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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2013 14:00:50 GMT -5
I am going meat shopping today. I am getting meat for the raw soup. I am purchasing turkey thighs for the soup base. Higher in nutrition and best flavor. So what meats do you want me to add to the soup in slivers? Making a list before I venture out. It will also dictate which stores I go to. Thank you!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2013 14:49:07 GMT -5
Well I'll wait to go to the grocery for meat until I hear back from you...
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Post by bitbyter on Jul 20, 2013 18:09:57 GMT -5
The choice of meat is really up to you. I usually go with what I know they will eat, what has a good percentage of fat (you don't want to go to lean) and what is cheapest. I've seen from some of your FB posts that you feed Bison. Unless it is really cheap in your area, I wouldn't bother. Duck can also be really expensive. I have a store near me that sells Duck breast so I get that maybe once every two months or so as a treat for them.
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Post by bitbyter on Jul 21, 2013 17:38:30 GMT -5
How did the shopping go. Is everyone eating some form of raw now or are they still getting FDR as well?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2013 17:52:01 GMT -5
I bought a LARGE turkey breast for soup base. Then some pork and chicken wingettes. Wingettes are very small. These are sold in the butcher case and not packaged. I call Bear when he is awake..."Bear! Chicken wings"! He runs into the kitchen looks up and I hand him a wing and sits there and eats it in 5 or less minutes! Candy to him! None of the others do this. Soph will eat them but she gets into it as a chewing experience. She is a chewer. Bear...well he is a Bear and eats like one! Going to another grocery store to pick up a couple of other pieces of meat etc. Soup is at 8pm.
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Post by bitbyter on Jul 21, 2013 18:03:55 GMT -5
Are wingettes the whole wing, just small or are they just the wing tips? Generally you should feed the whole wing as it has a better meat to bone ratio. Also try to get legs or thighs over breast meat (it has a better fat content and is usually cheaper). Have you figured out how much they are eating (by weight) so that you can portion stuff and freeze the remaining amounts to avoid waste.
How is Freeman doing?? I start Wilma's Pred tomorrow.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2013 20:58:34 GMT -5
Freeman is so much better! Truly, I was very afraid that when we went to the vets he would have some utterly devastating something and not come home with me. Ferrets and the vet make me uncomfortable when they are sick. Twice I have returned home without the ferret. The orange/gold color is gone out of his pee. However, what I am concerned about now is why he developed an infection. Doc Murray said, "usually from bacterial infections.sometimes related to high pH of the urine or prostate problems secondary to adrenal gland disease". Freeman is actually putting back on the fat (i guess that is a correct statement)he lost very quickly. His spine, hips and ribs are not so bony to my hands when I pick him up. He is staying up a longer to "visit" with the group but not playing. He is also afraid of Bear. Since I got the swing gate up I only allow Bella and Freeman to free roam. She is very mothering to Freeman and since she is so big and long I know she can keep Freeman warm if he is needing that. Getting ready to feed the soup! All are asleep right now! I need to go and finish up cleaning the kitchen and get ready for work week! Hoping Wilma will do better with the preds. I just mix Freeman's into a tablespoon of soup and he eats it right up. Talk to you later!
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Post by bitbyter on Jul 21, 2013 21:27:46 GMT -5
I'm going to try her's with some salmon oil so I am sure I she will take it. The way she is right now I can never be sure she is going to eat when I want her to. I just check on them quite often and catch her eating and she is putting weight back on. At that crappy vet's she was 1 lbs 4 oz and on Saturday morning she was 1 lbs 8 oz (normal weight for this time of year is 1 lbs 12 oz). She still has a bit to gain before I am happy and I wish her regular energy / behaviour would come back.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2013 15:10:39 GMT -5
Stopping to pick up chicken hearts after work. they were out yesterday.
When I serve the raw soup how much do I feed per ferret please?
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Post by bitbyter on Jul 22, 2013 15:37:47 GMT -5
Generally the rule is 2-3 oz for females, 3-4+ oz for males. But ideally, however much they'll take. You really need to figure out how much is normal for them (weigh it before you serve it and weigh it when they are done). This is based on a daily amount (so weigh it in the morning and weight it at the end of the day even if you put it in the fridge between feedings).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2013 16:22:07 GMT -5
OK will do. I want to bounce this off on you. In the last couple of days I have seen all the ferrets except for Penny and Freeman eating raw. I will serve Freeman and Penny the raw soup with sliver of pork in 2 to 3 ounces of pork in the soup.
Bear, Bella, Sophia, Joy, Love Bug will all eat raw if they like what I serve. Since I was serving a buffet I need to correct that with them. So tonight should I start feeding off of the menu? It would be "edible" bone night. I have only seen Sophia and Bear eat bone. Or, should I just feed everybody soup with slivers for some and a little chunkier for the others? See...this is where I got stuck. It makes the palm of my hands sweat. I feel the need to run out and buy commercial frozen raw instead...I gotta do this though...I am breaking the bank...
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Post by bitbyter on Jul 22, 2013 16:32:13 GMT -5
For those eating raw I'd try everyone on edible bone tonight (follow the menu). For those not, the soup. If you have the time, feed everyone at once in the room (hand feeding the soup if necessary) and watch the raw eaters. You have to get them use to eating what you have available, not what they want. Remember, except for Freeman, as long as they are at a healthy weight it isn't going to hurt anyone to go hungry for a meal or two. They will be much more inclined to eat what you give them.
I really wish you could contain them in smaller groups some how so that you know who was eating what if you leave it with them overnight. You only have 1 double FN for all 7 correct??
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2013 22:22:41 GMT -5
So per our conversation: 1) Raw soup with slivers of meat for Penny and Freeman...the only non frankenprey eaters. 2) Follow the frankenprey menu for Bear, Sophia, Bella,Love Bug, Joy. 3) Prepare both feedings on their plate in the morning and weigh on their plate. After they eat from the leftovers in the evening weigh the plate again and record. 4) Work on finding sources of bone in meat sources of small boned birds. 5) I owe you photographs of my crew as you asked. (I worked this weekend and had Katy all weekend as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2013 21:38:44 GMT -5
Dang it! Went to the grocery store for milk and swung by the meat department. Not an organ in sight. I did however find a HUGE package of pork ribs for $15 with my store card it was $5!!! SCORE! Got it home opened it to repackage into small packages...spoiled! The smell made me gag! Back to the frickin store! I hate to make returns!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2013 0:23:16 GMT -5
Finally found "baby back ribs" pork. They will be in the store tomorrow so I am popping in to pick up a rack or two.
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