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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2012 14:20:05 GMT -5
First off, let me apologize for the lack oresponse. I was on here a few days ago, and the thread didn't show an update :\
I'm glad his poos were showing improvement (and what a nice hefty boy!), I hope this is still true this week? A little loose is fine, and tends to happen with ferts on a raw diet (there's no "standard" poo for a raw/whole prey diet ferret. They vary wildly with their diet).
What's this week's menu look like?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2012 18:24:21 GMT -5
I was afraid you had a power outage again. I know your weather has been atrocious. I hope you get more pleasant weather soon. Tomo spent his first weekend with a sitter because we went to the beach. I made up his meals in little packets and left them with "Auntie Jessica" and "Uncle Matt" . I also gave him benebac just in case. He did fine and so far his tummy seems good. The menu this week will be organ on Monday, (because Monday has an 'o' for organ), hearts on Thursday and Sunday (Thursday because it has an 'h' for heart, and Sunday because, well, its Sunday); fish on Friday, because of the 'f', not because he is Catholic. (Silly, I know but that's how I keep it straight in my head). The rest of the meals will be a mix of bone in chicken and game hen, (at least 1 bone in meal each day) and cubed pork. I may throw in an egg or a chicken foot because he hasn't had those in a while.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2012 19:26:45 GMT -5
I'm so glad he's improving, and as long as he's getting at least 8 bone in meals, the menu looks fantastic!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2012 19:27:59 GMT -5
and with the egg - always good to include the shell
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2012 14:58:41 GMT -5
Good. He is eating the bone in meals better these days. Last night he had a chicken neck and there isn't a bit left over. I know what parts he likes and which ones need smashing up.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 11:38:37 GMT -5
That's awesome! Is there anything else you're unsure of? It seems to me that you and Tomo are doing fantastically with this diet, and unless you don't feel ready (which is absolutely fine), then we can start with "finalizing" your menu and getting you graduated If you want and feel ready, you can post your staple menu, basically. Of course your menu is probably going to shift week by week, adding in supplemental meats and whatnot (that's part of the fun of this way of feeding ),but this menu should contain the [at least] three staple protein sources, at least 8 bone in meals and organ and heart meals. We'll revise if necessary and then I can send it to Heather to for a final look/see and approval
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 19:16:05 GMT -5
yes, I was going to ask if we were ready to graduate.
I do have a question, but it isn't about ferret diets. We got a new kitten and it seems like a good time to start her off with raw and switch my others, or try anyway. I have found a couple of good recipes from vets online but they are not as simple as what I have found here-8 or 9 bone in meals, 1 organ, 2 heart, the rest muscle, all from 3 different sources of protein. Do you know anything about it or can you refer me?
It seems like they have very similar dietary needs but I wouldn't want to make any mistakes.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 0:01:39 GMT -5
They do - both are obligate carnivores, so a diet suitable to a ferret is fine for a cat, though a kitten is going to have to eat whenever she's hungry, so don't really limit her to a schedule until she's older, and you'll find she's going to need higher fat foods to stay satiated longer, as well, and then introduce leaner proteins as she gets older. Good luck with the kitties - a kitten is probably going to be similar to switching Tomo. As for the older kitties - depending on ages, they can be difficult. I do not want to discourage you, because switching kitties is a great idea. But I tried to with mine (ages ranged from 13 to a year and under) and none ever successfully switched to a raw diet, though we at least got them on an all wet food diet, switch isn't as good but it's better than kibble! As for graduating - just draft up a staple menu, post it here, and we'll revise as needed! And even after graduating, if you need help, have concerns (about the ferts or the kitties) don't hesitate to PM me, I'll happily answer what I can and direct to others if I can't
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 23:16:37 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the info and all your help. You are awesome!
Tomo's Staple Diet
Sun: bone in chicken; chicken heart Mon: chicken liver and gizzard; bone in game hen Tues: bone in game hen; bone in chicken Wed: cubed pork; bone in game hen Thur: chicken heart; bone in chicken Fri: bone in game hen; bone in chicken (whole smelt every other wk) Sat: cubed pork; bone in chicken
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 22:00:38 GMT -5
Okay, I'm going to send this off to Heather for review
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2012 22:44:27 GMT -5
so, Heather and I have looked over this menu. The big issue (and it's generally a common one, too) with this is that 8 of the 14 meals are chicken, and that's simply too many. Is there a way to work in more pork or turkey into the weekly menu? I understand that most of the bone in meals have to be chicken or cgh, and that's okay. But maybe chicken liver can be replaced with turkey/beef/pork liver and some gizzard? Maybe a few meals can be replaced with smashed turkey wings/wing tips and necks?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2012 11:14:08 GMT -5
okay, I will try. It is hard to get him to eat any beef, he will eat turkey, but pork organs are hard to come by. Pork is a fave with him, I wish I could find a grocer who sells those button bones.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2012 11:36:40 GMT -5
Pork does seem to be a universal fert favorite Well, maybe just try adding in the turkey (especially rmb-wise) in the place of some of those chicken meals?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2012 10:31:38 GMT -5
Wow-I didn't realize how long it has been since I last posted! I've been crazy busy at work since it is the height of tourist season at Mt. Rainier with the wild flowers blooming and the snow off the upper trails.
So I'm having a little trouble encouraging him to eat turkey but I haven't tried necks yet. I did a while back and he wouldn't eat them but I will pound them more this time. He really like chicken necks you wouldn't think there was much difference.
Also- I saw pork tails at the store the other day (that was a first!). Do you think ferts can handle the tail bones?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2012 13:19:51 GMT -5
Usually, they have to be smashed pretty darn good, then you still have to watch them as they eat it for awhile, just to make sure that they are actually consuming the bone, not just eating around it/stashing it. But I've had others who've fed it, when their ferts were picky and they were running out of options for variety!
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