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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 11:04:43 GMT -5
Haha, now don't I feel silly. I just looked it up and I don't think it's related. They would only feed the ferrets soup-like mush or mice sized prey so as each generation was born, they adapted to this by losing size in some parts of the skull because they didn't need to kill prairie dog sized prey. If you don't use it, you lose it! I'm going to sliver it up at first, try that, and maybe blend up the rest. I'm still waiting for someone to get hungry enough to eat it on their own. It still takes some effort. 2/4 isn't a bad start! Thanks so much, I couldn't do this without you! Kyle will get there, he's just being a big baby
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 11:16:00 GMT -5
You're very welcome! They may already be on somewhat of a schedule for eating, so just be patient Especially since the other two are gobbling down the soup, their bodies are starting to catch up on the nutrients. You'll notice that after they fully take to the raw, and after they've been eating for a few weeks, they won't eat as much as they do with the kibble. It's normal and it's a good sign, so don't worry when that happens Even with the kibble mine only REALLY ate about twice a day. They just ate more because their bodies didn't do anything with all the filler the kibble has in it (even good kibble has filler). And as I said before - be prepared for some stinky poopies! Kyle is just older so he's set in his ways I know we'll get him there, he will just require more patience. You seem to have plenty of that, though, so it will be fine!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 11:35:55 GMT -5
That's what I'm expecting! Johnny ate the raw wysong almost exclusively and I only fed it once a day, even though Kyle had his regular kibble out. There actually wasn't as much poop this morning as usual. Oh, and no accident again! I think not giving tone has actually helped. I have a feeling Kyle and Johnny eat mostly after I put them to bed and right before I wake up. I definitely see the little ones eating more throughout the day. Except for treat time...this is what they all do every morning for some chicken. Except in this photo yesterday where Charlie was at the top in Johnny's spot and Johnny does NOT like that. Sometime he won't even take a treat is someone is in his spot. I ignored them today though, as hard as it was, so that they'd be hungrier. I had to learn patience with Kyle, he wasn't exactly what you would call a "model ferret" when I first brought him home from the shelter
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 13:23:01 GMT -5
HOW CUTE!!! I ordered something similar for my ferts, except its HUGE lol! It's probably over kill but I'm so excited! It should be here tomorrow. That's too cute that they do that for treats though I'd have a hard time not giving them one too! OK so I asked the others, and they said with the older, more stubborn ones, you just have to have a load of patience. One had the same problem - hers got sick and associated the syringe with medicine/illness. She said what she had to do was continue to dab it on his nose until he ate it, and after that they had to rub it on his gums (b/c he refused to yawn when scruffed). They said it will probably take a while, but that it eventually clicks with them and he should eat it (Johnny too). Go ahead and keep moving the others forward since they've taken to the soup already, and just work at whatever pace Kyle and Johnny set for themselves. Is there such thing as a model ferret?!! haha! Mine have been pretty good, but the girls were pretty ferocious biters at first. We got Theodore a few months later and haven't had a single problem out of him. We are pretty sure he's a Waardy, but he is also HUGE. He's super sweet. Took him a while to get the idea of using a litter pan, and he suuuure does like to dig, but he has never bitten or anything like that. And he took right to raw the minute I brought him home pretty much (I was already in the midst of switching the girls). I wish we had shelters that had ferrets around here. I would have much preferred to give one a forever home. But we had to get ours from a pet store. There aren't even breeders or anything around here. The closest ones were hours away and they didn't want to sell/adopt them out to first time ferret owners. Which I can understand, but I could have also demonstrated that I had already built a pretty good knowledge base on the critters!! Oh well I absolutely adore my 3 babies and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world!! I want to get more but I think my boyfriend might run away if I do LOL! The little ones will definitely eat more since they're growing. Mine usually eat at the same times you said yours do. Especially now that it's summer down here, they're eating even less. It's kind of nice because their food lasts longer so I don't have to order as often and spend all that money on shipping! Less poop is always a relief haha! I hope mine continue to make it to the pan as well. Keep up the good work you're doing great!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 13:26:02 GMT -5
One other suggestion just came through, though it isn't much different from what we've already gone over. She said dab it on his nose, pick him up, and put him at the bowl with the others.
