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Post by kristin on Apr 20, 2011 10:16:22 GMT -5
My little Cricket + bowl of raw ground turkey neck = NOM NOM NOM!  Like a duck to water, as they say. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 10:49:07 GMT -5
Look delicious! Next step, chunky style to keep those chompers pearly white ;D. Congrats!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2011 11:00:20 GMT -5
Thats great! Don't you love it when it's easy   |
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Post by kristin on Apr 20, 2011 11:12:12 GMT -5
Next step, chunky style to keep those chompers pearly white ;D. Before I ground it up totally, I gave her some chunks. She was struggling with the bone a little, but trying her best. I'm going to mix some chunks in there each day so she can get her jaws nice and strong. After I saw she'd eat the chunks (or at least try) I gave her a whole chicken neck to see what she'd do with it. She grabbed it and started running all over the room with it! Cracking me up. She kept hiding it and then going to get it and carrying it around. I'm going to need to feed her in her cage from now on! Is it okay to let her work on the bone or do I need to make sure it's small enough for her little jaws? I didn't want her to choke on anything. She seems more than willing to have a go at it, but I was being the super cautious mama. Also is it okay to give her as much as she'll eat? It seems like such a large volume for a tiny body. But I know she's growing. Will she stop when she's full? Thanks for the help and support! |
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Post by Heather on Apr 20, 2011 12:39:13 GMT -5
Let her have the neck as a whole, she's less likely to choke on that. Any bones that you give will help make her jaws stronger...why am I feeding bone to Minion I. Chomp   Minion is running around with a partially eaten chicken leg. Isn't it fantastic when you don't have to fight with them to eat. Minion, decided to have variety yesterday and raid the cat's food. So, lamb and then bison was on the menu, he didn't care. Food is food. Do everything that you want for this little one to learn to eat now, that way everything that is raw is food. ciao |
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Post by taratee on Apr 20, 2011 12:49:01 GMT -5
turkey necks can be a bit intimidating. my guys still cant seem to power through one if you want to start easy chicken wings are my favorites
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Post by Heather on Apr 20, 2011 12:54:51 GMT -5
If you give that turkey neck a couple of smashes with a hammer they can power through that too. My guys surprised me last night by eating the "whole" chicken legs...bone too. There was part of a knuckle and a bit of the long bone...that was it. So, when they want to they can power into those harder bones too. My guys will have nothing to do with wing tips....well....except after being stashed for however long it takes to create "ferret jerky"   then and only then are they considered "eadible"...brats ciao |
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Post by taratee on Apr 20, 2011 12:56:55 GMT -5
my kids fight over the tip its tias favorite, but she likes feet and toes on everythign she goes bottom up
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Post by Sherry on Apr 20, 2011 18:25:46 GMT -5
Definitely start introducing her to a wide variety of meats/bones/organs now ;D So much easier than later If she can't eat it yet, she won't. But working at it makes for stronger jaws as well as eating it  |
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Post by kristin on Apr 22, 2011 13:33:07 GMT -5
I picked up some amazing things for Cricket last night. A cornish game hen, duck, calf liver, lamb, a whole chicken.
She is eating like a champ! She absolutely loves the meaty bones - shakes them and drags them around and eats the whole thing. I'm amazed at what she can do with that tiny mouth. Also amazed at the volume she's consuming!
I gave her a little bit of liver and some chicken chunks last night and she devoured them.
I'm going to Chinatown this weekend to see if I can find some interesting whole prey to try. There's a few places that sell fresh-killed poultry with the feathers still on. Maybe some chicks? I want to give her as much variety as I can while she's still impressionable.
Got her a hopper mouse last night (frozen) but haven't offered it yet.
Watching her eat these meals with such relish makes me feel bad that I denied my past ferrets the same pleasure -- and that most ferrets never get to eat naturally. Live and learn! I'm certainly doing things differently this time around.
Thanks for all the support and advice!
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Post by goingpostal on Apr 22, 2011 14:57:09 GMT -5
Watching her eat these meals with such relish makes me feel bad that I denied my past ferrets the same pleasure -- and that most ferrets never get to eat naturally. Live and learn! I'm certainly doing things differently this time around. It is fun watching them chow down, shaking and crunching isn't it! Sounds like you have good access to a variety too which is awesome. |
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Post by Sherry on Apr 22, 2011 19:40:24 GMT -5
I also love watching them enjoy their food  It's very satisfying! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 20:47:26 GMT -5
I find that when offering whole prey, it's easier to chop frozen/partially frozen in half. Not nearly as messy ;D chopping them in half is usually a good way to get them interested in it as food |
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Post by whipple on Apr 22, 2011 21:26:33 GMT -5
I gacve Siren a whole adult mouse the third day I had her, and she ate it like it was second nature. Some are just like that.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 22, 2011 22:17:41 GMT -5
Suki was the same way. Although she had had pinkies a couple of times- she went right at the adult mice when I finally put them in. The others were a different story |
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Minion is running around with a partially eaten chicken leg. Isn't it fantastic when you don't have to fight with them to eat. Minion, decided to have variety yesterday and raid the cat's food. So, lamb and then bison was on the menu, he didn't care. Food is food. Do everything that you want for this little one to learn to eat now, that way everything that is raw is food.
