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Post by kraesmom on Feb 18, 2014 12:16:10 GMT -5
Someone, Avery I think, appears to be sensitive to chicken. Every time I feed them chicken, I'm starting to notice mucousy poops. Of course, I also gave them their first taste of duck last night, so it could be unfamiliar protein. Energy levels seem great. I'll keep an eye on it.
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 18, 2014 12:39:32 GMT -5
...and Kimble ate several chunks of turkey heart.
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Post by mjbez on Feb 18, 2014 19:28:36 GMT -5
Alright, Im back in action I have moved in (for the most part) so should be able to check in regularly. Im really glad that Kimble is eating the turkey heart! Keep an eye on the poops, keep notes of what you feed when and then notes of when you are noticing the funky poops. The new protein can definitely do that so I wouldn't be too alarmed yet. Lets just keep an eye on it. Otherwise, how is everything going?
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 18, 2014 20:29:29 GMT -5
Well, it could be better. I've taken a step back with Foster and Avery. They weren't eating well, approaching each dish with the same wariness with which I approach "chocolate chip" cookies. I've gotten raisin cookies , masquerading as chocolate chips one too many times. They just wanted to eat, without encountering land mines of beef, pork, or chicken. So I've temporarily suspended the mince/pieces until they get back to eating well again. On the up side, Avery has decided that he'll try anything I feed him if I'm holding him. Doesn't mean he'll actually EAT it, but at least he'll try. Yesterday, I was giving Kimble some gizzards, and I offered one to Avery. He took it! ...under my dresser. I have no idea if it is still there or not, I guess I'll find out if there is a stench that develops. lol I was just happy he didn't lick once and then run off. He's my boy that likes to bite and chew, so I think they'd be perfect for him. Foster is my difficult child. He will scale furniture to get to the cat kibble (which is actually the kitten,fert mix I used to feed him). He does like his raw breakfast, but doesn't eat well for dinner usually. When he's into it though, he closes his eyes, flattens his ears, and eats enthusiastically. I've got CGF duck thawing for tonite. It has a rather uh..pungent odor. I hope it is supposed to smell like that! Anyway, yeah, small victories, and a bit of a step back. I'm sure I could probably push it more, but then they start to lose weight and they aren't very big to begin with! lol
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 20, 2014 21:24:13 GMT -5
I'm a bit proud and a bit grossed out. I bought some frozen mice for the snake tonite, and they had been...uh...recently frozen. A couple of them were barely larger than hoppers, so I defrosted one. Foster and Kimble took turns stashing that poor thing, but didn't seem to know that it wasn't a toy. So i ...gulp...cut it open. *shudder* and all of a sudden, AVERY got interested! He pulled it out of the den and shook it as though he was killing it! I don't know if they will eat it or not, but if Kimble will, I'll be a bit less worried about his aversion to organs.
Also: there have been no more runny or slimy poops. Ive not given the big boys any chicken for a few days. I gave them some for dinner tonight, so we'll see if the yucky poops come back.
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Post by mjbez on Feb 21, 2014 22:02:31 GMT -5
Oh the mouse is interesting! It would be awesome if they will all eventually try it. With Foster and Avery I don't want you to cut out the pieces from their diet all together. Just cut back on the amount if you are finding they are not eating enough. I think keeping them used to chewing the pieces, even if it is less, is important. How many pieces do you figure was in their comraw? It sounds like the amount might have been increased a little too quick for them. What size are they currently able to eat? I'm glad poops are getting better. But every time they try something new don't be alarmed if they are a little funky for a day or so.
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 21, 2014 22:29:12 GMT -5
I was using pcs that were 1/4" x 1/4" x 3/8" or so. I eventually was using about 3 oz commercial and 1 oz pcs. I've got organs on the menu tomorrow morning, but will try ground with a few pcs again for dinner.
I started using a food diary app to track menu and symptoms. I thought I could export to a common format and paste here, but can't seem to figure out how. Sigh.
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Post by mjbez on Feb 21, 2014 22:50:06 GMT -5
Oh, if you could somehow figure out how to do that that would be really awesome! Try even .5 oz pcs and 3.5 oz comm. Wait to increase until they are readily accepting the pieces and eating their entire meal. Is it possible they are losing weight for spring? My boy Zeke just blew his beautiful coat and has lost his winter weight.
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 21, 2014 22:59:54 GMT -5
I dunno...up until now, Avery has had his seasons mixed up. Neither seems to be losing any fur yet. Then again, it has been pretty consistently cold here (not that they really feel it...68 during the day and 65 at note in the house) but I have been trying to keep the lighting subdued when it is dark out. Not sure if it really matters for season to them
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 22, 2014 21:24:58 GMT -5
Both Foster and Avery are down several ounces. Kimble, on the other hand, is up to nearly 2 lb!
I put in lamb with 12 small pieces of diced beef. I'll check to see how they did later.
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Post by mjbez on Feb 22, 2014 22:10:41 GMT -5
Definitely keep an eye on their weights. Weigh then once a day to two days. Please keep me updated on this. It's Ok to take a step back. We don't necessarily want to go right back to square one but we need to not push them too fast that they are losing weight. Can you post this information for me tomorrow: 1. Ferret's name: 2. Ferret's weight: 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. 4. Stools on various proteins. 5. Activity levels: 6. Weekly menu:
(I took this format from the mentoring sign up page. I want to keep everybody a little more separate since Avery and Foster have lost some weight.) I am glad Kimble is doing well. Please fill out the questions for him as well as I would like to see his menu. Every Sunday I would like this filled out. **With the exception of Kimble and Avery - I would like to see their weights every 2-3 days until they gain a little back. I only want you to increase the amount of pieces once they gain.
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 22, 2014 23:01:10 GMT -5
The weight they have lost, most of it has occurred since going back to "no pieces" status. And the two of them have nearly polished off every three ounce meal that I've given. If they eat everything, I mix up another ounce or so of their fave freeze dried just to ensure nobody is still hungry.
Nobody ate the mouse. It got moved from place to place, but the entrails and liver were still attached and dried out the next day, so I flushed it. What a waste of a little life.
I forgot to thaw the organs, so that has been moved to tomorrow.
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 23, 2014 11:54:09 GMT -5
Good news to report on all fronts!
They asked for a snack as I was going to bed last night and they ate another 2/3 of a full meal. The weight loss seems to have stopped and they have bounced up a couple of tenths of an ounce since yesterday. Also, EVERYONE (including Kimble) ate their share of the three cubes of organ this morning (still using the half chicken liver/half pig brain puree). :boing:
Menu to come
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 23, 2014 12:11:49 GMT -5
1. Ferret's name:Foster 2. Ferret's weight: 2 lb 2.28oz (-1.3 oz overall) 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. 1.5 oz 4. Stools on various proteins. Unknown as to which poops are which 5. Activity levels: excellent. Can now jump from a clothes basket to the top of my long dresser. 1. Ferret's name: Avery 2. Ferret's weight: 2 lb 7.0 oz(- 2.1 oz) 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: 1.5 oz 4. Stools on various proteins. Unknown as to which poops are which. I think Avery is the one with the seedy poops. 5. Activity levels: excellent 6. Weekly menu: same for Foster and Avery 1. Ferret's name:Kimble 2. Ferret's weight:2 lb 2.8 oz (+ 10.9 oz) 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. Unknown. He nibbles all day and night 4. Stools on various proteins. Good. They were a bit hard on Fri, so I gave him less bone and they evened out. I can still tell which are his because they are still smaller. 5. Activity levels: excellent 6. Weekly menu:
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Post by kraesmom on Feb 23, 2014 20:24:48 GMT -5
2/15/2014 10:43 PM Breakfast lamb. ate OK. seedy poops yesterday. Cornish hen 2/15/2014 10:44 PM Dinner organs. Avery ate some. kimble tried a bit, but didn't want to stay and eat "baby" food. right now, I hear him gnawing on Cornish hen,which I put in the den last night, still frozen. Foster has been sleeping this eve and hasn't found dinner yet. 2/17/2014 11:24 PM Breakfast lamb; chicken back 2/17/2014 11:25 PM Dinner duck w/chicken and salmon baby ate turkey hearts and chicken gizzards. avery also picked up a gizzard and stashed it! 2/18/2014 10:11 PM Breakfast pheasant 3oz 2/18/2014 10:14 PM Dinner venison 3oz; 5 chix gizzards 2/19/2014 10:01 PM Breakfast FDR turkey (one of their faces...ate nearly all 3 oz) 1/4 CGH, 3 gizzards 2/19/2014 10:02 PM Dinner ate nearly 3oz pheasant, their other fave. Kimble still has CGH left 2/19/2014 10:03 PM Symptoms poops soft, but all formed, no mucous. light brown 2/20/2014 8:38 AM Breakfast duck cgf 2/20/2014 6:15 PM Dinner chicken cgf; beef chunks and whole mouse 2/20/2014 11:47 AM Symptoms a couple hours after dinner there was a fresh yellow seedy poop. someone appears to be sensitive to chicken. 2/21/2014 12:47 AM Symptoms most poops were med brown and formed. there was one yellowish one that was seedy and somewhat soft, but formed. 2/21/2014 9:03 AM Breakfast 3 oz chicken/salmon FDR; 2/21/2014 10:12 PM Dinner 3oz lamb CGF... Foster and Avery ate EVERY BITE! I then gave them 1 oz turkey FDR. They ate a bit and left the rest. chicken backs 2/22/2014 11:13 AM Breakfast 3 oz duck; still has meat from last night 2/22/2014 6:42 PM Dinner 3 oz lamb w/12 pcs beef; 3 gizzards 2/23/2014 1:12 AM Snack ate nearly 3 more oz of FDR chicken/salmon; kimble got 1/4 cgh 2/23/2014 11:04 AM Breakfast 3 cubes organs (everybody ate) and 3 oz CGF pheasant 2/23/2014 8:55 PM 3 oz duck with 18 pcs beef; chicken back
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