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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2011 21:05:03 GMT -5
So...WE ARE MOVING FINALLY. NO MORE CRAZY PEOPLE THAT HATE FERRETS. YAY Anyways...I have always wanted my ferts to eat a more whole version of raw after feeding them commercial freeze-dried and dehydrated raw since they were all little. Don't get me wrong...it's great stuff, but not the best IMO. I am finally in a place in my life where I can finally feed them exactly what I want. Previous circumstances (for the past 3 years) have prevented me from feeding frankenprey and whole prey. We will be moving soon, giving us access to our own fridge/freezer and my boyfriend of a year is completely on board with feeding raw/whole prey (unlike my x-boyfriend who thought people that fed frankenprey and/or whole prey were crazy ). One problem that I have run into is that some of the places we are looking at in Houston are far away from the place where I buy them their ziwipeak (Houston is huge), which is even more incentive to feed them frankenprey (mostly). Okay...now for the questions. I have researched raw diets for companion animals even before I had ferrets. Since I haven't fed anything but commercial raw, although I do understand the concepts of frankenprey/whole prey, I still feel like a noob :3 Where do I start? I know most people start with either commercial raw (frozen) or make their own raw soupie, but I don't have access to a blender, food processor, or grinder. I would prefer to make my own soupie, but because I don't have the above, I wouldn't know how to do it. I guess commercial raw would be my best bet since it's pre-ground Would I introduce as many proteins as possible (a week per protein) while they are eating soupie/ground, or do I wait until they are eating chunks and bone? I guess I will ask as I go. I have a million questions as to what to do and how after they are all on board with the soupie/ground raw. One thing at a time though...I'm generally a patient person, but I get too excited at times and think about things way before I get to a certain point Any advice is extremely helpful :3
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Post by taratee on Apr 2, 2011 21:18:44 GMT -5
blenders at walmart are now 15 to 20 bucks for a pretty good blender, plus theres always garage sales coming and thrift store. id look for a blender because its going to come in handy if someone were to get sick and need soup ya know?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2011 21:21:44 GMT -5
That cheap for a good blender? That's sounds awesome. Thanks
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Post by goingpostal on Apr 2, 2011 23:49:36 GMT -5
Well if they are used to eating commercial raw, why not pick up some pre ground stuff, chicken, turkey and see if they eat it willingly, if they do throw some chunks in and see if they eat those, I only have a cheapo little food chopper we use to chop veggies for my iguana but mine didn't really need anything more than that, it chopped stuff to mush anyways which was enough and then we went straight to larger chunks. But yeah, one of those or a blender would be really cheap to buy, I was going to get a blender just for them but didn't end up needing it.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 2, 2011 23:59:46 GMT -5
I was going to say- add either some commercial raw, or even plain ground chicken or turkey into their rehydrated freeze dried and work up from there. Once they are switched over to one of those, start adding in slivers, then bits, then dice, then gradually work your way up to chunks Oh- and congrats on the move ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:01:18 GMT -5
They LOVE freeze-dried and dehydrated, but as far as commercial frozen, they aren't all on the same page Also, even when they would eat commercial frozen, they'd only eat it if it was really watery. Once it got to thick (or if I made it too thick), they won't touch it Reks is my pickiest...even the times that I have gotten him to eat it, he isn't consistent. He'll eat it one day willingly (after a few days of coaxing with a spoon), he'll just decide out of nowhere that he doesn't like it anymore I might try making a soupie mix this time (vs commercial frozen) since the other ingredients in it might be what he doesn't like I think the more simplistic, the better. So I think I won't be as lucky as you goingpostal ;D I think I'm going to need a blender. I think it's going to take some time before they eat even chunky ground
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:05:51 GMT -5
I just saw your response Sherry Thanks! I'm excited about the move and the switch ;D I have tried rehydrating their freeze-dried raw, but they won't eat it at all that way I have had better luck with commercial frozen I have also tried adding in commercial frozen to their freeze-dried, but they wouldn't even eat their freeze-dried out of it I can't blame them, as freeze-dried rehydrated STINKS
