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Post by Heather on Oct 9, 2013 22:10:35 GMT -5
Name: Melanie
HF Forum Username: Meli
1. I' am not sure when i found out raw was the best, i didnt know when i had my first ferret (9 yrs old), i think i found out when i did my informative speech on ferrets about 2 years ago for school. (I got an A lol)
2. I figured when switching their diet I would keep a good kibble always available to my ferrerts and also incorporate raw store bought food, not whole prey.
3. I’ am interested in switching to a natural diet for my ferrets because I know it is much healthier for them. I would like to think it could enable them to live a longer happier, healthier life.
4. Yes, I do realize that switching their diets is a time consuming process that will take a lot of patience. I want the best for them. I have time to do it now especially with summer coming.
5. I have 2 male ferrets, my first born is 1 year old, and my new baby is 3 months old. I’ve had Monty, my 1 year old since 08/2012 and I got my baby Dusty 04/2013. The only “health problem” present is my 1 year old has a cyst in his throat, I took him to the vet and he says that it doenst “look bad” and that if it got bigger then we could do surgery.
6. I currently feed my ferrets what they were weened onto before i bought them which is (I know its horrible for them- again why I NEED to switch) Marshalls select chicken formula and ferretone.
7. I’ am currently attempting to switch now with doing a 1 to 4 ratio of Wysongs archetypal-1 and some grizzly salmon oil. Mostly just focusing on the archetypal-1, the baby is fine with it, i have to do a few droples of ferretone for my big one to eat, so far its going well.
8. I love all animals, always have, however i'am passoniate about ferrets and would kill for my babies! My oldest (since i've known him longer) is my happiness and make me happier than anyone could!
9.I always have access to my computer.
Hi and welcome to the mentoring program (wave). In a little while your mentor (Phae), our newest mentor, will introduce herself and you can get started on a new adventure in natural ferret care and diets. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun (dance). Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 19:36:51 GMT -5
yay!!!! so excited!!!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 20:44:18 GMT -5
Hello  Sorry for my delay, super busy! Not the greatest start to my mentoring haha! Now, before we get started, do you have a regular supply of organs & heart meat? And are you able to access 3 or more protein sources (animal species) to feed you ferrets? And, just for my own clarity, are you wanting a full switch or partial (half raw, half kibble)? As for regular posting, I'd like updates at least three times a week, but if that's not possible at any time, please let me know |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 23:24:43 GMT -5
No problem! Your doing so much already!
Sorry, those answers are kinda a few months old... i copy and pasted because i started a mentoring thread but then something came up I got distracted and I became preoccupied. My response to the mentor questions are from June or so. My boys are now fully switched to Wysong Epigen 90 and i give them salmon oil. I have 2 boys, my big boy Monty was born May 2012, my baby Dusty was born February 2013. When i wrote it at the time i thought it was possible to do a half and half diet of raw and kibble... but recently i was told my ferrets wouldn't want kibble after the switch. i mentioned this in a thread before because i go away for a day (sometimes 2) for holidays or some weekends over summer. its just easy to leave kibble ... which leads me a few questions...
How often to you feed raw? With kibble you just leave a bowl of food out and they come and go as they please. My one boy doesn't eat much (i would of thought something was wrong with him, but he was like that as a baby) so i don't see him eat that much (however he is starting to eat more because winter is coming) my little boy (who is actually much bigger) eats like a horse. So how would that work?
I was also wondering if you had a ANY idea as to how much going raw would cost? I spend about $45 a month on kibble.
and 3. Does going raw really enable ferret to live a longer healthier life? Does it really prevent against the 3 most common illnesses?
I was also told that along with a longer healthier life that they will not smell, their poop/pee wont smell, and i dont have to worry about ever having to clean their teeth.
Sorry for all the questions! Just some things i have been thinking about. I just realized you live in Australia... that.is. AWESOME! I wish i could go there! Everything seems so much better there lol!and 26 ferrets? How do you manage?!
