Post by Heather on Dec 22, 2012 2:10:40 GMT -5
Ferret Name: Nibbler
HF Forum Username: Tundra
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
Probably from Partyferret on youtube, owner of ferret world dot com. She has a great series of videos for ferret owners, including lots of advocacy for raw/whole diets.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to.
Nibbler eats ground raw whole chicken and ground raw beef/roo combos quite happily, but he won't eat duck soup (which concerns me for if he gets sick), or bigger chunks of meat such as slivers of meat, or where he has to chew the bone or tear bits off. I'd like him to be able to do that, for the health of his teeth and for stimulation and diet variety. He just carries things like chicken necks around, no attempts to chew on them, he thinks they're toys or something. I don't mind if he has kibble available in his cage, because it's useful for if we need to travel, and he prefers his meat over kibble anyway. Live feeding is illegal in Australia so I won't be doing that, but some frozen/thawed chicks or mice on occasion would be good for a treat.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I think it'll be better for his health- mind and body. I think pets should be fed the best possible foods.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process?
Yes I do understand that and yes I'm willing and able to make the commitment.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?
One. Nibbler. Seven years old, male, implanted. No health problems as far as the vet and I can see, other than a slightly irregular heart beat on occasion. He seems to be a good weight for his size, he's got a thin and lean torso and a tummy on him. I've had him for about two months.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
Ground whole raw chicken, ground whole beef, ground whole kangaroo. Something different daily, including a mix of roo/beef as one of the food choices.
Egg yolk on occasion
Lactose free pet milk
Living world ferret kibble
Nutripet (our equivalent of ferret tone but it's not ferret specific. Malt flavoured. He's not particularly keen on it.)
I made a soup for him a few weeks ago and froze it. It had beef tails that I boiled to get the juices/fats out, then I cut the meat off the bones and left the meat in the soup. It's basically fatty beef stock. He'll drink the watery part but won't eat the bigger chunks of meat he finds at the bottom. When I serve it I mix it with some of his kibble, an egg yolk, and some of his pet milk, which he's obsessed with.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
He quite easily swapped from kibble to the ground meat, I just started mixing it in with his kibble, gradually having less kibble.
If I give him small chunks of meat, he'll stash it but not eat it, same with chicken necks, beef tail, liver treats (they're an Australian brand, it's just slices of liver, oven baked, no additives or oil used.). Won't lick at blood. Won't lick any oils for treats (eg olive oil).
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I have a housemate who helps me care for him, she's on board with any decisions I make.
I'm curious if better food made Nib less grumpy towards people and more playful, or if it was just him getting used to us and the house, and perhaps not being played with before.
For a 7 year old ferret, he's super healthy. Mostly good teeth. No signs of illnesses or athritis or anything. I think his fur is also pretty reasonable. I've felt the fur of a catfood/kibble fed ferret, and his is so soft and glossy in comparison!
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
Every day, but I don't always have access to cameras.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Will post asap.
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. Yes
2. All the makings for a puree soup. 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 ) Yes
3. Initial picture of ferret before starting switch. TAKEN!
Soup for switch:
8oz chicken(or other meat)
One chicken liver(or 2oz other liver)
2 chicken hearts(or 1oz other heart)
1/2 tsp eggshell powder
All ingredients acquired, though I have chicken livers and lamb hearts.
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program . In a little while your mentor (Hurricanekatt) 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
HF Forum Username: Tundra
1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
Probably from Partyferret on youtube, owner of ferret world dot com. She has a great series of videos for ferret owners, including lots of advocacy for raw/whole diets.
2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to.
Nibbler eats ground raw whole chicken and ground raw beef/roo combos quite happily, but he won't eat duck soup (which concerns me for if he gets sick), or bigger chunks of meat such as slivers of meat, or where he has to chew the bone or tear bits off. I'd like him to be able to do that, for the health of his teeth and for stimulation and diet variety. He just carries things like chicken necks around, no attempts to chew on them, he thinks they're toys or something. I don't mind if he has kibble available in his cage, because it's useful for if we need to travel, and he prefers his meat over kibble anyway. Live feeding is illegal in Australia so I won't be doing that, but some frozen/thawed chicks or mice on occasion would be good for a treat.
3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
I think it'll be better for his health- mind and body. I think pets should be fed the best possible foods.
4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process?
Yes I do understand that and yes I'm willing and able to make the commitment.
5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?
One. Nibbler. Seven years old, male, implanted. No health problems as far as the vet and I can see, other than a slightly irregular heart beat on occasion. He seems to be a good weight for his size, he's got a thin and lean torso and a tummy on him. I've had him for about two months.
6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
Ground whole raw chicken, ground whole beef, ground whole kangaroo. Something different daily, including a mix of roo/beef as one of the food choices.
Egg yolk on occasion
Lactose free pet milk
Living world ferret kibble
Nutripet (our equivalent of ferret tone but it's not ferret specific. Malt flavoured. He's not particularly keen on it.)
I made a soup for him a few weeks ago and froze it. It had beef tails that I boiled to get the juices/fats out, then I cut the meat off the bones and left the meat in the soup. It's basically fatty beef stock. He'll drink the watery part but won't eat the bigger chunks of meat he finds at the bottom. When I serve it I mix it with some of his kibble, an egg yolk, and some of his pet milk, which he's obsessed with.
7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
He quite easily swapped from kibble to the ground meat, I just started mixing it in with his kibble, gradually having less kibble.
If I give him small chunks of meat, he'll stash it but not eat it, same with chicken necks, beef tail, liver treats (they're an Australian brand, it's just slices of liver, oven baked, no additives or oil used.). Won't lick at blood. Won't lick any oils for treats (eg olive oil).
8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I have a housemate who helps me care for him, she's on board with any decisions I make.
I'm curious if better food made Nib less grumpy towards people and more playful, or if it was just him getting used to us and the house, and perhaps not being played with before.
For a 7 year old ferret, he's super healthy. Mostly good teeth. No signs of illnesses or athritis or anything. I think his fur is also pretty reasonable. I've felt the fur of a catfood/kibble fed ferret, and his is so soft and glossy in comparison!
9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
Every day, but I don't always have access to cameras.
10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Will post asap.
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. Yes
2. All the makings for a puree soup. 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 ) Yes
3. Initial picture of ferret before starting switch. TAKEN!
Soup for switch:
8oz chicken(or other meat)
One chicken liver(or 2oz other liver)
2 chicken hearts(or 1oz other heart)
1/2 tsp eggshell powder
All ingredients acquired, though I have chicken livers and lamb hearts.
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program . In a little while your mentor (Hurricanekatt) 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