Whatever works for him!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 14:08:04 GMT -5
I'm sure your kids will love it!! Johnny trained me to give him a treat when he got to the top. The babies quickly learned to do the same! Although it took them longer to learn how to get down. They would climb to the top and then look at me with the "help me daddy!" face. Kyle is too fat to climb so he just hangs out there at the bottom. Kyle has barely come out today, he's super mad at me. He's not yawning either anymore haha. Maybe I have to be a little more aggressive and go to him while he's sleeping and put it on his nose. He can't ignore me forever! Jayden's been doing great so far. I've left the kibble out but I stop them before they can actually get any. So far Johnny and Kyle haven't come out to eat. I wish I had started this earlier! But Kyle has always been this stubborn, I don't think it would have been much easier back then! I was very against pet store ferrets, but while looking for some toys at the store we saw the babies sleeping in a tiny cage. We picked them up and just fell in love instantly. I swore I would never get a Marshall's ferret again after my Izzie (Kyle's girlfriend from the same shelter) passed away when she was 5. I just couldn't leave those babies at the store knowing they might go home to someone who wouldn't give them proper care. I wish I started them on raw earlier, especially Kyle! The breeder I got Johnny from definitely didn't care who they went to. They were cared for well so I didn't mind about his crappy attitude. I was lucky to have volunteered at the shelter during high school. It was so fun! I probably wouldn't have ever gotten ferrets if it weren't for that experience. Kyle bit once when he thought I was hurting Izzie by squeaking this certain squeaker toy. Other than that no one has ever bitten. Johnny was seriously the model ferret. He will sleep by my feet being a guard weasel and is so bonded to me it's ridiculous. He used the litter box 100% in his first week with me and I never had to do any training. The babies learned from him and have been pretty good as well. Kyle didn't use a litter box once for months when I got him and he destroyed my parent's carpet from digging. He was neutered the day before I brought him home at 6 months, and got his stinky grease EVERYWHERE! Even Johnny neutered at 9 months didn't get nearly that greasy. I couldn't imagine my life without the kids. They truly make life worth living!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 14:19:19 GMT -5
Oh and sorry for rambling all the time . The opportunity to talk to someone about my ferrets who listens (and cares) is very rare!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 14:45:16 GMT -5
You're not rambling at all! I enjoy the conversation I know what you meant about finding people being rare. I was luck in that I was directed to this forum before I even got my fuzzles last year, so I already knew where to go to talk about them haha! So please ramble all you want! I love hearing the stories of other peoples' experiences with their babies! Be consistent and a little aggressive with Kyle, but don't over do it. Poor fella needs to know he isn't being hurt/tortured. But definitely do what you can to kind of force it on him in a nice way. He may get put out with you at first, but he'll eventually learn who's in charge!! Just keep it up I'm so sorry to hear about Izzy! What happened to her? I know what you mean about not being able to leave them behind for sure!! The day we brought hom Theodore I was trying to talk my boyfriend in to letting me buy all 3 that were there that day. I actually wasn't allowed to go in Petco alone for a while HAHAHA! I love them so much! I Love ALL animals though. My neighbor has a dog that he is mistreating, and I'm trying to figure out a way to get the dog away from him. I'm a freak lol! My girls both used the litter pan religiously until Theodore came home with us. He taught them some bad habits, but Scout usually tries to correct him. Sydney just instigates hehe. She's a little terd. Having the children has really helped through some things, even in the very short time that I have had them. My boyfriend was working 40+ hours a week, plus going to school at night, and it was very hard on me mentally and emotionally, and it really strained our relationship. The ferts actually helped calm me down and gave me something to focus on besides being sad and lonely all the time And I'm not a needy person in the least. It was just a big change. Even he told me he was glad we got them because of how happy they made me. Sweet Pea (my rat) made me happy too, but I got to where I didn't really want to play with her much because she would pee ALL over me and the floor and the couch. I enjoy having something to take care of (that isn't a human). It makes a huge difference in my life. They have also helped a great deal with my anxiety and other various brain cooties that I have. I think they are absolutely wonderful pets and I can't believe I didn't discover them sooner
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 14:46:50 GMT -5
Oh and PS i'm about to leave work and won't be back until Tuesday. I will check the thread as much as possible of course, but as I keep saying, feel free to email me if you notice it's taken me a while to respond. Even if it's just to say "hey I updated the thread - go read it woman!"
