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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2013 22:30:02 GMT -5
River seems to have hit the end of the growth spurt she was in. Her consumption has slowed down quite a bit. She's still eating well, just not as much, as fast, as she was. She's holding steady right at 2 pounds, poops are normal, energy levels are normal (AKA through the roof!) She's just gone about 4 ounces of food a day to about 3 ounces. I'm taking her to the vet anyway, just in case.
She's 3 weeks kibble-free now!
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Post by katt on Oct 28, 2013 23:37:49 GMT -5
Oh good girl!  Just going to the vet for a checkup? Okay so your balance is pretty good, you have variety, and she is eating well. Is there something else from here that you would like to work on in particular? Any unanswered questions? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2013 23:45:29 GMT -5
Yeah, just want to make extra sure there's no hidden things going on with her.
I can't think of anything right now. But then, I'll probably have something pop into my head when I should be sleeping or something.
In a few months when it works out so I can get River a ferret friend, I'm sure that one will not be the easy-breezy switch she's been! LOL
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Post by katt on Oct 29, 2013 14:08:51 GMT -5
Well let's do this then. Go ahead and submit another "final" menu. I will submit the menu to Heather to approve you for graduation, in my opinion you are more than ready. [Though if you have uncertainties or want to work towards whole prey from here or have other goals I am MORE than happy to keep working with you]. Then in a few months when you get another ferret, if you need or want assistance with switching the new fuzz, we can re-open the thread (or make a new one). Let me know your thoughts on this, balls' in your court I'm just here for whatever you need.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2013 19:56:56 GMT -5
River's only been eating at night lately. Don't know what that's about.
I'm using my previous menu as a base. Days with multiple entries are options, choices to use based on what I have available at the time. Also subject to change depending on her condition at the time...runny poops, seedy poops, etc. I do a lot of searches on here for specific things like that if I need info! One question...does an egg count as a meal? And/or raw soup?
AM
Sunday - Chicken wing / CGH pieces / Turkey with bones smashed
Monday - Boneless pork / chicken / lamb / turkey meat / egg / soup
Tuesday - Boneless chicken thighs and gizzards (or bone-in, depending on how her poops look)
Wednesday - Organ day! Beef kidney, beef and chicken liver mix / other organ meats as I find them
Thursday - CGH with bones / chicken with bones / turkey with smashed bones
Friday - Lamb / Turkey meat / pork
Saturday - Chicken wing / frog legs / CGH with bones
PM
Sunday - chicken wing / CGH with bones / Turkey with smashed bones
Monday - Nature's Variety Raw Bites Duck or lamb formula
Tuesday - boneless chicken thighs + gizzards / NV Raw Bites
Wednesday - Chicken hearts (AKA Ferret Candy!!!)/ diced beef heart
Thursday - NV Raw Bites Duck / CGH with bones / chicken with bones
Friday - NV Raw Bites Duck / chicken neck / turkey neck
Saturday - Chicken Wing OR CGH with bones
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Post by katt on Nov 2, 2013 23:46:34 GMT -5
River's only been eating at night lately. Don't know what that's about. I'm using my previous menu as a base. Days with multiple entries are options, choices to use based on what I have available at the time. Also subject to change depending on her condition at the time...runny poops, seedy poops, etc. I do a lot of searches on here for specific things like that if I need info! One question...does an egg count as a meal? And/or raw soup? AM Sunday - Chicken wing / CGH pieces / Turkey with bones smashed Monday - Boneless pork / chicken / lamb / turkey meat / egg / soup Tuesday - Boneless chicken thighs and gizzards (or bone-in, depending on how her poops look) Wednesday - Organ day! Beef kidney, beef and chicken liver mix / other organ meats as I find them Thursday - CGH with bones / chicken with bones / turkey with smashed bones Friday - Lamb / Turkey meat / pork Saturday - Chicken wing / frog legs / CGH with bones PM Sunday - chicken wing / CGH with bones / Turkey with smashed bones Monday - Nature's Variety Raw Bites Duck or lamb formula Tuesday - boneless chicken thighs + gizzards / NV Raw Bites Wednesday - Chicken hearts (AKA Ferret Candy!!!)/ diced beef heart Thursday - NV Raw Bites Duck / CGH with bones / chicken with bones Friday - NV Raw Bites Duck / chicken neck / turkey neck Saturday - Chicken Wing OR CGH with bones Looks great! (dance) You definitely have a good understanding of the balance and your variety is fantastic. Yes, raw soup can absolutely be a meal. Egg I generally prefer to not give as a whole meal I will give a bowl of egg, but also have meat available. This reduces the slimy poops a bit if they eat something else with the egg. That being said there really isn't any good reason you can't give it as a meal I suppose - the caveat on that being that is that one egg is usually not enough to fill them up. Since you have a little girl though it may be. Which leads me into her eating habits. Ferrets on a raw diet don't need to eat as much because they are actually getting the nutrients they need from their food. They also, like people, have days they are more or less hungry. And you have a little girl. It is possible that you are feeding too much - as a rule of thumb I try to always feed so that there is just a very small amount of food left after each meal. That way you know they got their fill, but there is minimal waste. Also, a lot of ferrets on raw really only eat one meal a day, but it is still important for the to have access to food 24/7 - though not as critical as with kibble ferrets or ferrets who were previously on kibble (rather than being switched as kits). Back to eggs, a general rule of thumb is no more than one (whole!) egg per ferret every 3 days, or every other day if it is shedding season. Even that much can cause loose stools though, so really once a week or less works too depending on the ferret and how hey handle the eggs. I feed mine eggs here and there, not on any consistent schedule so they get less than one a week. But if they are shedding I feed as often as every other day. I hand feed the egg (I also put salmon oil in it) to make sure my two boys both get their fair share or Koda will eat it all himself. Haha  This makes it a really nice little bonding one-on-one time too though. Hope that wasn't too jumbled for you, let me know if anything was unclear or you have more Q's. I will send your menu to Heather for final approval. |
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Post by katt on Nov 2, 2013 23:54:20 GMT -5
I asked about the eggs because I am used to my piggy boys. A whole egg would not be enough for a full meal for them, but for a little female it just might. The general consensus is that most people also feed other foods with egg (like make meat available in the cage along with the egg), but (particularly during shedding season) it IS okay to feed egg as a solo meal. Phaedra said even her small jills will eat 1-2 eggs as a meal. Hope that helps!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2013 0:41:07 GMT -5
Good to know. What I think I'll do is feed the egg with something she doesn't like as much, so when she's licking up the egg she has to at least taste the less-loved food. (and she LOVES eggs...tried to steal my scrambled eggs right off my plate!) Eggs can be gravy! LOL
I'm going to go to smaller meals in the morning, with larger meals at night when she prefers to eat. She eats between 2-3 ounces a day right now, depending on how much she likes the items being offered. And, presumably, how hungry she is.
