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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 13, 2013 9:02:59 GMT -5
I want to do a feeding den but I don't really know how to do it.
I love your feeding den but they wont eat when I want them to and I don't know how to make a whole inside the cage to attach the tube to the cage.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 18:11:20 GMT -5
Just get a small cardboard box, you can cut a hole or not and just leave it laying on their side. Not to worry, they'll rearrange it however they like, ten times a day You can just leave one in the cage. We have cardboard boxes for the kids in the cages to sleep and eat in. They love them. When the box gets icky, toss it and give them a new one. Alternatively, you can use a small plastic tote and cut a hole in it.
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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 14, 2013 13:03:14 GMT -5
I am trying out the feeding den. The boys are asleep down stairs but Tilly seems to like it.
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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 14, 2013 14:05:41 GMT -5
I woke the boys up to see if they like it and I had to make the opening bigger because they aren't small.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2013 18:11:13 GMT -5
Ah ha, I think you've got a winner. Give that several days and see if that helps at all. I'd also suggest getting some tube socks or something to cover those ramps with, the bare wire can be dangerous if a toe or foot gets caught.
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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 14, 2013 18:48:31 GMT -5
I have ramp covers but they always take them off
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2013 21:36:12 GMT -5
Maybe find a way to tie them to it or pin it very carefully? I used to use large kilt safety pins carefully secured so they couldn't really get at it to undo them. Now I just forgo ramps completely so the fatties have to exercise.
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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 16, 2013 17:53:46 GMT -5
The feeding den didn't work out. I'll have to come up with something else. I took your advice and just forgo the ramps, I did keep the one between levels though. I put a ramp cover.
I have a concern. I've noticed slivers of chicken in their poop, I know they are digesting some of it because I am cutting chunks? Do you know anything about this? I was trying to search the forum but the search is not working.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2013 7:17:56 GMT -5
Ok, you mean you are seeing actual pieces of meat in their poops? Is it meat or bone you are seeing? Seeing pieces of bone is normal, their stomach basically acid washes bone and leeches nutrients from it and they poop out the left over shards before it can all dissolve because their digestive track is so short. Which is why feeding them enough bone in their diet is so important, because their body hasn't enough time to get the most from it.
If it's pieces of actual meat you're seeing, that would probably indicate it is moving too quickly through their system to be digested for some reason, or perhaps that their system isn't yet fully adjusted to digesting raw meat and isn't breaking it all down. I'll run it by the other admins if its actual pieces of meat to see what they have to say, if they've ever experienced that. My guess is if it happens for more than a few days it's probably not a good sign, but a couple days of that is probably not a big problem as just like people ferrets do have occasional intestinal upsets and will have a few bad poops now and again.
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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 19, 2013 8:54:03 GMT -5
it is actual pieces of meat. I narrowed it down to the culprit and it is Gussy. great news: They ate all their food in under an hour with no hot water and no oil. Usually they let it sit until I add hot water or oil. I've also noticed that they are eating all their organs before the chicken. I am going to try them on pork, chicken thighs with bones, and chicken wing.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2013 19:12:00 GMT -5
That's great news. I think the winter appetite boost must be helping you out a bit. When they get really hungry they tend to get less picky and will eat what's there rather than go without. Like when they are little baby kits, they will usually scarf down anything because they are constantly hungry. My last two 8 week olds I brought home I had eating chunks in 24 hours- they couldn't get enough to eat. They'll eat anything new just about that I give them too. As for the poops, just keep an eye out in case you notice it start happening again. Keep trying to gradually increase the size of the chunks if you can.
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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 20, 2013 8:13:54 GMT -5
I love winter!, I'll keep an eye out for Gussy's poops.
I am waiting to see if they like the pork before I do anything else. I think they prefer thigh meat now.
Are there any other cuts of meat that ferrets prefer?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2013 7:41:55 GMT -5
Thigh meat is darker and has more flavor, so it's not surprising if they want it more.
It's really an individual thing. A few of my guys love anything so long as it's boney for them to chew on, others are lazier and like meatier cuts. Everybody adores pork and chicken and lamb though. Venison is universally unloved. Chicken/turkey necks are popular in my house as are pork rib off cuts. Chicken feet, that's another thing they like. Duck feet they would like too I imagine if I could get them. Drumsticks do well, wings are less popular. The small wing tip though, those they will fight viciously for lol. I'll make human wings, cut off all the tips and give them to the ferrets and it will be like Mortal Kombat for an hour while they determine who gets what.
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Post by thelifeofmyferrets on Nov 25, 2013 20:04:29 GMT -5
I thought I responded. Do you have any tips to get them to try bone? They ate it before but won't touch it anymore. I cut it up with a cleaver and put oil on it but they just lick it off.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2013 7:28:09 GMT -5
Hmm that's odd. Is it the same type of meat bone/same cut or something entirely new? I could see them doing it if it were new.
I'd try making a little soup with some mushed up meat, and some chunks of bone as small as you can safely manage in it, let is soak for a few hours for the scents to mingle and then warm it up a tad with some warm water and offer it to them and see if they try it. Make sure the water isn't super hot so it doesn't cook the bone pieces.
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