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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2011 17:58:06 GMT -5
Okay, here you go! This is my second ferret menu Monday: beef (I can't remember the cut, but it did not have bone), veal, and either chicken or pork (loin chop) Tuesday: chicken gizzards, pork (shoulder blade?), and veal Wednesday: chicken thigh, gizzards, and beef (can't remember the cut for this one either, no bone though) Thursday: heart (either beef or pork heart, and chicken heart if I can find it), Tilapia filet, and a little chicken thigh. Friday: liver (usually chicken or beef livers), veal, chicken thigh Saturday: turkey neck, pork (loin, bone-in), and maybe lamb (loin chop, bone in) Sunday: Turkey breast and turkey neck I also rotate throughout the weeks with elk, bison/buffalo, salmon, pork tongue, chicken wings, chicken breasts, chicken/turkey neck, beef stew, turkey breasts, and a few others but can't remember I also supplement with extra virgin olive oil. I have started giving Nala and Stella pumpkin but I might switch over to iceberg lettuce so Wolfie can have it too (I think it would be best, even if he is getting a teeny bit of sugar). Only about a teaspoon of the iceberg lettuce with each meal, was that right?
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Post by katt on Jul 24, 2011 15:04:07 GMT -5
Sorry for the delayed reply. You need a lot more edible bone. They will not eat the pork and lamb bones as they are too big. They might eat some parts and suck out the marrow but big bones like that do not count as "bone-in" meats. Some ferrets even have trouble with chicken thighs. Better bone-in meats are things like chicken wings, chicken/turkey neck, chicken feet, chicken back, etc. Small bones. Also, you need just a little more heart and organs. See if you can find kidney or spleen or brain anywhere. They should ideally get more than just liver, thought liver should make up at least 50% of the organ meat.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2011 17:21:53 GMT -5
Haha no problem, I have been busy anyways Here is my third ferret menu, tell me what you think. This is what I will be getting this week, unless you tell me to get something different Monday: leftover day, turkey breast, turkey necks, and a little chicken drumstick meat Tuesday: gizzards, pork shoulder- bone taken out Wednesday: chicken feet and salmon- or other fish Thursday: heart and veal meat- no bone Friday: liver, chicken ribs, and chicken breast Saturday: bison meat- no bone Sunday: chicken wings, little bit of heart, and beef stew Come heck or high water I will find that other organ! *holds fist in the air*
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Post by katt on Jul 27, 2011 1:38:52 GMT -5
Haha no problem, I have been busy anyways Here is my third ferret menu, tell me what you think. This is what I will be getting this week, unless you tell me to get something different Monday: leftover day, turkey breast, turkey necks, and a little chicken drumstick meat Tuesday: gizzards, pork shoulder- bone taken out Wednesday: chicken feet and salmon- or other fish Thursday: heart and veal meat- no bone Friday: liver, chicken ribs, and chicken breast Saturday: bison meat- no bone Sunday: chicken wings, little bit of heart, and beef stew Come heck or high water I will find that other organ! *holds fist in the air* Ok a few things. You are still going to need more bone in the diet. Think of how much bone is in each bony item and how that compares to the amount of meat in overall mass. Then shoot for 10-15% bone. Also, just because a bone is not edible does not mean that you cannot offer it, it just means that it doesn't "count." I give my boys pork chops and they will often eat the smaller pieces of bone and suck the marrow out of the thicker parts. It is still good for them to chew on as long as it is not too heavy (beef bones are typically a no-no, most pork bones are okay). With the bigger bones just be sure to remove them after 24 hours as they will begin to dry out and they can crack their teeth on them. Your heart ratios look a bit better. I would make sure that the liver is a significant portion of the meal that day too. If it helps you any (I know it makes it easier for me) think of it this way... 7 days a week x 2 meals a day=> 1 meals a day. So ONE whole meal is going to be slightly less than 10%. 7 days a week x 3 meals a day=> 2 full meals is going to equal almost exactly 10%. They need organ 10-15% bone 10-15% and the remainder should be muscle meat - gizzards and heart are both muscles, and heart should be a significant portion of that. I'd try to shoot for about 10% heart - so 2 meals a week - at least. As long as their poops are solid, more heart never hurts. Let me know if you have any questions on any of that!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2011 20:11:34 GMT -5
This was really helpful, tell me what you think of this, I tried adding more bone and heart, then I will add that other organ once I can find it. If a ferret overdoses on say liver or heart, what do the symptoms look like?
