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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2014 19:38:32 GMT -5
Wow, that menu thing sounds confusing. Bone in means there is a bone in it? For example, I have been doing boneless thighs...so is that bone in or does it need to have a bone IN it? This is what is confusing me. Mine actually like pork and beef. I am going to have explore more on the links with the feeding and menus to get a better idea. I have been feeding them the same meats both meal in a day. I try to switch every day. I only have chicken heart which they like, but do have brains. I thought just chicken hearts would be okay, I have to get beef heart in a week or 2. I still have the brains.
I noticed with Miko he chews so funny, like he is using his tongue to much or it gets in the way or something. It's weird cause he does fine with Lulu's food (that has EVOO on) or when he sits on my lap. George is back to eating the chunks, smaller ones again.
I did order testicles from a 2 meat vendors at the market. I tried to ask for them in a, I guess, professional manner. well that didn't work cause I just couldn't keep a straight face. So those should be coming in a few weeks.
I will for sure sure keep you updated but for now them kids have to get out and run...
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 8, 2014 20:36:21 GMT -5
Lmao at ordering testicles, you are braver than me! Amazing that George is already eating chunks again, his mouth must be feeling so much better.
Yep bone in means a cut with edible bone that your ferrets can and do eat, really high bone content would be like necks or wings. Something like thighs or legs would be more of a normal bone content and something with really small bones like quail, mice, poultry ribs/breast would still count as bone in but shouldn't be relied on solely. It's a crucial part of the diet so getting them chewing bones is key.
If for example you can only feed chicken heart for your heart meal that is ok, same if you can only get one type of organ, some people can't find much other than liver and that should make up 5% of the diet, the other half if possible testicles, brain, kidney, spleen, if those aren't doable add more liver instead. Shouldn't be a problem for you from the sounds of it though. The main thing is just that they are getting the taurine, and the nutrients that organs contain.major Any darker well used muscle is high in taurine so hearts aren't even 100% necessary depending on the rest of the diet but they are a great healthy meal and most ferrets love them. You can't overdose on taurine but too little can cause major issues, that is why we recommend the heart meals just in case. Organs on the other hand are a must have part of the diet.
Also if you look at the files on the facebook page there is an easy menu schedule you can take a look at. There's one on here somewhere as well.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2014 10:32:04 GMT -5
Well George ain't liking the idea of the chunks. I think he got a tad spoiled with his "special" food. I noticed he isn't eating half as much. So we are gonna have to cut them smaller and work our way up.
We have a few little butcher shops around the area, where local farmers take the cattle in, so I think all them crazy parts shouldn't be a problem. I usually get 3 - 4 beef hearts a month in spring to fall so they will have plenty of that. I will admit the testicle thing was interesting. One farmer/ vendor told me he had 2 and they weren't for sale, that flew over my head at 1st and the other one I ask preceded to tell me how he does it.....
Question. Do any of your ferrets take the food out of the mouths of the others? Emmett does that to Cooco and Mikah.
I will post the weights and etc... Monday night. Have a happy Sunday!!!
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 10, 2014 21:26:00 GMT -5
OMG it took me a second to get the testicle thing as well, lol! Yep not surprised George needs to work his way back up, that's pretty normal, healing can take awhile so go slow and make sure it seems like his mouth is feeling better. We don't want to push him too fast and turn him away from the idea.
As far as stealing, yes absolutely. Usually I hook stuff so they can't stash it but mice and hearts they will grab from each other and run, play tug of war with and scream. Even though there is plenty to go around they carry on like that. The grass is always greener on the other side and if someone else has it they all think it's better than what they have.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2014 22:23:26 GMT -5
We tried lamb tonight. Emmett ate it no problem, but I think he eats anything. the rest weren't crazy about it. I did let food in the cages so if they do get hungry they will have to eat it.
I took all their weights and it seems like Mikah is the only one who didn't lose weight. What is going on!! Do you think I should keep food in the cage during the day and for George and Lulu pull them out and let them eat. That scares me that they lost some.
I will keep George on the fine stuff. He ate good again this morning. I don't understand them vets when they say they can go home and eat as normal. (They said the same thing when my cats had a few teeth pulled, plus when they were pulling them they dislocated his jaw.)
February 10, 2014 1. Ferret’s name: George 2. Ferret's weight: 2 lbs 9 oz 3. Ferret has eaten his normal amount 4. Stools on various proteins. Soft but formed 5. Activity levels: Ran around and played 6. Weekly menu: Chicken breast, some beef, pork, chicken gizzard chicken hearts with soupies & a little Arch 1 as a topper. His food was chopped up fine due to his teeth.
