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Post by katt on Feb 23, 2013 11:56:40 GMT -5
Okay, but now you need to construct a menu that is balanced. You can't graduate until you complete a menu that shows that you know how to and are feeding a diet that is properly balanced. I posted several examples for you to refer to.
Menu:
Sunday am: pm:
Monday am: pm:
Tuesday am: pm:
Wednesday am: pm:
Thursday am: pm:
Friday am: pm:
Saturday am: pm:
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Post by katt on Feb 28, 2013 17:27:03 GMT -5
I need some updates. Have you filled out any of the menu?
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Post by katt on Mar 7, 2013 18:10:03 GMT -5
If you don't post a menu draft this thread will be vaulted and you will be unable to graduate the mentoring program. It is VERY important to make sure that a raw diet is properly balanced, something I can't help you with if I don't know what Nibbler's weekly menu is.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2013 19:02:26 GMT -5
I'm sorry. Been so busy. Here's an attempt. I have trouble with percentages. Sunday am: Liver pm: chicken or turkey necks Monday am: egg yolk pm: whole chicken mince Tuesday am: whole beef mince pm: heart (either ox, cow, lamb) Wednesday am: whole kangaroo mince pm: lamb meat chunks Thursday am: kidneys and lamb fry pm: unminced chicken meat (no organs) Friday am: beef/kangaroo mince meat pm: big chewy lamb side offcuts Saturday am: pork meat pm: whole chicken mince I'm sorry, I really don't know what I'm doing here...
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Post by katt on Mar 9, 2013 3:23:00 GMT -5
Here's an attempt. I have trouble with percentages. I'm sorry, I really don't know what I'm doing here... That's what I'm here for and that's exactly why the menu making part of the switch is so important. An unbalanced raw diet can be far more dangerous than even a crappy kibble! Getting the right balance is super important. The menu is definitely a good start. Do the mince meats that you feed contain ground bone? Is he getting any whole bones other than the necks? How much of the neck bones does he eat (the entire bone, hardly any, about half...)? Right now the organ and heart content look okay (I see a whole meal of liver, half a meal of kidney, and a whole meal of heart). However, I am iffy on the bone content. If you could tell me which meats have ground bone in them that would give me a better idea. The variety looks good - he has more than the minimum of 3 protein sources, that is good. (the more the merrier). I am concerned about the egg in his diet for 2 main reasons. One is that if egg is fed, it should be the entire egg, not just the yolk (The shell too if he will eat it!). The next concern is that just egg yolk isn't really enough for a full meal. Also, feeding an entire meal of eggs increases the risk of yucky poops that in turn increase the risk for prolapse. An egg is more of a snack or part of a meal, it should not be an entire meal in itself. (One egg isn't typically going to be enough food, and more than one can be too rich). The egg meal would be well balanced out by adding a bone in meat, and the egg whites. So perhaps for that meal feed one egg (yolk and whites), and some chicken wings. The bone should help to firm up the egg-poops, as well as filling a little more of the bone needs of his diet. Save the eggshells and you can grind them to make powdered eggshell which can be used to further bump his calcium intake (right now I suspect he is a bit low on his bone/calcium, but I want to see which meats have bone in them to be sure). Please let me know if you have any questions or if something doesn't make sense. I have a migraine right now so I'm not 100% sure I'm being as clear as I would like...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2013 21:22:29 GMT -5
Oh I was told that egg white makes them lose fur? You're right on the fact it isn't a whole meal. Not sure why I put it there like that. The mince has bone in it yes. He won't chew on bones very well yet.
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Post by katt on Mar 10, 2013 11:32:02 GMT -5
Which mince? All of them? And no, egg whites will not make them lose fur. With eggs it is very important to feed the Entire egg. If you feed JUST the whites or JUST the yolk that is where you get problems. An entire egg however, is a very nutritious and balanced meal item - as long as the whole thing is fed. Preferably with the shell too. If that isn't his entire meal, then what else is he getting with it? Do you have chicken wings? He should be able to eat a crushed chicken wing without any trouble. Bigger bones like the thicker part of wing bones, necks, chicken leg bones, etc usually need to be broken for them to give them a starting point. Here's an entire discussion on eggs: www.holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=questions&action=display&thread=3811
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Post by katt on Mar 11, 2013 3:48:50 GMT -5
Just a bump before bed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2013 5:40:56 GMT -5
To be honest that's a planned menu, not what he's actually getting now. The egg is usually a snack/treat. Oh no, I haven't given him chicken wings yet! I'll go shopping for that tomorrow. The chicken mince has bone, and I'm pretty sure the beef and kangaroo do too. I'll check.
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Post by katt on Mar 12, 2013 18:57:22 GMT -5
Okay well what are you feeding him right now? If I don't know what he is eating, I can't really help you make sure it's balanced...
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Post by katt on Mar 14, 2013 0:14:26 GMT -5
Just a bump for updates
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Post by katt on Mar 15, 2013 11:16:32 GMT -5
Please post a menu of what Nibbler is Actually eating. Thank you.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2013 17:00:41 GMT -5
Well, if that's what I plan to feed him, and it's balanced, it's what I'll do. At the moment I'm sort of guestimating things. Trying to feed him a variety of things in a week.
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Post by katt on Mar 15, 2013 17:24:54 GMT -5
Right now that menu is not balanced.
Were you able to find out if the beef and kangaroo minces have bone or not?
What can/will you add to the egg meal?
Have you tried chicken wings yet? If so how did those go over?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2013 20:53:30 GMT -5
No I've not tried chicken wings yet, I've not had time to go shopping even for me. I'll email the food company now to ask.
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