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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 8:48:43 GMT -5
ok I went out and bought chicken wings but I put them in the freezer because I think it is too early to start with those. I also got stella & chewy's dehydrated chicken stuff. I already have 6 bags of uncle jims duck soup so I took half of the chicken patty and mixed in some water and a teaspoon of the duck soup stuff. It was about the consistency of gravy when it was all mixed together. Jesse licked most of the gravy and left the rest and Jasmine didnt really do anything with it. I decided to put it on top of their kibble before I went to bed and this morning I noticed they ate around it. So now I am not sure what to do.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 10:57:22 GMT -5
I posted in the other thread about kibble It would probably be easier to track the progress if we keep it all in one thread, so I'll repost here. Okay, so I would start with hand and spoon feedings. This can get very messy, so have a towel handy I'm not exactly sure what the uncle jim's duck soup is so maybe someone else can pop in on that. Anyway, take one ferret and a towel. Get some of the soup on your finger and dab it on their nose. Let them lick it off. Repeat a couple times. If they seem to like it, try using a spoon and letting them lick it off the spoon. After a couple times, some will realize they really like it! Others will take more time. One thing you can do is remove the kibble either during the night (or day, doesn't matter) and they will be very hungry at in the morning. Then try the hand/spoon feedings with the soup. If they don't go for it hungry, I'd give them their kibble back until they realize they like it. Also, I would try to blend it so that it is similar to yogurt, maybe a bit thinner. That way, they can't just lick the gravy, they have to actually to taste the good stuff.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 12, 2011 11:02:25 GMT -5
I'll do the same, and then delete the other thread so we can keep this on track: First, it would help if we knew which direction you want to take this in. Are they going to be fully raw fed? Supplemental only? Freeze dried fed with the odd wing thrown in? Either direction, the very beginning is the same. Make your duck soup as per normal, and add in a tiny amount of either the S&C patty reconstituted and mushed up really well, or puree a bit of raw meat. Chicken is the usual starter meat. Start offering them some from your finger, then a spoon, and finally from a dish And yes, you can remove the kibble a few hours before offering the soup, but for right now, I'd put it back in afterwards. Until they are eating enough raw soup/mush, they'll need the kibble for at least 10-12 hours of the day.
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 11:03:29 GMT -5
Ok sorry, I'll just keep posting to this thread. I blended the S&C chicken stuff with some water, pumpkin and ferritone until it was the consistency of yogurt like you said and Jasmine did ok with the finger, spoon and the bowl. Jesse will be a little more of a problem I think. She will only take a tiny bit by the finger but I'll keep trying. I will see how they do today and maybe I will give the kibble back tonight when I go to bed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 11:06:59 GMT -5
That is great news!!! Just her trying it is good progress! Some ferrets will refuse and gag and all sorts of childish nonsense! You should already feel proud. If Jesse is willing to taste it, that is also a great start! Since they are still on kibble it could just be she isn't too hungry at the moment.
Jasmine is 6 months old, so she is much less imprinted on food. She will probably be the easiest to switch. Jesse is older, imprinted on food, so she will be a bit more tricky.
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 11:07:36 GMT -5
Thank you Sherry, Eventually I would like them to eat only raw. While I am doing these first steps I am going to stock up on other meats so I am ready when we start with just raw meat. It looks like Jasmine is not going to be too much trouble with that, but I am not sure about Jesse yet.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 12, 2011 11:12:57 GMT -5
We'll get them there Ok, since you are going to full raw, I'd really get them used to both the freeze dried, as well as raw bits. Once you have them eating the rehydrated freeze dried, start adding slivers of chicken meat to it. Since there's already a texture to the f.d., it shouldn't be too much trouble. And it's a good idea to have them used to an alternate in case someone else needs to look after them while you're away.
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 11:48:04 GMT -5
Yay, I got both of them eating it from the bowl. I made it thinner and then tried Jesse in my lap with my finger, then the spoon and then I put her in the cage and put some from the bowl on her nose and showed her the bowl. Then she took some from the bowl and went and laid down. Right now I have the soup in one of their food bowls. Can I leave it in there all day without it spoiling? I don't have any kibble in there hoping the more hungry they get the more they will drink. I am a proud momma right now. I just hope they continue to eat it. How much of the soup should they be eating a day? When I made it I only used probably a patty and a half of the Stella & Chewy's with a tablespoon of pumpkin and some water. It made enough to almost fill their food dish. I wanted to make a small batch at first but now I am not sure how much to make and if I am using enough of the chicken patties.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 12, 2011 11:51:57 GMT -5
My males eat about 2-5 oz per day, my females from 1-3 ounces on average. So, go with that for now. As for how long it stays in? I'd say it should be good for about 6-8 hours, like a mush. They won't eat it if it's bad anyway. And that's a LOT of pumpkin ;D I'd cut it down to about 1/2 tsp each per day
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 11:52:42 GMT -5
Congrats!!! To your questions. The soup will be good for about 4-6 hours, depending on the temperature. Some will still eat it after that, but mine usually snub it once it starts browning. What I do is usually leave a small amount in the bowl and put the rest in a sealed container in the fridge. I add more if they finish what's in the bowl. Feeding amounts: holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=questions&action=display&thread=85Just so you get an idea, 1 oz is about 2 tbsp.
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 12:15:08 GMT -5
ok, so I will reduce the pumpkin and take some of the food out of the bowl and put it in the fridge because there is a lot in the bowl. Should I give them a couple days to get used to the soup before I add little slivers of raw chicken to it? Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it. I dont think I will be able to do this by myself. I want to make sure I am giving my girls the best and the right portions and with all of the reading I have done so far I am feeling a little bit confused about the ratios of meat and organs and bones. Right now I feel great that I have been able to get them to eat some of the soup but have a feeling this is going to be the easy part.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 12:25:21 GMT -5
I think that you should definitely give them a couple days to get used to the soup. Once they are eating that well, you can remove the kibble fully. Hunger is a great motivator to try new things The freeze dried is nice because it has bone organ and meat all in proper proportions. But whole raw meats isn't that difficult to do We are more than happy to help you and your girls! Here is a nice post that summarizes raw. holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=meat&action=display&thread=55
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 12:55:18 GMT -5
i forgot to post pictures of my girls. The first is jasmine running away with a plate and the second is of Jesse doing what she does best. I am hoping the raw diet will perk her up a little bit. I am going to weigh them both tonight so I can keep track while I am transitioning them. I worry more about Jesse because she is so skinny to begin with.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 12:59:35 GMT -5
Your Jasmine looks a bit like my Trixie (champange color). I love Jesse's dark nose!! Very cute girls
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 13:06:50 GMT -5
They are my pride and joys. I rescued she had been bounced around so much and was about to be bounced around again so I took her in, she was so skinny and still is but at least she will stay with me forever. She sleeps a lot and doesn't really play like Jasmine does, but that's ok. Jasmine is full of urine and vinegar and sometimes I feel bad for her because she tries to play with Jesse and Jesse just doesn't play. I have thought of getting a third one that has a personality more like jasmines so she has a playmate but I am not sure if I could handle three and don't have enough money right now to but another one. But I just love my girls.
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