1. Ferret's name: Miko 2. Ferret's weight: 2 lbs 2oz 3. Ferret has eaten Normal amount 4. Stools on various proteins. Mushy, more formed 5. Activity levels : Ran around and played with others 6. Weekly menu: Chicken breast chunks, some beef, pork, chicken hearts & chicken gizzard chunk with soupies
1. Ferret's name: Lulu 2. Ferret's weight: 1 lb 7 oz 3. Ferret has eaten Ate more today. 4. Stools on various proteins. Mushy, more formed 5. Activity levels: Ran around and played with others 6. Weekly menu: Chicken breast chunks, some beef, pork, chicken hearts & chicken gizzard chunks with soupies & EVOO.
1. Ferret's name: Penelope 2. Ferret's weight: 1 lb 8 oz 3. Ferret has eaten Normal amount 4. Stools on various proteins. Mushy, more formed 5. Activity levels: Ran around and played with others. Always has more energy. 6. Weekly menu: Chicken breast chunks, some beef, pork, chicken hearts & chicken gizzard chunks with soupies.
1. Ferret's name: Emmett 2. Ferret's weight: 2 lbs 11 oz 3. Ferret has eaten Normal amount 4. Stools on various proteins. Soft 5. Activity levels: Ran around and played with others 6. Weekly menu: Chicken breast chunks, some beef, pork, chicken hearts & chicken gizzard chunks with soupies. Some days without soup
1. Ferret's name: Coco 2. Ferret's weight: 2 lbs 3 oz 3. Ferret has eaten Normal amount 4. Stools on various proteins. Soft 5. Activity levels: Ran around and played with others 6. Weekly menu: Chicken breast chunks, some beef, pork, chicken hearts & chicken gizzard chunks with soupies. Some days without soup
1. Ferret's name: Mikah 2. Ferret's weight: 1 lb 5 oz 3. Ferret has eaten: Eating great 4. Stools on various proteins. Soft, but formed 5. Activity levels: Ran around and played with others 6. Weekly menu: Chicken breast chunks, some beef, pork, chicken hearts & chicken gizzard chunks with soupies. Some days without soup
I am watering down the soups and not giving as much depending on what meat they get.
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 11, 2014 0:16:23 GMT -5
If they are acting, looking normally the weight loss is probably not a big concern, most ferrets put on some weight with soup and taper off, we'll keep an eye on it but I don't see any real concerning amounts yet. It's coming into spring so they should slim down, I know my fat boy is finally. You can absolutely leave some in the cage if you want, what I would do is put a skinny chunk or two, so if they are hungry food is there but they have to work for it. Obviously you can leave smaller pieces for George as well.
Lamb is not a big hit with mine, they absolutely love the freeze dried lamb stella and chewys puts out but I bought some ground from hare today and it was the first thing I have really seen Pandora refuse, 3 days straight she wouldn't touch it, I'd make her taste it and eventually she did eat some but not thrilled about it. Hannibal ate it but he's kind of a piggy on easy meals. Raw lamb is super expensive here and I don't like the taste either so it's not something I ever buy. Although if you have one eating it sometimes that will encourage the others over time so you can always try offering it here and there.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2014 17:07:10 GMT -5
I think I came up with an idea to get Lulu off of the EVOO, but would like you opinion. I think I tried to push her to bigger chunks to fast. This morning I gave her some of Georges, with a little EVOO in. She ate it right up and I put more on her dish and she kept eating. Now I am wondering if I give her the fine stuff again and just keep cutting back on the EVOO will get her off of it.
They are all acting fine, that is why the weight loss had me a bit puzzled and worried. I guess you are right that it's coming into spring, but as cold as it's been it sure doesn't seem like it. I am such a pushover when they give "the hungry" look they always get a midday snack if they look at me.
They ate the lamb this morning. I won it in a raffle or I never would have gotten it. My luck they will like that the best.
I can't wait till they are eating the same chunk size. It will be so much easier and less containers in the frig.
