Post by Sherry on Jan 16, 2011 15:55:36 GMT -5
We have students graduating all the time, so you will get your mentor. Please be patient, and while you are waiting, why not ask questions about starting your switch?
Please copy/paste the application below and post it here in this thread. Be sure you read this ENTIRE post before applying, and fill out EVERY question to the best of your ability.
You must have a minimum of 15 POSTS (including threads started by you, as well as commentary on other threads) on the forum before being considered for the mentoring program. We've had far too many who come on, fill out the app, then simply disappear. Others are waiting for these slots.
While you are waiting for your mentor, you need to source one primary store for your meats, as well as a secondary. This way you will know what sort of variety is easiest for you to obtain.
You MUST have heart and liver on hand, or else taurine powder and another supplement such as Call of the wild prior to beginning your switch.
If your mentor or an admin recommends seeking veterinary care and you refuse to seek appropriate care you will be dropped from the mentoring program. The time allotted to seek care will depend on the severity of the illness. If you refuse to seek veterinary care in a life-threatening emergency, you may be dropped from the switch without warning.
Also, if you are absent for more than 3 weeks without letting either your mentor, Sherry, or Heather know- your thread will be sent to the vault. To retrieve it from there, you need to message Sherry with your reasons why, and a commitment to post in your thread regularly
We have made some changes to the mentoring program to better help you, your ferrets, and your mentor! Here they are:
Please read below, and then these links:
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4340
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4343
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4344
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4341
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4342
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO YOUR FERRET EATING A RAW DIET IS YOU! YOU MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THIS IS THE BEST THING FOR THEM, AND BE WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED, FOR AS LONG AS IT IS NEEDED
Before being accepted for a mentor, you must have a few things already on hand.
1. a scale for weighing your ferret- preferably in grams.
2. All the makings for a puree soup, unless your ferret is already past the soup stage. This includes chicken(or other meat), liver, heart, and eggshell powder. This you get by rinsing out eggshells, drying them, and then pulverizing them with either a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder(clean, of course ;D )
3. Initial picture of ferret before starting switch.
Soup for switch:
8oz chicken(or other meat)
1oz liver (about One half chicken liver)
1oz heart (about 2 chicken hearts)
1/2 to 3/4 tsp bone meal or powdered egg shell
If these things are not already on hand, your request will be moved back into the application thread, and the next person accepted instead.
The following form is to be filled out weekly so we can keep better tabs on not only how the switch is going, but on the health of your ferret. As well as any potential risks that may arise if they are not eating enough at certain sections of their switch:
Please copy/paste this very short weekly questionnaire into your switching thread every Sunday/Monday.
1. Ferret's name:
2. Ferret's weight:
3. Ferret's Daily Medications:
4. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal.
5. Stools on various proteins.
6. Activity levels:
7. Weekly menu:
Example:
Etc. Just write what you actually fed them.
Also, to help us make sure your ferret is doing well during his switch, a picture from above showing his body shape clearly would be appreciated bi-weekly, but is not essential.
You are required to post every second day during the "soup" stage of the transition. From the "sliver" stage, through to large chunks, you will be required to post a minimum of every 3 days. Once you hit the large chunks, once a week will be acceptable.
If you wish to post into your thread more often, that will be MORE than welcome The above are simply the minimum requirements so we can help with sticky spots, and not have to "catch up" to where you are presently at. Failure to post as required will result in your switch coming to a standstill and will result in two warnings before being dropped from the mentoring program.
If something comes up, and you need to be away, please contact your mentor letting her know how long you will be absent.
FAILURE TO SUPPLY THE ABOVE WEEKLY QUESTIONNAIRE WILL RESULT IN TWO WARNINGS, ONE ISSUED IN THE SWITCHING THREAD, THEN NEXT VIA PM- THEN BEING DROPPED FROM THE MENTORING PROGRAM. BEING DROPPED FROM THE MENTORING THREAD WILL BE AT MY DISCRETION
You may request re-admittance to the mentoring program if you agree to abide by the above rules. But you must wait for the next available mentor.
PLEASE NOTE that by applying for a mentor and using the forum you are agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions as set in this thread: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/1585/rules-regulations-terms-read-sign
Application:
Name:
HF Forum Username:
Please confirm that you are 18 years of age or older:
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
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.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
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?
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?
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
11. Do you have a scale sufficient to measure soup ingredients AND to regularly weigh your ferrets?
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?
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?
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. See here --> holisticferret60.proboards.com/board/66/diet-transitions
If you create a transition thread, please copy the link below for reference:
Please copy/paste the application below and post it here in this thread. Be sure you read this ENTIRE post before applying, and fill out EVERY question to the best of your ability.
You must have a minimum of 15 POSTS (including threads started by you, as well as commentary on other threads) on the forum before being considered for the mentoring program. We've had far too many who come on, fill out the app, then simply disappear. Others are waiting for these slots.
While you are waiting for your mentor, you need to source one primary store for your meats, as well as a secondary. This way you will know what sort of variety is easiest for you to obtain.
You MUST have heart and liver on hand, or else taurine powder and another supplement such as Call of the wild prior to beginning your switch.
