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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 13:11:07 GMT -5
I know exactly how you feel. I just got my third girl myself. Pixie is much more laid back and chill. She'll play, but she enjoys napping and chilling around. Trixie is crazy and a spazz. Now I have Dixie who helps keep Trixie company when Pixie is sleeping and encourages Pixie to play more. Ferrets are amazing little critters and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 13:32:04 GMT -5
Me either. I got Jasmine from petco, I am a sucker for thinking i can provide for them better than petco can and I just saw they are on sale now so I am really tempted but they are still $109 even on sale.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 13:33:42 GMT -5
That is so funny - Dixie (my newbie) was on sale at petco! She was $109 as well.
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 13:37:25 GMT -5
That is funny. I can see myself with a third one here shortly after-all my husband says I always bring an animal home when he is away and he will be away next weekend. I wouldn't want to disappoint him by not bringing another animal home. If I did bring another one home though what would I do about feeding?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 13:52:55 GMT -5
It depends a lot of the age of the pet. If you bring home a kit, go straight to small meat slivers and bone in meats. Skip the soup stage. Most kits will take to raw VERY easily and are a piece of cake to switch. Dixie has been home a week and she is eating everything I put in front of her. This weekend in organ day, so we'll see how that goes Just a warning, kits eat a LOT. With 2 ferrets, they ate about 6-8 oz a day. When I added Dixie, I went through a lb of ground turkey in ONE day. So just be aware that they eat so much as babies. Now, if you bring home an older ferret (like Jasmine's age) you can try meat chunks, and if he/she doesn't feel it, you can scruff and stuff the meat slivers, bread them in some kibble, try freeze dried soup, etc. Or just start her wherever your other two are. If they're still on soup, you can start there so they are all on the same level. Sometimes I find it easier than preparing several different meals. But it's really up to you and how fast you want to go
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 13:58:24 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 14:05:44 GMT -5
Boy vs girl doesn't really make a different. Boys tend to be a bit larger (though marshall boys can be just as tiny) and can eat more. But really just pick a ferret that gets along with your two and that clicks with you. My girls LOVED Dixie at the store, so she is who we bought. I highly recommend bringing your two into the store to help you pick out a new ferret.
and YES! They can definitely show your girls how to do it. Monkey see, monkey do! Sometimes it takes a little friendly competition at the food bowl to encourage them to eat.
Ferret math is indeed exciting!
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 14:08:06 GMT -5
I never thought of bringing the girls into the store, that is a great idea. Thanks so much. I just saw Jesse go up to the dish and eat some of the soup by herself and so did Jasmine. This is great. ;D ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 14:28:49 GMT -5
Awesome! I am so happy they are getting the hang of it! They will be munching on bone in no time!!! Once they are comfortable eating the soups with confidence, you can start adding a few meat slivers into the soups. Make sure to watch the stools are anything too weird, but they will be more watery than on kibble. They can also have some tummy upsets, because raw digests faster than kibble.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 12, 2011 15:12:29 GMT -5
It sounds like it's going fairly well so far! And you're thinking of adding to your business? Babies can always liven things up. Just be careful, though. I've got 9 ferrets, 3 dominant females, and so 3 play groups Taking them in to the store is a good idea, as long as you are prepared for the chance of ear mites, etc. Not all kits have them, but some stores don't watch for that as well as others Go and take a look at the kits, handle them, check out their ears, eyes, etc. Make sure they appear healthy, THEN bring in your girls. With Jesse, she'll likely start to relax and come out of her shell once she realizes she's not going anywhere
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 17:30:47 GMT -5
Well, the whole bowl is empty now and I am about to fill it up with the rest of what I made this morning that is is the fridge. Both girls are eating it really well but Jesse has been going over to the bowl the most. I am going to make even more tomorrow morning since I know they are liking it so much. That is great advice about the store, I will check out the ferrets first and then bring the girls in. I will let you guys know tomorrow how my girls do tonight. I just put more soup in the cage and jesse is chowing down still. I cant believe how much she is eating, she never eats this much. Do you think it is safe not to put the kibble back in the cage tonight? Have a good night.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 17:54:40 GMT -5
I think you can take the kibble out. Leave some soup in the bowl overnight and then see how much is left in the AM.
Yeah, when they first switch to raw, they really chow down. Kinda like making up for lost time. Definitely keep up with the soups. You can make it a bit thicker next time, and possibly add some chicken slivers and see what they do with them.
I'm sooo happy for you and your girls. Taking their weight down now will be a good reference for you to have :-)
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 18:04:46 GMT -5
Ok, I'll leave the kibble out tonight and if they finish the rest of the soup before I go to bed I will just make up a small batch to get them through the night. I am so proud that they are eating it so well. I am also so excited to be looking for another one soon. That is all I am going to be thinking about all week now .
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 18:11:11 GMT -5
Good idea I find that some like to snack in the middle of the night, so I try to always have food in the bowl. It seems that once they like freeze dried soup, it's a bit easier to switch to fully raw soup and raw slivers. Plus, freeze dried is a great option to have. I also use it to entice my girls to eat new meats. I bread the new meat in freeze dried, and it helps get them interested in it. Another handy tool is some type of oil. I use extra virgin olive oil, but fish oils are good too. Some use a mix of the two. My girls love the oil and it helps prevent hairballs and ulcers.
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Post by teric506 on Mar 12, 2011 18:22:13 GMT -5
I have some ferretone that i mixed in with their soup because I don't have olive oil and the ferritone has the same consistency as oil. I will probably keep the freeze dried stuff around for a little while, at least until they are eating meat with bone. The freeze dried that I have has the bone and organs in with the meat so I know they are getting the right balance now while I am switching them. When I start adding slivers on chicken I will add it to the freeze dried soup I am making now since they like it so much. Hopefully when I get the new kit he or she will be easy to switch over.
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