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Post by katt on Jul 9, 2013 0:27:12 GMT -5
Welcome back. Soup is good for about 6-8 hours. How much raw are you putting in the soup? For one batch of soup, how much raw soup vs how much kibble soup?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2013 15:03:57 GMT -5
About 2/5 raw, 3/5 kibble. Is that to much raw?
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Post by katt on Jul 10, 2013 18:17:42 GMT -5
No, not at all. He is just being stubborn, it's okay he will get there. lol How old is Rascal? Have you tried scruff and stuff feeding him? There are a few videos on the main mentor program board in the scruff n stuff threads (I think there are 2). If you need to, cut back the amount of raw to 1/5, and let him get used to that first before bumping it back up to 2/5 raw. Does he respond to spoon feeding at all? My ferret Kenai hates being scruff n stuff fed, but he will eat out of a spoon. Sometimes it works too if you hold the bowl or spoon in front of them with them in your lap, and gently shake their scruff a little. That kind of simulates momma ferret teaching her babies to eat to my understanding. Is he eating the soup when it is left in the cage? It's very important that he gets enough to eat, so if he isn't responding to various hand feeding or leaving the soup in the cage, but back to 1/5 raw. Sometimes with these little guys it's 2 steps forward one step back. Don't worry though, they will get there.
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Post by katt on Jul 11, 2013 17:23:45 GMT -5
Any updates?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2013 5:56:05 GMT -5
Oh yes sorry, I checked yesterday, but the page didn't load correctly. I think rascal is getting a bit more accepting of it, but is still being I bit stubborn. I did try to scruff and have him try it, but I'm afraid it completely failed. I scuffed him and went to put a little on his tung when he started wiggling like crazy he pushed his little paw out and started wiggling. I put him back down and I was just like "what just happened?". Nothing like that has ever happened before cause whenever i scuff him, he just sits perfectly still. Anyway, Gizmo is now almost eating only the raw mixed with the soup. Rascal is still eating some kibble, but he is certainly getting a bit more accepting of it . I think the progress is going great, and I never thought I ever could have gotten rascal to eat anything with meat in it.
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Post by katt on Jul 13, 2013 23:57:26 GMT -5
Wait, how is Gizmo only eating the raw? It should all be blended into a homogenous soup. If it isn't that could very well be why you are having trouble with Rascal... ? That is very good if Gizmo is eating just the raw though. Are you making the raw soup based on the recipe I posted? As for Rascal's wiggling, that is normal. lol It takes some of them a bit longer to realize that raw isn't poison. It's a lot like teaching a toddler to eat their veggies. haha
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2013 13:47:35 GMT -5
No, sorry that's not what I meant... Gizmo isn't really eating any more DRY kibble. He is now pretty much only eating the raw soup mixed with the kibble soup. (2/3 ratio) rascal is starting to accept the 2/3 ratio of raw to kibble soup. I hope that was a bit more helpful. Rascal is still eating some dry kibble as well as the kibble soup mixed with raw. Should I add more raw to gizmos soup? Yes I am using the recipe that you gave me
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Post by katt on Jul 14, 2013 22:33:59 GMT -5
Oh okay. It is up to you whether you want to add more raw to Gizmo's soup now to start moving him forwards, or wait a little longer for Rascal to catch up. As long as you can continue to ensure both are eating, hand feeding if needed (but try to wean them onto eating it on their own at each stage too), there's nothing wrong with moving them forward at different paces. Just means a little more work for you is all. Keep it up with Rascal! Slow and steady wins the race. What is your current feeding schedule as far as when soup is offered and when kibble is offered? If Rascal will eat the soup well enough at the current stage and you can continue monitoring his intake as you have been, you should be able to remove the dry kibble. Be sure to keep some soup in the cage in between feedings, but you may find that he begins to progress more quickly when the soup becomes his only option for food. Sometimes it takes a little tough love. Your boys are off to a good start though. Keep it up! Let me know what you decide to do for Gizmo, and keep me posted on Rascal's progress. I'll check back in tomorrow.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2013 7:20:16 GMT -5
I normally offer them soup after they wake up, and after they play. So I try hand feeding it to him about 4 times a day. They come out to play twice a day for about 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours at night. Rascal will eat some after he's tired out. I think I will wait for rascal to catch up before I move gizmo up to more raw. It'll just make things a bit easier. I found that gizmo loves chicken necks! I was at my local farm (where I buy the raw meat for the ferrets) and i noticed they had chicken necks. So I boaght a few and gave one to gizmo, and he'll just sit their and chew on it. I'm so proud .