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Post by katt on Nov 3, 2013 4:40:27 GMT -5
Good to know. What I think I'll do is feed the egg with something she doesn't like as much, so when she's licking up the egg she has to at least taste the less-loved food. (and she LOVES eggs...tried to steal my scrambled eggs right off my plate!) Eggs can be gravy! LOL I'm going to go to smaller meals in the morning, with larger meals at night when she prefers to eat. She eats between 2-3 ounces a day right now, depending on how much she likes the items being offered. And, presumably, how hungry she is. That works too, just be aware that the eggs spoil a lot faster than meat so it you put the meat in the egg it will go bad faster. Definitely a good trick to get her to eat less liked meats, try not go let her learn to use it as a crutch either though - they are very good at training US the sly buggers. 2-3 oz is a very good amount for a female. She is a baby and it is winter though, I would expect her to slow down a LOT come spring. Haha Just so you don't freak out (you still might, it is always a shock) ferrets gain/lose up to 40% of their body weight with each seasonal change. And they are always fattest in their first winter. (I am assuming her seasons are not reversed here, if they are the opposite will be true) When she starts dropping lots of weight come spring and eating half of what she does now (or less even), don't be too alarmed! And enjoy the fire winter baby flub - thy are never that floofy again as heir first winter.  |
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Post by Heather on Nov 3, 2013 22:43:08 GMT -5
Congratulations  . you've graduated and you're ready to walk this path alone, now (dance) . You have the foundation to help you feed your fuzzes in a more natural and healthy manner. Please remember that your learning never stops, and dietary needs change from ferret to ferret and throughout each their lives. I would like you to be aware that though you now have the capability and the knowledge to create your little ones diets you are never alone and that your mentor (you need only pm) is always available to you. The list is also a very good resource and you should always be aware that it's available to answer any questions you may have either about diet or care. Katt has mentioned that you might need her help to switch another wee one soon. We will gladly remove your switching thread from the archives when you need it . Good luck, in a few days either Sherry or I will lock down this thread and place it in the archives but be aware that you can always look through it as a reference tool but you just will not be able to post to it. Your mentor will be in to congratulate you shortly (wave) . ciao |
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Post by katt on Nov 3, 2013 23:02:45 GMT -5
Congrats! (dance) I can't take any credit bc you did all of the work yourself. lol I enjoyed working with you and the adorable little River though. Like Heather said, if at any time you have questions you are always free to PM me and when you add a new baby to your business I would be happy to work with you on switching him (or her), so just let me know. Congrats on a job well done! (dance) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 1:15:07 GMT -5
What can I say, River is an awesome ferret who makes things like teaching her to eat good stuff easy on me! I'm so proud of her, yesterday she at her whole helping of kidney and liver, and then her whole helping of heart. And, she ate some of the kidney/liver mix with the hearts in the bowl with it, instead of just eating the hearts and leaving the rest! Such a good girl!
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Post by katt on Nov 8, 2013 1:42:45 GMT -5
Good girl! Congrats again and don't hesitate to PM me if you have any questions or if you want to reopen this thread when you get a new baby. Good job! Give River a snuggle from me too. |
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Post by katt on Nov 18, 2013 17:18:23 GMT -5
@ediebird Reopened. We can reclose the thread whenever you want but it is open again if you want any help switching your new baby. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2013 0:14:01 GMT -5
Kaylee is doing pretty great for a three year old that has been on kibbles for God-only-knows-how-long. She ate half an ounce of soup this morning, diluted with 1/4 cup water and with 1/4 cup NV lamb bites in it. She only ate about half the lamb, but given how petite she is, I'm not surprised. I'm increasing her soup to a whole ounce in the same amount of water tonight. She needs more calories, she's very thin! (not skin and bone, but still whippet-lean)
Kaylee is VERY curious about bones and meat! She found a leftover bit of chicken bone River had stashed, and spent a couple minutes chewing it. She's also chewed on a chicken foot, and some pork neck meat with a small bit of bone in it. She seems to be very keen on doing whatever River does, food wise!
On Thursday I'll be going to my mom's house to borrow my sister's grinder to make some ground bone-in chicken for her, in varying textures. I don't think her jaws are actually up to eating whole bones just yet, but tomorrow we'll try a CGH wingtip and see how she likes that. (since the wingtip is very small dainty bones!)
She has plenty of energy, poops are a little odd right now as they are half-kibble, half soup poos. You can tell she's better hydrated now than she was a day ago! LOL She seems to be feeling mighty fine tonight, strutting around like the queen of Ferretopia!
Edited to add - Kaylee has gained an ounce since yesterday.
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