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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2012 6:48:21 GMT -5
Hi Steph,
I put some "slivers" in their food last night. I found that it was really hard to cut the chicken up that thin/small. When I tried to cut it that skinny it turned into more of a chicken mush so I ended up just cuttin a bunch of small cubes. They ate some of them I think, but there was a bunch left on the bottom of the bowl too (I think they were a bit to big) so I cut the cubes a bit smaller - still it is kinda like mush so I just stirred it into the soup really well. I will have to see how it goes throughout the day today.
The Bach's Rescue Remedy sounds interesting. I will definetly look for it. It would be good to have for when Zeus acts like that. Last night he got really active again and we also bathed them so he was up for a couple hours at least. I think he is feeling better and his poops have become solid.
Is the Bach's Rescue Remedy alright for cats too? The ferrets and cats share the same water. Maybe it would just be best to rub it on their ears or give it to them directly. Is this something we should give them only when the seem stressed/depressed? Cyrus never usually gets like this so maybe this would just be something for Zeus, although I'm sure Cyrus would want in on it (she's very curious about EVERYTHING!)
Thanks, Breanne
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2012 22:18:05 GMT -5
If slivers are too hard to cut, then teeny tiny cubes work. Just start really small. Rescue remedy is safe for cats too Keep me updated on how the tiny pieces are going
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2012 6:15:28 GMT -5
Hi Steph,
It seems like most of the chicken slivers/cubes are just being left at the bottom of the bowl by the ferrets. They must be a bit too big or something. I have to make some more soup tonight so I will try to make even smaller cubes and see how that goes.
Can I "scruff and stuff" very small pieces of chicken? Maybe with a bit of soup on them.
Breanne
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2012 15:20:13 GMT -5
Definitely decrease the size. I know it's difficult to get them that small but the thinner finger nail sizes strips are better than cubes. The cubes they have to chew, where as the other ones they will suck up with the soup without noticing.
You can definitely try scruff and stuff as well. Just keep the pieces tiny.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2012 23:07:05 GMT -5
Hi Steph, I made a new batch of soup tonight and added little slivers of chicken too it. The ferrets ate the whole serving and didn't leave any chicken pieces at the bottom . I saw each of them actually chewing on a piece that was in their mouth so I know that they each got some. Guess I won't have to scruff and stuff after all. I forgot to tell you about my last batch (and this one). I added pumpkin to it so I guess they are getting used to the taste. Maybe tomorrow I will try giving them a little plain, although not very mush since it is in their soup. I was wondering if I am supposed to be including chunks of fat that are on some of the chicken breasts. I didn't know if that fat is a good part of their diet. Thanks, Breanne
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2012 23:18:25 GMT -5
That is fantastic! Let them get used to the tiny slivers in their soup for a day or two and then every 2-3 days I want you to SLOWLY increase the size of the slivers. By doing this gradually we will work them up to chunks That is awesome that they are eating the pumpkin in the soup too. When offering it plain, try warm it up a little bit (but not too hot) and mix with oil (dont warm the oil) This is a good way to get them to eat it at first. The fat is an important part of their diet so definitely safe to put that in there
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2012 11:32:05 GMT -5
Hi Steph, I made some new soup this morning with bigger chunks in it so I will see how that goes. Zeus took a few licks of some plain pumpkin without any oil in it. Name: Zeus What they've been eating and how much per day: Soup with small slivers, mixed with pumpkin. About half cup per day I would guess. Maybe a bit more Activity level: fairly active, much better than last week Stool shape and consistency: sometimes solid, sometimes very runny Weight: .94 kg Name: Cyrus What they've been eating and how much per day: Soup with small slivers, mixed with pumpkin. About half cup per day I would guess. Maybe a bit less Activity level:very active like always Stool shape and consistency: Haven't really been noticing her stool. She always uses the litter boxes so we don't pay attention as much, whereas Zeus often likes to go other places so we usually have to clean it up . We will keep an eye on Cyrus, but haven't seen anything unusual in the litter boxes Weight:.75 kg Breanne
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2012 6:20:18 GMT -5
They seem to be eating some of the chicken in the soup but not all of it now that I have increased the size. Sometimes Zeus will get a piece in his mouth but then run away and spit it out It seems like after either of them get a piece in their mouth they won't eat anymore. I am going to try to cut the peices up a bit smaller - maybe they are a bit too big again. Breanne
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2012 21:17:23 GMT -5
Hi Steph,
I am having a tough time finding chicken hearts right now. My regular grocery store expects to be getting some tomorrow, so hopefully that happens. If I cant manage to find any for a few days (ill keep checking) is it alright for them to go without it or is there something I should use instead. Also, are chicken giblets something that can be used in the soup too? I have been seeing that mixed with hearts sometimes.
The ferrets seem to be eating most of the slightly bigger pieces of meat that I have added to their soup. I think I will keep them about the same size for the next batch because they are still leaving some pieces.
Thanks, Breanne
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2012 22:43:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the weekly reports and updates everything looks good, hopefully Zeus stool gets a bit more regular with the pumpkin. Just to let you know though their poops can be really all over the place for the first few months when switching, it's totally normal and nothing to worry about. It sounds like you've got the chunks at the right size for now. What you may find is that they pick them up in their mouths, take them somewhere else and stash them there. This is a good sign - it means they are stashing them for later. You can leave the chunks in the cage all day (like 12 hours) and then see if they go back and eat them. If they eat them after they have stashed them, this is good. If not, decrease the size of the chunks. You can leave out the heart for now if you can't get them for this week. Any other heart can be substituted too - you may be able to find pork or beef heart or turkey heart. if not, just skip the heart in the soup until you are able to get more. Chicken giblets are a muscle meat but not a substitute for heart. Heart contains taurine which is why it's important. Chicken giblets are great for cleaning the teeth though. You would have to cut them up very thin and tiny right though because they are quite chewy and your ferrets haven't quite built up their jaw strength yet. But if you're wanting to try offering some, go ahead just don't be surprised if they have trouble with them at first
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2012 10:07:42 GMT -5
Hi Steph,
I just want to make sure that I have been making the soup right. The new livers that I got seem a bit bigger than the last ones.
The recipe says 2 livers. I just want to make sure that I am putting the right amount in their soup. One liver has 2 brown oval parts that are attached together by some stringy stuff, right? ha -Sorry that isn't very technical but I don't know how else to describe it. So in total, there will be 4 brown oval parts in each batch.
Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2012 12:58:01 GMT -5
Actually the recipe says 1 liver or 2oz liver. Just weigh the liver, and put 2 oz in there because the livers are all different sizes, that is probably easiest.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2012 13:55:01 GMT -5
Ok - sorry I always get the recipe messed up when I say it to you. I make sure to follow it properly when I make it. I just put all the parts in plastic baggies so I don't have to measure each time.
Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2012 7:27:32 GMT -5
Hi Steph,
Not much to update you on today. The ferrets are eating soup without any hearts in it. My grocery store didn't get the hearts in like they said they were going to so I have to go on a hunt for them.
The ferrets are loving the soup though. Whenever I put a new batch in, I look back in a few hours and its completely gone! I even tried a bit last night without any oil and it was gone too (I'm guessing Zeus ate it - Cyrus won't give it a chance unless it has oil!). In the next batch I am going to start adding pumpkin in when I serve it, rather than blending it into the soup.
Thanks, Breanne
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2012 12:37:07 GMT -5
Hey, That is awesome . Make sure you put out a bit more soup at night and during the day if it's all gone when you check. There should always be just a little bit leftover so that you know they stopped eating because they were full and not just because they ran out of food What size chunks would you say they are eating right now?
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