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Post by katt on Jul 15, 2013 23:40:07 GMT -5
I normally offer them soup after they wake up, and after they play. So I try hand feeding it to him about 4 times a day. They come out to play twice a day for about 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours at night. Rascal will eat some after he's tired out. I think I will wait for rascal to catch up before I move gizmo up to more raw. It'll just make things a bit easier. I found that gizmo loves chicken necks! I was at my local farm (where I buy the raw meat for the ferrets) and i noticed they had chicken necks. So I boaght a few and gave one to gizmo, and he'll just sit their and chew on it. I'm so proud . That is fantastic! (dance) Is he eating any of the bone? You just skipped about 3 steps with him. Haha Keep offering him whole meats! (You may even find Rascal gives in to the peer pressure and tries some hisself, I've seen it happen). I would suggest giving the new baby a try with some chunks too, never really hurts to skip a step if they will accept it. Keep it up with Rascal. I would definitely remove the dry kibble, keep a dish of the soup mix available in the cage overnight and leave leftovers from hand feeding in the cage in between the hand feedings so he can snack in between if he wants. Time for a little tough love.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 6:46:57 GMT -5
Yay!!! Ok, I'll go to the store today to get some raw meat! (Cause all i have right now is made into soup) He isn't completely eating the bone, but he does love to chew on it. This is fantastic! I do feel a bit bad for rascal, but that's ok.
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Post by katt on Jul 18, 2013 0:16:08 GMT -5
Don't worry, he will get there! Some ferrets are just more stubborn and take more time and patience, but in the end they will make it. How did more chunks go with Gizmo? Is Rascal eating the soup pretty willingly hand fed or is he still fighting you on it a bit? Will he eat it on his own yet, or only hand fed?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2013 20:43:56 GMT -5
I am hand feeding gizmo chunks as well as keeping them in a dish in their cage. curently they have a dish with chunks of raw meat, and a dish with the kibble soup mixed with raw. Rascal is now eating some out of the bowl which is good, but am am still hand feeding him some. When I hand feed gizmo meat, he will take it out of my hand then back up and drop it somewhere, then come back and take another chunk, and do the same thing. He will then come back later (normally after a nap) and eat a few chunks that he had put in the back of his cage. Is this normal behavior? Rascal does the same thing, and will lick the chunks of meat, but not eat them later. So overall, they are improving tremendously, and I'm super proud of both of them! And I'm impressed that you were able to get rascal to even try some meat (he thought that he was a vegitarian ).
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Post by katt on Jul 19, 2013 0:54:26 GMT -5
I am hand feeding gizmo chunks as well as keeping them in a dish in their cage. curently they have a dish with chunks of raw meat, and a dish with the kibble soup mixed with raw. Rascal is now eating some out of the bowl which is good, but am am still hand feeding him some. When I hand feed gizmo meat, he will take it out of my hand then back up and drop it somewhere, then come back and take another chunk, and do the same thing. He will then come back later (normally after a nap) and eat a few chunks that he had put in the back of his cage. Is this normal behavior? Rascal does the same thing, and will lick the chunks of meat, but not eat them later. So overall, they are improving tremendously, and I'm super proud of both of them! And I'm impressed that you were able to get rascal to even try some meat (he thought that he was a vegitarian ). I made a long reply and it got erased sorry for the abbreviated reply Stashing is normal. A feeding den will help direct stashing and minimize mess. If Gizmo is eating chunks that is great, no need to hand feed unless you feel unsure he is eating enough. How big of chunks is he eating? What types of meat have you tried? Keep trying new meats. See what he thinks of liver and heart chunks. Don't be too surprised if he is leery of those at first, they are more strongly flavored. Let me know how he does with them. If Rascal is eating the soup willingly enough on his own, increase the amount of raw in it. Him licking the chunks is a great start.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2013 8:12:39 GMT -5
I've just been Trying raw chicken, and I also Tryed some beef liver. gizmo did try the beef liver, but only a little. Rascal is eating a chunk of chicken as I type this! Yay!!!!
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