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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2013 20:57:44 GMT -5
Ok good I mixed some chunks in, and rascal in just eating around them (headwall) Gizmo just eats the chunks for him. (disappointed)
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Post by katt on Jul 30, 2013 2:08:03 GMT -5
lol How big were the chunks? Try them smaller - about the end of your fingernail, and hand feed to see if that entices him to eat them more. We can build the chunk sizes up slowly.
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Post by katt on Jul 31, 2013 21:06:10 GMT -5
Bump
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 20:53:33 GMT -5
I tried them smaller, and rascal ate a few. I think he is a bit confused by his new diet, because he used to not eat ANYTHING except his kibble. I'm super proud of him, and of gizmo of course . I will start to add bigger chunks, and see if he will eat them.
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Post by katt on Aug 1, 2013 22:55:17 GMT -5
Good boy Rascal! Keep it up boys! (dance) Only go as fast as he is comfortable. It's important that he keeps eating enough. They are both doing very well. As you add some muscle meat chunks, go ahead and try a few little heart and liver chunks too and see how they do with those as well. They tend to take a little longer on the heart and liver since they are more strongly flavored. Also remind me - what meats are they eating in their soups right now? Just chicken? If so, you can try other meats. The chunky soup phase is a good place to start introducing new meat flavors because you'll have the basic soup as a "Gravy" to disguise the taste of the new meats a bit. Keep in mind that the main goal right now is to get them both (*ahem* Rascal! lol) eating chunks plain, so if it turns into too many changes at once step it back a bit to the usual meats and we can add the variety a bit later. I think they will do just fine though. Keep up the good work!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2013 18:16:40 GMT -5
Ok great! I tried mixing turkey in, and he didn't notice a difference! I also tried mixing some beef liver in, and he was a bit stubborn about eating it at first, but he finally tried it. I think gizmo's favorite thing so far are chicken necks, and liver. He LOVES liver. He also loves chewing on chicken bones. Gizmo loves his new raw diet! Rascal is still a little unsure
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Post by katt on Aug 4, 2013 18:54:19 GMT -5
Ok great! I tried mixing turkey in, and he didn't notice a difference! I also tried mixing some beef liver in, and he was a bit stubborn about eating it at first, but he finally tried it. I think gizmo's favorite thing so far are chicken necks, and liver. He LOVES liver. He also loves chewing on chicken bones. Gizmo loves his new raw diet! Rascal is still a little unsure That is great that Gizmo is doing so well with the bones. Have you tried giving him other bones yet? Chicken wings are a good place to start, game hen bone is all edible, turkey wings need the bigger bones cracked. That is fantastic that he likes liver too - most ferrets are slower on the organs bc it is more strongly flavored. How is Gizmo doing with hearts? Rascal will catch on. Hehe Some ferrets just need a little more convincing. How is he doing with the chunks? Since they did so well with the turkey (add it into the rotation), I would try pork next. It is pretty mildly flavored and nice and fatty. Have you been able to find any organ meat other than liver? I would start looking around. Kidneys and brain are the best, but get anything you can find - spleen, thymus, uterus, etc. Ethnic markets and Halal markets are often the best places to look. Sometimes you can find stuff at grocery stores. And another option is you can always order online from places like HareToday. Keep me posted!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2013 20:46:09 GMT -5
Tehe yes I've fed some other organ meat, but its been hard. I asked the deli lady at stop and shop if they had chicken brains, and she looked at me terrified. she just screamed "NO!!!" haha. Their is a local farm where I get liver and hearts. Gizmo does eat some hearts, but he likes liver better. Rascal is doing great with chunks, I'm very exited I think he has finally figured out that they are food. I'll look into some other places where I can buy other organ meat. I've just been mixing turkey and chicken into the raw soup (rotation?). I'll pick up some pork tomorrow if I can.
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Post by katt on Aug 5, 2013 23:22:04 GMT -5
Tehe yes I've fed some other organ meat, but its been hard. I asked the deli lady at stop and shop if they had chicken brains, and she looked at me terrified. she just screamed "NO!!!" haha. Their is a local farm where I get liver and hearts. Gizmo does eat some hearts, but he likes liver better. Rascal is doing great with chunks, I'm very exited I think he has finally figured out that they are food. I'll look into some other places where I can buy other organ meat. I've just been mixing turkey and chicken into the raw soup (rotation?). I'll pick up some pork tomorrow if I can. Oh good boys! Keep it up! (dance) Start to gradually decrease the amount of soup in the mix while increasing the number of chunks. Let me know how the pork goes. The grocery lady's response is hilarious. ROFL Look for Ethnic or Halal markets in your area, they usually carry the more unusual meats.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2013 8:24:42 GMT -5
Hi! I found an ethnic market about an hour away, and I'm thinking I might drive up their tomorrow! I'll update more tomorrow, busy right now. Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2013 6:31:23 GMT -5
Hi! I went to the ethnic market, and I got chicken brains! (Yuck!) Gizmo was just like "nom nom nom" and he didn't notice rascal looked at me like "I'm not eating this!" lol I put some in his soup. Dealing with chicken brains really makes me rethink switching them over to raw! The things we do for our fuzzies!
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Post by katt on Aug 9, 2013 16:49:12 GMT -5
Hi! I went to the ethnic market, and I got chicken brains! (Yuck!) Gizmo was just like "nom nom nom" and he didn't notice rascal looked at me like "I'm not eating this!" lol I put some in his soup. Dealing with chicken brains really makes me rethink switching them over to raw! The things we do for our fuzzies! Yeah, brains are my least favorite thing to feed, but they are one of the most nutritious things you can give them. Lol Yes, the things we do for our fuzz... Keep mixing it I to the soup as part of the organs (you can do half an ounce of brains half of liver). When we get further along with little Rascal we will eventually have an organ soup (unless he accepts organ chunks earlier which is always possible) and do a mini-switch by slowly increasing the organs and then the chunks in the soup. How is Rascal doing with chunks? What size will he eat and how much soup has to be on them?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2013 5:37:45 GMT -5
Rascal is doing ok. He is eating small chunks. I'm slowly increasing the size though. He will eat them if they are in the soup, and have soup on them. It is hilarious watching him eat, whenever he finds a chunk in the soup, he slowly picks it up and brings it to his stash. Then he inspects it, by sniffing it, and then he'll look up at me like "is this edible?". after that, he'll finally eat it It takes him awhile to eat...
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Post by katt on Aug 11, 2013 15:17:07 GMT -5
Rascal is doing ok. He is eating small chunks. I'm slowly increasing the size though. He will eat them if they are in the soup, and have soup on them. It is hilarious watching him eat, whenever he finds a chunk in the soup, he slowly picks it up and brings it to his stash. Then he inspects it, by sniffing it, and then he'll look up at me like "is this edible?". after that, he'll finally eat it It takes him awhile to eat... Sounds like a ferret! Haha I'm glad he is making progress. Keep slowly increasing the chunks. Work on adding more chunks while slowly decreasing the amount of soup as well so we can wean him off of using "gravy" to season his food.
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