If your mentor or an admin recommends seeking veterinary care and you refuse to seek appropriate care you will be dropped from the mentoring program. The time allotted to seek care will depend on the severity of the illness. If you refuse to seek veterinary care in a life-threatening emergency, you may be dropped from the switch without warning.
Also, if you are absent for more than 3 weeks without letting either your mentor, Sherry, or Heather know- your thread will be sent to the vault. To retrieve it from there, you need to message Sherry with your reasons why, and a commitment to post in your thread regularly
We have made some changes to the mentoring program to better help you, your ferrets, and your mentor! Here they are:
Please read below, and then these links:
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4340
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4343
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4344
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4341
holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4342
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO YOUR FERRET EATING A RAW DIET IS YOU! YOU MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THIS IS THE BEST THING FOR THEM, AND BE WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED, FOR AS LONG AS IT IS NEEDED
Before being accepted for a mentor, you must have a few things already on hand.
1. a scale for weighing your ferret- preferably in grams.
2. All the makings for a puree soup, unless your ferret is already past the soup stage. This includes chicken(or other meat), liver, heart, and eggshell powder. This you get by rinsing out eggshells, drying them, and then pulverizing them with either a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder(clean, of course ;D )
3. Initial picture of ferret before starting switch.
Soup for switch:
8oz chicken(or other meat)
1oz liver (about One half chicken liver)
1oz heart (about 2 chicken hearts)
1/2 to 3/4 tsp bone meal or powdered egg shell
If these things are not already on hand, your request will be moved back into the application thread, and the next person accepted instead.
The following form is to be filled out weekly so we can keep better tabs on not only how the switch is going, but on the health of your ferret. As well as any potential risks that may arise if they are not eating enough at certain sections of their switch:
Please copy/paste this very short weekly questionnaire into your switching thread every Sunday/Monday.
1. Ferret's name:
2. Ferret's weight:
3. Ferret's Daily Medications:
4. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal.
5. Stools on various proteins.
6. Activity levels:
7. Weekly menu:
Example:
Vincent, 3lbs 2oz(1417g), 1mL carafate twice a day, 0.1mL prednisone twice a day; small chicken wing chopped into 2" pieces, bone and all. Stools good colour and consistency. Played as per normal.
Willow, 1lb 4oz(567g), 2 tbsp commercial raw turkey, hand fed. Stools good colour and consistency. Very hyper when up, playing for 2-3 hours at a time.
Mr. Frodo, 4lb 4oz(1928g), 1/4c pork slivers mixed with soup. Stools slightly loose, somewhat seedy, and pale in colour. Somewhat more tired, plays for 30 minutes, then finds somewhere to sleep. Flat ferreting more often.
Weekly menu was:
Monday: chicken legs
Tuesday: Commercial raw
Wednesday: Soup with pork slivers
Willow, 1lb 4oz(567g), 2 tbsp commercial raw turkey, hand fed. Stools good colour and consistency. Very hyper when up, playing for 2-3 hours at a time.
Mr. Frodo, 4lb 4oz(1928g), 1/4c pork slivers mixed with soup. Stools slightly loose, somewhat seedy, and pale in colour. Somewhat more tired, plays for 30 minutes, then finds somewhere to sleep. Flat ferreting more often.
Weekly menu was:
Monday: chicken legs
Tuesday: Commercial raw
Wednesday: Soup with pork slivers
Etc. Just write what you actually fed them.
Also, to help us make sure your ferret is doing well during his switch, a picture from above showing his body shape clearly would be appreciated bi-weekly, but is not essential.
You are required to post every second day during the "soup" stage of the transition. From the "sliver" stage, through to large chunks, you will be required to post a minimum of every 3 days. Once you hit the large chunks, once a week will be acceptable.
If you wish to post into your thread more often, that will be MORE than welcome The above are simply the minimum requirements so we can help with sticky spots, and not have to "catch up" to where you are presently at. Failure to post as required will result in your switch coming to a standstill and will result in two warnings before being dropped from the mentoring program.
If something comes up, and you need to be away, please contact your mentor letting her know how long you will be absent.
FAILURE TO SUPPLY THE ABOVE WEEKLY QUESTIONNAIRE WILL RESULT IN TWO WARNINGS, ONE ISSUED IN THE SWITCHING THREAD, THEN NEXT VIA PM- THEN BEING DROPPED FROM THE MENTORING PROGRAM. BEING DROPPED FROM THE MENTORING THREAD WILL BE AT MY DISCRETION
You may request re-admittance to the mentoring program if you agree to abide by the above rules. But you must wait for the next available mentor.
PLEASE NOTE that by applying for a mentor and using the forum you are agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions as set in this thread: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/1585/rules-regulations-terms-read-sign
Application:
Name:
HF Forum Username:
Please confirm that you are 18 years of age or older:
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
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.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
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?
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?
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc) Do they already eat some form of soup?
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
11. Do you have a scale sufficient to measure soup ingredients AND to regularly weigh your ferrets?
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?
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?
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. See here --> holisticferret60.proboards.com/board/66/diet-transitions
If you create a transition thread, please copy the link below for reference: