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Post by mjbez on May 7, 2014 23:28:44 GMT -5
I'm impressed they have taken as well as they have to new food! It is exciting that it hasn't taken much prompting for them to give things like rabbit and Quail a try!!
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Post by kraesmom on May 7, 2014 23:48:57 GMT -5
Rabbit is totally new for Kimble, but F&A have had it in CGR form before. Still, it is different without the add ins, and they are learning. Avery trusts me, and usually, if I give him a taste on my lap, I can put him down and he starts eating. No go on the guinea pig tho. We will have to try that again. It surely doesn't taste that different from rabbit, right?
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Post by kraesmom on May 8, 2014 14:09:10 GMT -5
This morning was MPC fresh ground rabbit with chicken and goat chunks. They took one look and then looked up at me like "really. I expected better from you." I sprinkled 1/2 a cube of FDR on it (no water) and they dug in and ate the rabbit and the chunks with no problems...aside from Avery, who would eat half a chunk, decide the rest was too much trouble and put it beside the dish and eat smaller pieces (which were about the same size, if not larger than the portion he put down...) I'm continuing to increase the size and quantity of pieces and decreasing the amount of FDR I put on the food *if* they've turned their noses up at it. Sometimes they eat it and I don't need any FDR on there at all, so I think that's good.
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Post by mjbez on May 9, 2014 13:32:02 GMT -5
I am really pleased that you have been able to successfully increase the size and amount of the pieces you are adding. Keep it up. Having to add a little bit of FDR is not a big deal. I had to add a little "gravy" (chicken soupie) to the top of pieces for a while with a couple of mine. Slowly decrease the crumbles as they get used to their new meats. Avery chewing for a while then looking for other pieces is no big deal. He is just being a little lazy, but that isn't uncommon. Who wants to do more work when you can do less! lol. Funny guy doesn't realize he really isn't doing less in the end. (giggle)
Keep up the good work! Adding chunks to every meal will get F&A eating pieces along with Kimble!
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Post by mjbez on May 12, 2014 0:13:45 GMT -5
How's it going?
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Post by kraesmom on May 12, 2014 1:28:41 GMT -5
About the same. F&A seem to be getting their winter coats now . I've never seen them so soft and silky. This is their first full coat change since the switch. The menu hasn't really changed for F&A, as I packaged up three weeks worth last time. Kimble has had his modified tho. He is not eating as much now, so when I put in a portion, he's getting a day's worth now. Consequently, he is eating only once per day unless it is organ day. I will have to revamp his plan with that in mind...plus, he now has quail, cavvy, and mouse to include. As those have organs, I'm guessing I can back them all down to organs twice a week, yes? He is currently munching (loudly) on bone in goat, although I count it as boneless because the bones aren't edible.
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Post by mjbez on May 12, 2014 22:14:30 GMT -5
How often do you plan on feeding the whole prey? If a couple times a week you can go down to 2x a week. 2 of your meals a week is like one heart and one organ meal in total, which is enough with a couple meals of whole prey. F&A definitely don't need more than that with all their fdr and comraw.
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Post by kraesmom on May 12, 2014 23:45:14 GMT -5
Well crap! I typed a bit post and hit submit earlier. Then I lost my connection. I hoped it went through, but apparently not. And yes, probably at least two whole prey meals per week with the quail and mice. That's not even considering the cavvy. (Although still not sure I want to do those again after the current 10 meals are gone)
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Post by kraesmom on May 13, 2014 20:45:58 GMT -5
OMG OMG OMG!!! I brought a quail for Kimble, and Avery grabbed it and ran under the dresser, where he is happily gnawing the legs off! I'm so proud!!!
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Post by kraesmom on May 14, 2014 22:08:33 GMT -5
State of the Business: everyone has been eating 100% raw for 6 mos. Kimble eats chicken, quail, mice, pheasant, rabbit, goat, turkey, organs, heart, gizzards. He is less than enthusiastic about beef, pork, lamb lung, and cavvy. Foster and Avery eat ground chicken, pheasant, rabbit, turkey, goat, organ/heart mix, duck, beef/salmon...less thrilled with plain beef, & lamb lung. They eat small pieces and strips of chicken, beef, and goat. Avery ate the legs off a quail this week! :banana: We are still working up to large chunks and bone in pieces. Both have great energy, wonderful fur, & have gained weight. :boing: I'm feeling good about things, as they are getting a well rounded diet, are healthy, and I understand how to adapt the diet to regulate poops. Honestly, while f&a still have a way to go for full frankenprey, even if they never get there, I'm okay with where they are. I'm still motivated to keep trying though, if for nothing else but to save me from tooth brushing and extended prep time for two separate meals. I bought another bin this week to use as a second feeding den. I'll get it modified this weekend and see if that makes any difference. In short, we are in a good place that is sustainable over the long haul.
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Post by kraesmom on May 15, 2014 0:40:38 GMT -5
Avery finally woke up. He is 2 lb 10.8 oz
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Post by mjbez on May 15, 2014 12:51:11 GMT -5
I was so excited to hear that avery ate some Quail! That is a really good step. Their variety is awesome. And wow. . 6 months. Very good job on your part for sticking to it. It's all about the human being Persistent. .. Very very Persistent considering how stubborn little fuzz butts can be!! Don't be afraid to push Foster and avery a little bit more. Decrease the com raw and increase the pieces. Try adding a couple bigger pieces. Ya never know, maybe avery would like them. I was shocked to find out that my oldest, kyra, who was the most stubborn with the soupie phase actually preferred whole pieces.
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Post by kraesmom on May 15, 2014 14:17:29 GMT -5
I have, on occasion lately, put some larger pieces & strips in with just a tiny, tiny bit of ground (MPC ground, not pet store ground) to see if I can trick them into eating it. I figured hey...they're healthy, so they aren't going to have BG issues or *starve* if they choose to skip the meal rather than work harder on pieces. Most of the time, they leave all the medium/large pieces untouched, but the last couple of evenings that I did it, all but the larger pieces are gone by morning. I'm not sure WHO is eating them, but somebody is, and they've all gained weight, so nobody is going hungry for long.
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Post by mjbez on May 16, 2014 21:50:10 GMT -5
That's really good. Keep adding those larger pieces. :thumbsup:
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Post by kraesmom on May 16, 2014 23:10:30 GMT -5
Friday is my half day at work, so today I threw three quail into the cage before I left. Avery ate the legs off one, Foster put the head of that one in his mouth, but didn't seem to know what to do from there. He let go. Kimble ate the legs off the other two and then stashed them. I don't know who ate what, but all that was left by the time I got home was part of a rib cage. For dinner, I gave Kimble a mouse and F&A got half goat strips and half ground beef with no FDR. Nobody seemed particularly hungry. Either they were hoping for something else, or they all had some quail.
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