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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 19:22:09 GMT -5
Oh ok- well I will adjust the percentages with my home made. I was using Answers Straight chicken, a frozen raw diet. OOh good because the gizzards are easy to get. I need to find a store with more hearts, livers are easy to get too.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2011 23:10:20 GMT -5
Great! Let me know how they do
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2011 14:54:01 GMT -5
Hunter is eating everything I give him except bone right now- no hearts yet I am going to find some today. I have to put him alone to eat because he will clean everyone's bowls out. He ate meat off a chicken bone and his soupie. (I gave him a bit less like we discussed above) Maisey I am having to spoon feed, she knows I put bits in her soupie. She is petite to begin with, ate 1/2 oz this am. Sebastian is eating around the bits, I am going to make the next grind one size larger, which is a bit smaller than I am cutting them now. Ollie has decided to pick at his food, he always comes around though I am not worried about him. Baby Boo is eating soupie, chunks and ate a chicken wing section! He is doing great
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Post by Sherry on Apr 25, 2011 17:33:32 GMT -5
It sounds like they are all doing really well It's a good idea to just use a larger size grind if he's eating around the bits. And good on Boo!!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2011 23:07:11 GMT -5
Pretty much the same, Ollie is still picking and tonight he didn't eat.....I may have to spoon feed him too, which kind of surprises me but I think maybe it is some gizzard in the mix. He doesn't seem to like gizzard and I put it in this batch. Maisey's appetite is real low even with the spoon feeding, maybe about a half oz per meal? Is this normal for springtime?
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Post by Sherry on Apr 27, 2011 23:15:30 GMT -5
Appetites are reducing this time of year. How is her weight? I've got a couple who only eat about an ounce a day, but they are tiny females, just over a pound each. If she's acting normal, active etc, she should be good. Just keep a close eye on her. How long has it been since she's eaten kibbles? And how much has she been eating previously?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2011 17:52:52 GMT -5
I am bringing the scale home from work to weigh her tonight. She usually will eat 2 ounces daily, and she had her nice winter belly this year. (When I got her in Feb 2010, she was very bony, some people found her and were feeding her milk. I started her out on 8in1 Ultimate before I found this site, but she had been on variations of raw chicken diet since April 2010). She is experiencing a coat change, the hair got real thin on her tail last spring and now this spring again. She is acting normal and coming to greet me first before the others wake up when I get home from work in the evenings. I will update you on her weight to see what you think-Thanks very much, you are very kind to be helping people with their ferrets- I hope people express their appreciation to you! Though I am sure they do everyone is so nice here!
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Post by Sherry on Apr 28, 2011 20:26:39 GMT -5
She ate 2 oz per day during the winter, during her initial switch, or that has not changed since you started her on raw? I have to admit, I'm a little concerned if she is only eating that amount when spoon fed, after being on raw for almost a year. How old is she now?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2011 21:50:52 GMT -5
She eats about 2 oz a day average, when she was at her peak appetite, she ate maybe three ounces. She does not change much, just recently when I made this batch with the gizzard in it she seems put off by it. Which is why I am spoon feeding her, it has the small chunks also. I looked back to this time last year, she weighed 675 g on Apr 24, 2010. Today she weighs 794g. I do not know her age she was a rescue, her teeth are white near the gumline, yellowish clear 3/4 up from tip.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 28, 2011 21:56:09 GMT -5
At 3/4 translucent, she's not a young girl. Maybe 5-7 years old? If she's not liking it with the gizzard, take a step back, and try it without again, see how she does. If her appetite goes back up, then try leaving out the gizzard. Not all fuzz accept it well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2011 23:36:00 GMT -5
Tonite I used liver and no gizzard and I noticed she ate a bit more on her own, I pushed her a bit more with the spoon feeding. Oh she is older than I thought! She is so petite and playful I thought younger. The man feeding her milk thought she was a baby, but, well what did he know if he was feeding her milk.....
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Post by Sherry on Apr 28, 2011 23:40:58 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 23:46:21 GMT -5
Thanks! The pics were very interesting I am hoping she is closer to the 5 yr old range .... I will keep weighing her because I worry more about her than the others, she doesn't have as much "storage".......she is probably training me for attention but better to be safe than sorry. Boo has very runny poops, the same color as his food. I put a bit of pumpkin in for the first time this p.m (1/8 tsp)( and he will eat smaller bone like outer wing pieces, he ate one this a.m.). He has decided to wait and leave the kibble in the bowl all day and eat meat with the rest in the a.m and p.m feedings...I feel guilty he is so ravenously hungry with the chicken! Is this normal with a dietary change? Should I not offer him any raw at all 3 days a week? I was going to do Mon. Wed. Fri. on kibble just in case his new parents do not have faith in raw diets, where he is a foster I admit I am a bit attached LOL
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Post by Sherry on Apr 29, 2011 23:52:23 GMT -5
You can also sprinkle some eggshell powder on his meat to help with the loose stools. And yes, the ravenous appetite is normal at the beginning stages of a switch. Just feed more Since he IS a foster, he does need to still be able to recognize kibble as food, unfortunately. Unless you wind up adopting him ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 19:55:43 GMT -5
It seems everybody but Maisey have become used to the larger grind size. So now I have ground chicken (boneless thigh meat), chicken livers, ground chicken gizzards and ground chicken hearts set up in the freezer. Have ground eggshell, chicken wings cut up (for the ones still eating them) and pumpkin if I need it. How frequently would you reccommend I use the liver and heart? I read too much blood is not good, and I would want to have a proper balance. They all seem to love the gizzard except Maisey.
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