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Post by Sherry on Apr 3, 2011 0:10:06 GMT -5
Ok, I get it- brats Yeah, a blender would be your best bet then ;D Make them a raw soupie and start from scratch.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:09:52 GMT -5
My girls love freeze dried raw when it blended smoothly. When it's just rehydrated, they don't really like it at all. I usually make it about the consistency of yogurt. I slowly added skinny slivers of meat into the soup and they would lap them up while eating. I also scruffed and stuffed slivers for a while. good luck and congrats on the move! I always wanted a magic bullet, but they were so expensive. So I got a copy cat made by Sunbeam. The cups are so handy for making small soup portions. I love it
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:14:38 GMT -5
Thanks guys :3 <3 I'll try both...see what goes over better. And yes...they are brats...especially Reks. He's my baby (well...three year old baby)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:15:31 GMT -5
I have one of those. Pixie is my 2 year old baby girl
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Post by Sherry on Apr 3, 2011 0:16:47 GMT -5
If you are having issues with them transitioning, don't forget to either start a thread for it here, and apply for a mentor We'll get them there
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:16:52 GMT -5
HAHAHA ;D They are so good at making you feel bad, too
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 0:18:27 GMT -5
I definitely will Sherry I'm planning on waiting until I have moved to get help. Meanwhile, I'll try some things to get a head start.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2011 15:10:21 GMT -5
I think I'm getting somewhere They are all pretty used to me switching their food on them from time to time. I have tried so many times to incorporate commercial frozen into their food, sometimes partially successful and sometimes not (Pan will be the only one eating it ). Since commercial frozen is so expensive, and my guys seem to eat a LOT, it's too expensive to add into their already expensive commercial raw mix (Ziwipeak, S&C, and Wysong A-1) ...so I end up not buying it again for a while. Anyways...I still had a lot of random frozen commercial raw in the freezer at Jeff's parents house (that we just moved out of, but not completely yet), so I went and picked up some of it since we were out of ziwipeak already (I haven't had the chance to order their other stuff online yet, so they were just getting ziwipeak). One of the things I grabbed was the trial size NV chicken that I was using to switch Bantha to raw from the crappy marshalls kibble he had been eating at the store (and was extremely addicted to ). I decided that would be a good start for them all. Primal and Bravo! were two of the many brands I had tried to switch them to, but I have only ever tried NV once or twice when it was just Reks and Pan (almost 3 years ago ). Well...I whipped them up some last night, and added only their taurine and mushroom supplement. At first I was worried since Pan seemed to be the only one interested and eating it. I come back 10 minutes later, and Pan was licking her lips feeling totally satisfied with herself...the bowl was EMPTY. I only started with 1 oz with some water added, but Pan pigged out on it all on her own . I wasn't surprised though since she will try anything, and seems to LOVE raw soupie. ;D So, I made some more...3 ounces this time. I woke Sari up since she slept through the first offering (so did Reks ). Sari and Pan immediately started chowing down (Pan back for seconds ). Bantha had the same reaction as before...NOPE . When I woke Reks up, he just curled back up and seemed not interested whatsoever (not a surprise either ). So I come back 5 minutes later, Pan and Sari are done eating, and guess who decided to wake up and eat?! Reks ;D He's usually so picky about commercial frozen (I usually have to spoon feed it or else it's a no go ), but I guess he was hungry enough. He always eats after everyone else is done anyways (with their regular food too). Bantha is the only one I haven't seen eat, but I know he will since he had been eating it (mixed with a little bit of his kibble) back when I first got him, and before he took to the mix I was giving everyone else (which was about two weeks after getting him). Anyways...I think I'm making progress I also have this brand of commercial raw called Vital Essentials which has minimal ingredients (which I like) and is in a sort of nibblets kind of form...very small chunks. I'm thinking of using it instead of meat chunks (when I start adding it to their soupie) because it's more balanced.
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