As far as heart and all that... i have no idea. i have to go to the grocery store and start looking. I dont even know everything ferrets can have. I am completely unfamiliar with this! I have access to my computer... however i' am a weirdo and probably the only person in the world besides grandmas that does not have internet on her phone... so that's the only thing.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2013 23:57:33 GMT -5
You can do a partial kibble & partial raw, but it is true most ferrets will be inclined to refuse kibble as they'll be fuller for longer from the raw, as their nutritional requirements are completely met, rather than part-way. I feed raw, generally, only once or twice a day. My guys will go through quite a lot in a day, but as I'm in Spring now, they won't eat during the day but just over night when it's not so hot, so just once at the moment. I usually leave enough that they'll be ale to stash a bit & snack overnight (they're caged all night). So, with your two different ferrets who eat a different paces, I'd offer just a little extra to the quieter boy, or even hand feed him & allow the other fellow to consume his fill from the bowl. When they're both full, you can leave a little bit in the cage (it's fine for 12hrs) incase one of them gets a bit snackish before their next meal. As for cost, it depends hugely on what you choose to feed. The best method is buy in bulk, buy cheap cuts & always grab the special deals. I've actually got 27 ferrets atm, costs me around $120 per month for 30 ferrets, as I buy big in bulk & lots of cheap meats. The best way to cut costs is Franken Prey (home made/home prepared raw), most expensive methods of raw is Commercial & Whole Prey. So it really depends on what you choose to feed. As for a longer, healthier life, yes. It doesn't prevent against Adrenal or Lymphoma though, but raw fed ferrets manage a lot better. It is effective as decreasing the chances of Insulinoma, however if they've been kibble fed, there's always a chance they'll develope it later in life, only it'll be a lot more easily managed than a kibble fed ferret with it would be. I believe it was something like an Insulinomatic ferret on kibble lasts about 1 year after diagnosis, raw fed Insulinomatic about 2 1/2 years (that's pretty rough, as it does depend on medication & how early it was found). As for teeth, it does help a lot! I've only ever had to get regular dental work done on kibble eaters. Raw fed ferrets, so far, never, though I have one silly boy who has snapped a bottom canine which'll need fixing up. They do pee a lot more, but their poop is very low odour & they generally don't smell that much as at all (walk into my house & you wouldn't guess I had almost 30 ferrets). And Australia is strange & beautiful place, I'll never leave it. And 27 is easily managed when they own your heart & soul  As for foods of choice, start with easy items like chicken, beef, turkey, lamb & pork meats, plus heart, liver & kidney from one or all of them. Also, please check to see if you have a scale to weigh food on (& your ferrets) & a good blender that can be labeled specifically for ferret food. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2013 1:06:24 GMT -5
ok well i don't know if you caught my most recent threads... but had a BIT of a crisis today, Dusty (8 month old) was attacked by a swarm of yellow jackets. I immediately took him to the emergency vet. he looked and acted just fine so they didn't do anything. they told me to keep an eye out for swelling, lethargy, lack of appetite, trouble breathing. when we got home i noticed a little red on the side of mouth, i went on here and on the holistic ferret forum face book page, i was told to give him Benadryl, so i went out and got it. he seems to be fine.. anyways back to the switch... ok. so tell me how we should start this! what should i buy from the super market. i looked and found an Amish Market that's open a few days a week and i think they have heart and liver www.padutchfarmersmarket.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?page=meatsand i guess i will eventually feeding them 2 times a day. and i guess i will do a full switch. are their any tips as to possibly freezing meet or keeping something that can last up to a day (or more if possible) like i said SOMETIMES i go away for a day or 2 (for example: for holidays ill go away that day or the night before,. If i can get a pet sitting service i will or hopefully ill have someone that will come and feed them for me. otherwise... i just wont leave! ) I let my boys have full roam of the upstairs where my room is. So when the feeding starts i guess i have to keep them in their cage or my room, i wouldnt want them taking raw meet and brining it under my couches up here or under my dresser in my closet lol... i guess i will also have to fence off those parts when i go away. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2013 2:06:10 GMT -5
Oh, I haven't looked through the forum, just watched this thread. However I did see the Fb post. Poor wee mite, I'd just watch it personally, they are fairly tough about that stuff. So far as preserving meat, you can buy Freeze Dried Raw to cover them the couple days you are gone. Just try to ensure they have access to plenty of water or fill the bowl before you leave, cover the FDR with water to allow it to rehydrate & you'll be fine. When you come back, just bin the remainders. Feed in their cage or a secure area where they can't stash it behind something. I usually block off my kitch area as it's open & tiled, so no worries about stashes or messes. For now, buy some plain chicken (breast or thigh meat), plus two other plain meat items of your choice. If you can, buy some chicken necks (or turkey necks), a small heart, liver & kidney. We'll work on the chicken first, then the other meats. Be prepared to be a little hard on them, it won't hurt, & long term benefit far out weighs a couple ferrety tantrums |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2013 2:44:37 GMT -5
how do i freez dry raw? i know that wysong archtypal-1 is free dry raw food... its the consistency of brown sugar though.
iam prepared. ok i will to the grocery store after work tommrow since it is 3:45AM here! AH! i know i have thin sliced chicken breast in my house. so should i just get some type of turkey? can they eat beef or no? i will see what they have and do my best... if heart and liver are not available at my local grocery store that will have to wait till i venture to the amish market.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2013 22:22:38 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2013 19:06:57 GMT -5
Home made FDR doesn't really work that well. A long process also. Your best bet for home made is a dehydrator. I have one, I'll take a photo and post it later for you Beef is fine for them. There's a list of animal species appropriate as food on the forums. I posted it, mainly for Australian use, but the rules are the same for US holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/9571/animals-food-australiaThe Amish market looks like a good source for organs and heart. Definitely get what you can from there. So for now, try cutting a little piece of chicken or veal up and offer it. I doubt they'll take it straight away, but doesn't hurt to try Just remove kibble 3hrs before. If they don't take it, take 10oz of chicken and blend into a thin soup. Usually 1/2 cup of warm water, add a little more if it seems a bit thick. Each morning and evening, sit with them and finger feed them (dip finger into soup and let them lick it off). You may have to hold them and rub it onto their lips and gums. You'll have to do them each individually, but once they start licking off you finger on their own, you can slowly lower them (whilst still feeding with finger) down to the dish. Only serve a couple tablespoons at first, as they may not eat it all. The last of the mixture can be frozen into ice cubes. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2013 2:31:17 GMT -5
how long will the mix last in the fridge? so this soup is the start of the raw feeding process?
i just so happened to be watching this....
what does she mean by edible bone? and yes lots of pictures of acceptable food would help a lot!
i also was just thinking... is it ok to use ground chicken/ turkey/ beef? might be easier to use something already soft rather than have to blend a raw chicken breast. just a though/question
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2013 2:27:14 GMT -5
The mix will keep 3-4 days in the fridge. I sometimes add an egg yolk & you can add organs & powdered eggshell (as outlined in the recipe you mentioned on Fb) if you wish, I just start with a plain soup, then add in the organs & other meats.
Okay, so edible bone simply means bones they can eat.
So edible bone options would be:
From chicken, duck, Cornish game hen, pheasant, quails, partridge, pigeon - necks, wings, feet, backs, carcasses/frames & heads.
Turkey & Goose - wings, necks & ribs.
Rabbits - ribcage, backs, front legs, necks & skull. Some very strong ferrets can eat the back legs also.
Pork, lamb & beef - they can't consume a lot of the bones, however ribs & rib ends can be consumed or even just chewed on, small lamb & beef bones are also suitable. People who offer these simply do them as chewing enrichment, not an explicit part of diet.
You can use a pre-ground raw product. Just make sure it isn't added to or filled in with other items.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 19:14:58 GMT -5
awesome! i mean i know edible bone meant bones they could eat lol i just wanted to know why she specified it... so you dont give a chicken wing everyday? im thinking too far ahead i still havnt started the raw ... i know im sorry... i had work problems this week and i had to cook for my dads 60th birthday party so i things have been a little hectic... i have not forgot about the switch though! the blender is out, the chicken is defrosting and im going to put the 2 together tommrow...
any advice as to how i should offer it? i know to repetitively dab the mix on their nose so they get use to it. and i saw something about taking their kibble away? It's kinda hard because there is no set feeding time (since i give them kibble) and i think i mentioned Monty (older boy) barley eats as it is... Dust eats several times an hour when hes not sleeping. should i take their kibble away? or maybe should i mix the kibble with the chicken soup? little by little?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2013 23:38:23 GMT -5
Take the kibble away for a couple hours, let them play hard for a bit. Crush some kibble up and sprinkle on top if you want, but try not mixing the two a great deal, can set you up to stomach upsets :/
Just on a shallow saucer/plate, dab your finger in and rub onto lips and teeth. Just repeat until they start to lick your finger. We shall work the chicken first, then work onto another two meats and then Im going to work you onto organs also
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2013 12:41:52 GMT -5
o shoot i just saw this! i JUST posted in the fb page too... so i made the mixture, put a little in their epigen 90 and the drizzled with salmon oil, Dusty went back to bed (i woke them both up to dab the mix on their nose) my other boy Monty loves the salmon oil, i walked away and when i came back he was eating the mixture! so i got really excited... so right now they are sleeping and i leave for work in about 20 mins... im thinking of just leaving the food out for now since its already there and i dont want it to go to waste and now that i know not to do it... tommrow or later tonight ill take it away? is that ok? and ill leave the chicken soup out?
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