best thing you can do is remove it and put into a feeding den inside the cage every time she does it. Sooner or later she will get the idea that it belongs in a den. I've used the den before and all they do with it is move it around and wont leave it alone. I try to put food in it and she just takes it out |
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Post by crazylady on Jun 7, 2018 13:11:15 GMT -5
have you tried ground meat mixed with a little oil or goats milk its so fine they cannot carry it any where so stand and eat at the bowl I feed all my guys around 4pm winter 7pm summer ( I am in england ) they all take great pleasure in carrying the meat to the clean poop corner then end up with there heads stuck in the bowl to lick out any oil that has dripped down do I panic no because I know by next day it will all be gone and it is ( ferrets eat from dusk till dawn ) dont worry if it has a light coating of litter think wild ferret it would be pulled through mud leaves etc and they would still eat it they dont care about a little mess if you keep changing meats because you think they dont like it they will make you play this game of give me what I want not what you think I need believe me they are very very skilled at this game lol after 51 years of ferret ownership I am still learning lol
Bev
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Post by Sherry on Jun 8, 2018 9:27:44 GMT -5
I've used the den before and all they do with it is move it around and wont leave it alone. I try to put food in it and she just takes it out If you put it in and she moves it to the box, put it back in. If she moves it elsewhere, then let her. Only move it each and every time it is put into the box. Yes, it can take a while. But sooner or later she'll make the connection not to put it there. And even if she does, it won't hurt her to eat it afterward. |
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Post by jamien18 on Jun 8, 2018 17:21:59 GMT -5
I'll keep working on it with them. I've been wanting to give them treats when they use the litter and whatnot. But only my girl will eat the freeze dried treats. My boy has nothing to do with it. Could I give them pinky mice for a treat or no?
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jun 11, 2018 16:06:05 GMT -5
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Post by Sherry on Jun 13, 2018 9:55:44 GMT -5
I treat when retraining for the box. However I use a lick or two from a bottle with salmon oil. No reason you can't use a pinky if you like
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