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 11, 2014 20:16:04 GMT -5
So Lulu kept eating food without the EVOO after starting with it? You can try that, or just mixing it with the top bit of meat, put a layer underneath without. Yes once they are on chunks life is so much easier, I still freeze stuff in larger chunks so I usually have to do a little cutting of meat in the mornings, chop the cat and ferret portions into 2-3 meals worth. Last time I prepared meat I actually got really ambitious and chopped into meal portions and labeled them for easy days in case I was feeling sick or especially lazy lol. Then I used them all within like 3 weeks because it was so much easier! So that didn't work well.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2014 22:56:52 GMT -5
I gave them smashed wing tips. (Ya, I know, finally (twitch)) Penelope ran away with it and chewed on it, Miko licked and chewed a little. Lulu looked at it (no evoo on it, I think that is her herion) and George even picked it up and was interested. Coco chewed a little. Emmett well he ran away with the one, never did find that one will tomorrow, chewed on the 2nd one and ran away with it. I am for sure going to have to come up with something I hook them to and get the metal shower hooks. Mikah had a lazy night so she didn't do a heck of a lot of anything.
I'm going to also hang a beef bone, like a round steak bone in their cages. Zelda had left hers on the floor and they sure seemed to like smelling it. Oh and what is a pork button bone? I don't know what cut of meat that comes from.
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 13, 2014 12:59:50 GMT -5
If they are hooked to something sometimes that helps encourage chewing since they have some force to fight against, especially for the ones that want to stash! If you can slice through that skin on the wings and give them an opening that helps too although they looked pretty well smashed on the facebook post. I believe a pork button bone is like the piece off the end of the ribs, I have not bought that cut myself, I usually just buy roasts on sale for me and cut off a bit for them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2014 16:00:01 GMT -5
Not much new. Sunday morning is going to be our egg day. 5 of them eat it. Mikah and of course Lulu don't like them. But I am sure with coaxing they will too.
I have a CGH for them but that will happen when the feeding den is done. I plan on just cutting it in half and giving each group a half. I guess George and Lulu will have some cut off for them. Or should I cut the whole thing and let them try the meat before they get the half? Well before all that, I have to get the feeding den done so I can hook it tight.
I am also working on a menu thing I found on excel which I hope I can figure out how to send here later. It is really helping me keep track of the rotation of their meals.
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 16, 2014 18:57:33 GMT -5
I would chop the game hen into a few pieces, offer the wings/breast/rib section first. I usually give a wing size section per ferret, that's enough to last most of the day for mine.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2014 23:29:49 GMT -5
Seeing how snow storm Rex messed up the plans on making the feeding den, we are going to make it this weekend. I plan on quartering up the game hen and hanging it up on the hooks and see what happens. Or should I use a meat they like so they know what to do.
Is it normal for them to eat a meat, and like it. Then next time it gets served they don"t? I am finding that they will do that. Maybe I should just give them 1 meat and if they don't eat they go hungry? But I can't do that with George & Lulu.... Tell me the truth, am I spoiling them to much and letting them get their way?
UGH. I made this really nice menu thing on Excel, but now I can't figure out how to get it on here. I will keep trying so I can get your opinion on how I am rotating the meat.
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 19, 2014 20:29:47 GMT -5
Yes they can be very picky. Like I cut off a bit of fatty pork I was cooking earlier this week, gave it to the ferrets. Both devoured it so I saved a bit more, offered it again later that day. Next morning one had ate it and the other completely ignored it. I've been fighting with them on and off to eat chicken wings again, but they are eating game hen fine again after being picky about that for awhile. Generally what I do is know what they like and what is less popular and I will offer less and leave in longer anything they are refusing to eat.
I have an insulinomic now and had one that passed about a year ago and unless they were doing poorly they don't get catered to, they get a meal of soup 2x a day before meds, food in the cage at all times, they will eat when hungry. Raw fed ferrets don't need to eat nonstop like kibble ones so it's a little harder to tell but if they have eaten a certain size cut and meat before, at least a few times then they are capable of it and probably just being fussy.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2014 21:06:42 GMT -5
I haven't been giving the insulinomic kids meals in the cages all the time. If I see they are awake I will but if I would leave it in there I know the other 2 would eat it. I never thought of giving them soup before meds. Now Emmett has urinary tract infection, so he is on Clavamox 2x a day till for a week at least.
I picked up some oxtail and pork hocks. Are those bones to big for them and should I cut the most of the meat off. I talked to the guy in the meat dept at Festival Foods and they can order all kinds of meats. Quail and rabbit, I just need to give them a month notice.
George has not been thinking it's a good idea for him to have bigger chunks. I wonder if he still thinks it's going to hurt to chew... I'm about ready to give up with getting Lulu off the evoo. She will eat big chunks with it on.
So it's a ferret thing to be picky.... I thought it was just mine.
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