|
Post by Sherry on May 1, 2013 13:50:14 GMT -5
What I'd like you to do is write up a menu with the correct ratios based on the meat/bone/organs you have access to That will give me a better idea of not only what you have access to- but your understanding of balancing a raw diet for optimal health
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2013 13:20:23 GMT -5
Sunday AM Bone-in chicken PM Bone-in chicken Monday AM Liver PM (Leftover liver from morning) May add something like a small amount of gizzard to encourage them to eat the remaining liver Tuesday AM Pork PM Pork Wednesday AM Bone-in game hen PM Bone-in game hen Thursday AM Kidney PM (Leftover kidney from morning). May add something like a small amount of gizzard to encourage them to eat the remaining kidney Friday AM Bone-in chicken PM Bone-in chicken Saturday AM Lamb PM Chicken Gizzards
We have tripe as an option now as well, but I wasn't sure when to put that in there without losing out on the gizzard for cleaning their teeth, or giving up a bone-in meal. Will take recommendation on where to slide that in if we can.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 3, 2013 18:22:22 GMT -5
Okay, two things you need to add in weekly You have 6 bone in meals, and need 8-9. You also NEED heart in there unless you are supplementing a 500mg capsule of taurine daily per ferret. For the extra needed bone meals, substitute one of the pork meals on Tues, and the gizzard meal Sun. Add heart in most likely on the organ days. Try to keep to the ratio of 2oz each liver/kidney per week. The same amount of heart at minimum is necessary as well.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2013 21:11:13 GMT -5
Sunday AM Bone-in chicken PM Bone-in chicken Monday AM Liver PM (Leftover liver from morning) May add something like a small amount of gizzard to encourage them to eat the remaining liver. Tripe? Tuesday AM Beef or chicken heart PM Pork Wednesday AM Bone-in game hen PM Bone-in game hen Thursday AM Kidney PM (Leftover kidney from morning). May add something like a small amount of gizzard to encourage them to eat the remaining kidney. Tripe? Friday AM Bone-in chicken PM Bone-in chicken Saturday AM Bone-in chicken PM Lamb
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 4, 2013 9:35:36 GMT -5
If they'll actually eat the tripe, go for it! I tried it with mine. The reaction was basically (screwu) (biteme) ;D For the bone in chicken- what parts are you using for each one? Is it all wings, all frames, all thighs, etc? If it's a mix, what days are they getting what? The main reason I'm asking is that if it's, for example, all thighs/drumsticks, the bone content isn't high enough in those. You can have a couple meals a week of those, but the rest should be bone heavy as in wing/neck/frame.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 6, 2013 6:57:19 GMT -5
Its a mix of all the parts. When I take the whole chicken, or game hen, I use a cleaver and chop of the whole thing. Only bone I dont try to go through is near the end of the drum stick (the part you would hold if you were eating BBQ chicken outside). The rest gets cut up in to their sized pieces and put in freezer bags with enough to feed them for a few meals without it going bad in the fridge. Each bag is a mix of all of the bone-in meat though as I save the breast meat for us to have.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 6, 2013 8:47:17 GMT -5
Menu is looking good then :)You have 4 different proteins, 7 bone in meals(how are their stools? Normal, loose?), heart, liver, kidney. And they are eating all this fine?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 6, 2013 22:12:13 GMT -5
They are doing OK with meals. They ferret maybe half of dinner, but when we put them in bed for the night, we pick up their stashes and give it to them again. Breakfast they get fresh food again, and normally most if not all of what was left of dinner is gone.
Stools vary depending on the meal, but we can tell when they have had ofal. They range in color, but the consistency is pretty... consistent. Eating all the organs without issue except liver. For that we have to withhold dinner from them until later some times to get them to eat it all. No longer adding cream to the liver meals.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 8, 2013 9:23:53 GMT -5
Anything else we should make changes to, or does it all look pretty good?
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 8, 2013 10:09:51 GMT -5
I've asked Heather to pop in and check your menu to get you graduated
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 9, 2013 8:42:04 GMT -5
She's asked if there are any other bone in meats you can access besides CGH and chicken? Duck, rabbit, turkey, goose, or quail?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 9, 2013 11:10:37 GMT -5
Not locally on a normal basis. Have some friends in the country who will save organs for us when they hunt stuff like snake, rabbit or quail, but they use the meat themselves. Rabbit isn't available in any store i found here. Goose was available for Easter time frame but it was $80 for an 8 pound bird, which we can't afford to do right now, and don't really have the freezer space to have a large bird waiting to be used, even if we chopped it up. Duck I haven't seen, though I didn't dig for it at the Asian market too much. Only turkey options normally come during the holidays as well.
We might be able to order something from an online source you all recommend, but it will depend on cost. We try to load up when things are on sale, but can only do small batches still since we have limited freezer space.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on May 9, 2013 12:04:08 GMT -5
Congratulations (dance) 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 (as I'm sure you are more than aware of) 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 and adjust 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. Despite graduating, please continue to search out other protein sources to expand and improve your little ones diet. Good luck, (wave)in a few days either Sherry or I will lock down this thread. If you wish to update your menu do so now as it will be viewed and can be used by yourself and many others at any time as a reference tool. Once it gets locked down you will not be able to post or change it. Your mentor will be in to congratulate you shortly . Congratulations again (wave) ciao
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 9, 2013 23:01:40 GMT -5
Congratulations!!!! You both made it and yes, any questions by all means shoot me a message or ask in the forum I do hope you'll be sticking around and keeping us updated!
|
|