Fourth ferret menu. Monday: turkey breast, turkey necks, heart Tuesday: gizzards, pork loin chop Wednesday: chicken feet, salmon Thursday: heart, veal meat that has no bone Friday: liver, chicken ribs Saturday: heart, oxtail Sunday: chicken wings, heart, and beef (stew, tri-tip, sirloin, no bones in these)
I forgot to mention I have been adding in iceberg lettuce to their meals now.
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Post by katt on Jul 28, 2011 4:45:02 GMT -5
This was really helpful, tell me what you think of this, I tried adding more bone and heart, then I will add that other organ once I can find it. If a ferret overdoses on say liver or heart, what do the symptoms look like? Fourth ferret menu.Monday: turkey breast, turkey necks, heart Tuesday: gizzards, pork loin chop Wednesday: chicken feet, salmon Thursday: heart, veal meat that has no bone Friday: liver, chicken ribs Saturday: heart, oxtail Sunday: chicken wings, heart, and beef (stew, tri-tip, sirloin, no bones in these) I forgot to mention I have been adding in iceberg lettuce to their meals now. I have never heard of an organ overdose, but it is essentially a vitamin overload, and too much blood (see below), and not enough protein and bone... Stick to the 10% rule and you shouldn't have to worry. They won't overdose on heart. The more taurine the better! The only thing to watch for for heart and organs is the poop. There is a lot of blood in heart/organ tissue and this leads to dark runny stools (as I am sure you have noticed by now) as most of the blood just passes through. If their poops are too runny too often, then this can lead to an increased risk of prolapse. So if you notice that their poops are too soft, supplement with a little more lettuce (keeping an eye on Wolfie of course) or better, bone. Also I completely forgot to answer your Q about the lettuce I am sorry! Yes 1 tsp per ferret should be good. Play with it though and see what works best for you. Koda does best with more than 1 tsp of pumpkin. For your menu, it is looking a lot better. I will submit it to Heather and see what she has to say. you guys are doing great! Keep it up!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2011 11:49:28 GMT -5
;D Oh, awesome! I'm excited to hear her feedback. Thank you Katt
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Post by katt on Jul 29, 2011 12:50:58 GMT -5
Ok here is Heather's input:
Do they actually eat the turkey neck? oxtail? My guys are notorious for eating around the bone on these two items (oxtail is a hard chew for the guys). If that's the case she needs to add more bone. ciao
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Post by katt on Jul 29, 2011 12:51:45 GMT -5
I don't feed Oxtails, and my boys do really well at eating most or all of the necks, so I didn't even think of that.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2011 17:44:59 GMT -5
I haven't tried oxtail yet, I was going to give it to them in a couple days but now that I think about it I don't think they would like it very much. Nala is the best bone eater out of them all and they eat the necks fine. If I added more wings or cracked thighs and drumsticks would that count? Otherwise I can't really find any others.
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Post by katt on Jul 29, 2011 18:01:17 GMT -5
Absolutely.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2011 19:31:31 GMT -5
Okay sounds good, I added more bone to the menu, I was so glad to hear that I could use them more than once For some reason some meats (even the obvious ones) are hard to find here Oh well, let me know what you think, again Fifth ferret menu.Monday: turkey breast, turkey necks, heart Tuesday: gizzards, pork loin chop meat, chicken wings Wednesday: chicken feet, salmon Thursday: heart, veal- only meat, chicken drumstick or thigh (bone broken up) Friday: liver, chicken ribs Saturday: heart, chicken or turkey neck Sunday: chicken wings, heart, and beef sirloin I will also switch out some of these meats for bison, lamb, and other fish (such as whitefish, halibut, and tilapia) Thanks for being so patient with me, I think I am finally getting the hang of it
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Post by katt on Aug 1, 2011 21:19:42 GMT -5
I submitted your menu to Heather and I'll let you know when I get her reply.
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Post by Heather on Aug 2, 2011 1:56:44 GMT -5
Congratulations. you've graduated and you're ready to walk this path alone, now. You have the foundation to help you feed your fuzzes in a more natural and healthy manner. Please remember that your learning never stops, and dietary needs change from ferret to ferret and throughout each their lives. I would also like you to be aware that though you now have the capability and the knowledge to create your little ones diets you are never alone and that your mentor (you need only pm) is always available to you. The list is also a very good resource and you should always be aware that it's available to answer any questions you may have either about diet or care. Good luck, in a few days either Sherry or I will lock down this thread but be aware that you can always look through it as a reference tool but you just will not be able to post to it. Your mentor will be in to congratulate you shortly ;D. ciao
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Post by katt on Aug 2, 2011 5:02:31 GMT -5
Yaay! Congrats! It was fun working with you, and I am always around if you have questions. Don't be afraid to PM me, or of course start a thread for input from everyone!
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