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 15:17:31 GMT -5
Excellent! Don't say I didn't warn you lol! But wow! Are we the same person?? I have major anxiety issues too..among other things and the kids really are all that can cheer me up most days. That's one reason why it's so hard to be forceful with Kyle, as soon as he's not happy, I'm not happy. I was also banned by my partner from going to the pet store alone. Even when we're there I'm not allowed near where they would keep the ferrets. I guess someone in the relationship has to know when to stop though! The ferrets could very well end my relationship someday, but I hope not! My dogs were my life but I couldn't very well take them from their home in the country to live with me in an apartment. I miss them every day. I'll call my parents just to hear them barking in the background. I stopped being friends with people because they were so abusive to their animals and just wouldn't change anything. People can just can very tiring to be around sometimes...but not our four legged friends! That's so cute about yours even if it's a pain! They most definitely do learn that bad habits as well as the good! Izzie was the role model for all of them, she taught Johnny how to be practically perfect and calmed Kyle down. Johnny then passed her teachings to the babies so it's like she's still here! Kyle definitely is the Sydney of your group haha!
Izzie had adrenal and it took her really quickly. She started losing fur so we put her on medication and then about three weeks from then she was too weak to even get up. As soon as the vet saw her she said it was too late to help. She was in no condition for surgery. The vet was actually terrible, made me feel as though I was abusing her.
I'm glad I got this last one in before you left! I'll update if any breakthroughs have been made and I'll be sure to send you an email if I get impatient hehe.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 19:22:12 GMT -5
Johnny ate a piece of chicken breast!! It was a pretty big mouthful for him too. I got it in his mouth and let him go, it looked like he would spit it out but he chewed it up and swallowed! Kyle on the other hand, he freaked out and started spitting out air when I put the meat close to his nose...I don't think it even touched him! (headwall)
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2013 12:04:06 GMT -5
GO TO BED!!! Lol!!! I appreciate you're enthusiasm but definitely don't mess yourself up over this! It's good that you have them some kibble - don't want to starve them! Just keep working with them and it will eventually click. It's not going to happen over night, unfortunately. Patience patience! You will probably just have to continue dabbing it on kyle's mouth/nose until he takes to it himself. He sounds like the type that will probably need to feel like it is HIS decision to change what he eats. It's ok if you still have to give him kibble every now and then! That's the reason we need you to watch him while the kibble is removed, to make sure he's eating SOMETHING, and if he isn't, you'll know when it's time to give him some kibble. I know you're excited - I did the same thing - but patience is key. You don't want to freak them out more Keep experimenting with stuff if you feel that it is helping. But don't overwhelm them either and get some sleep tonight/today!!!!! Sorry it took me a while to write back but I just rolled out of bed. Ill write more after while - we have a few things to get done this afternoon. Just wanted you to know I'd read this
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2013 12:59:20 GMT -5
So I got your last email saying things were going about the same. Jayden may not be able to chew the meat up yet due to his jaw muscles still not being built up. It's a good sign that he was trying, though! Just sliver it up real small and try hammering on it with a mallet or something. I recommend wrapping it in butcher paper or plastic wrap first so that you don't end up like chunks of meat and puddles of meat juice all over yourself and the kitchen I'm guilty of it. I find pieces of chicken bones in the weirdest places.... Keep working with the older ones, dabbing it on their noses, etc.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2013 13:20:39 GMT -5
Oh we are going to need to get the younger ones started on trying some organ. That might take a bit longer than the regular soup because quite frankly, who wants to eat organs? You need to make them get a taste for all of it, though, since a balanced diet will consist of 10% organ (roughly 1 - 1.5 meals a week). Organ meals need to be a mix, not just strictly liver, or strictly kidney, etc etc. The following are some examples:
1/2 liver, 1/2 kidney 1/2 liver, 1/2 pancreas 1/2 liver, 1/4 kidney, 1/4 pancreas
I'm sure you get the idea haha! Liver is pretty important to include, but you want to mix it with the others so that it is balanced. And again, 3 different types is optimal. Preferably more. But I know you said you were still trying to find organs, so just let me know when you are able to do so.
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2013 14:37:50 GMT -5
Good timing! I just got back from the grocery store and picked up some beef liver and kidney. They had pork liver too, but I know you're not supposed to feed pork to dogs, so I'm assuming the same goes for ferrets too.
I had to go get some cat kibble for my guys today as well, it's way better than the ferret food they now sell. I hope they'll actually eat it. I also got them some cooked turkey for a treat, Johnny used to like it when he was younger.
I'll give your suggestion a try and hammer some of the meat. I wouldn't have thought to wrap it...that would have been bad!
The organs sure are gross, I'm going to laugh if they actually end up liking them more. When you say three different types, is that types of organs or types of animals? The kidneys and liver were all that they carry at the grocery near me. It was pouring rain outside today so I didn't actually make it to the butcher like I had planned. So now I have chicken liver, heart, some kidney's that came with the gizzards and then beef liver and kidney. I'm going to make some soup up with beef as the meat instead of chicken/turkey and hopefully they'll be more receptive.
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