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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 16:25:42 GMT -5
Yes I did speak to him a few weeks back, he said because I fed kibble when I got them its a case of switching back but because Ollie was not eating very much when young it could be difficult and possibly risky. He said that he was picky when he was a kit, this is prob why he was so underweight and unwell it took me a while to get him eating and to put the weight on back then.
I have just put crushed kibble on top of the meat and some warm water, Ollie turned his nose up and started pacing up,and down, so I have put a tiny bowl of kibble in to see if he is actually hungry and he's gone straight to the kibble and is eating like there no tomorrow. I don't think he was holding out for the kibble tonight as he last two night I have not put in back in, but I'm am concerned as this would have been the third night without food for him and he appears to already be on the thinner side.
Have you ever come across a ferret that just won't switch ?
Least Iv got one eating it and in the future will have others one it.
I will keep trying with Ollie but think as he won't eat it for the third night I should give him some kibble because I don't want him to get sick, but I won't give up.
I am going to place my order Tom this is what I am planning on getting
Minced chicken
Minced beef
Minced lamb
Minced turkey
Minced heart
Chicken wings - will keep trying these - they have duck wings but not sure if to try these instead of chicken wings or get both ? Chicken necks - not had these before but thought they might be worth trying
Taurine powder - just in case they don't eat the hearts
Is there anything else you think I need for a good balanced menu from Raw 2 go ?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 17:09:15 GMT -5
That sounds like a really good mix to make a nice balanced menu! The duck I suggested just for the change, if the chicken is cheaper you can stick with that until they are eating the BI better. I think the taurine powder is a good idea. It was suggested to give 250 mg per ferret per raw meal until they are eating the heart, so let's start that when you get it in.
Ollie is just a stinker! Maybe the scruff and stuff to show him it's food? I thought the kibble sprinkled on top would make it smell like food at least. Little turd. Is there anything else he LOVES? Oils? Treats? We can try mixing or tricking him into eating it maybe.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 17:20:04 GMT -5
Great I will order the above. I was surprised he turned his nose up with the kibble on top, I also mixed a little raw egg with it as he loves egg but still he wouldn't touch it, he's so stubborn, maybe I should mix more kibble in than meat to start off with see if that makes any difference, I will try the stuff and scruff first though and see if this works, I really would like them both on raw as makes life easier . He loves the freeze dried treats I get from Germany, but these are expensive so I usually use them as a treat, he like ferretone oil but it's not very good for ferrets I think it has sugars in it :-( I could see if I can find any just to get him onto the meat. I have got some salmon oil which I bought after reading on here its ok to give, but Ollie doesn't like it!! Lol!! Oscar wasn't impressed with the kibble on the meat, he looked at me as if to say yuk you've ruined my meal lol! Iv just come across some dried chicken treats on the barf website, I am assuming they are raw, if they are would these be a healthy thing to feed as a treat as it would help with there teeth ?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 5:01:07 GMT -5
Iv just phoned barf and there chewy treats are raw dried, they said there's nothing added to them so should be good to feed ferrets ? The link below shows all there treats, they do raw deride chicken wings too. www.barfpetfoods.co.uk/dog-treats/chews.html?p=4
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 15:02:12 GMT -5
Great I will order the above.
I was surprised he turned his nose up with the kibble on top, I also mixed a little raw egg with it as he loves egg but still he wouldn't touch it, he's so stubborn, maybe I should mix more kibble in than meat to start off with see if that makes any difference, I will try the stuff and scruff first though and see if this works, I really would like them both on raw as makes life easier .
We want to use as little kibble as possible, but if a small amount of it sprinkled on top isn't working, try mixing 50/50 raw/kibble. Wet the kibble with warm water first and get it mushy and then mix it with raw. If he eats that then you can slowly decrease the amount of kibble. If he wont eat it, it might be because the kibble is mush, so try it dry (although the raw is going to wet it down...) or you can try more kibble/less raw and then slowly take out the kibble and increase the raw. Does that make sense? He loves the freeze dried treats I get from Germany, but these are expensive so I usually use them as a treat, he like ferretone oil but it's not very good for ferrets I think it has sugars in it :-( I could see if I can find any just to get him onto the meat.
The census on ferretone was that it was an okay OCCASIONAL treat for training or what not, but in general not good to use. Sometimes they like Olive oil (the kind you cook with). I have got some salmon oil which I bought after reading on here its ok to give, but Ollie doesn't like it!! Lol!!
Yep, he's a brat! Totally sounds like my Oliver... he's also very picky. Oscar wasn't impressed with the kibble on the meat, he looked at me as if to say yuk you've ruined my meal lol!
Poor Oscar! You can maybe leave some 'normal' for him. Ollie isn't gonna eat it anyhow... Iv just come across some dried chicken treats on the barf website, I am assuming they are raw, if they are would these be a healthy thing to feed as a treat as it would help with there teeth ?
Barf, what a weird name for anything a living creature is going to consume!
And yeah, they look good to feed for a treat. I am not positive that they will help with the teeth, but couldn't hurt. I think the reason the BI is good for teeth cleaning is the bones will scrape off all the gunk. The gizzards are so rubbery that they kinda do the same thing.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 15:10:31 GMT -5
I am going to try chicken mince just to check as it might be Ollie doesn't like the beef and heart mince as he hates hearts, oscars not keen on hearts either. If this isn't the case I will try kibble/ raw mixed and see if that works.
Ok great I will order some treats from barf, they do dried chicken wings which might be good to try. I'm haven't managed to find gizzards as yet, I might try the butchers or supermarkets.
Yes I should have put a separate bowl for Oscar because this morning only one mouthful was gone, I think the kibble mixed and it being beef and heart didn't go down well for Oscar.
I'm only putting 4oz in again tonight to see if its all eaten as its chicken tonight, I hoping Ollie will a least try it as he likes dried chicken.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 15:26:28 GMT -5
That sounds good, beef does tend to be harder to get a picky ferret to eat at times. Mine are not too keen on it either, but I 'touch love' them into it. If the chicken goes over well tonight, then we know to maybe hold off on the beef until we get them eating the raw more regular and then introduce it back in. If you can't find the gizzards, it's not the end of the world, just another good option for teeth and they usually really love them! USUALLY! haha
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 15:34:46 GMT -5
I think that's a good idea as I'm sure it's the beef there not keen on or it could be the hearts mixed in with the beef, I think also I made the mistake of introducing all 4 proteins at once This was probably to much for Ollie and possibly put him off
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 15:37:35 GMT -5
Could be. Some do fine (Oscar) and others not so much (Ollie), but all you have to do is take a step back to move forward. Also, I forgot to tell you last night! The other mentors think Ollie is definitely on the thin side, but not unhealthy thin. They said they think he is just a greyhound body type and that is just how he is gonna be. :0) So, I think as long as he doesn't drop weight suddenly or anything that you can worry just a little less
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 15:53:53 GMT -5
Oh that's good he has so much energy and has always been slim, he was slimmer than his brother too!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 16:02:08 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 16:13:17 GMT -5
Yes that does look just like Ollie and he is also very quick! Good news!!! I just put 4oz of chicken and turkey meat in Ollie has eaten the whole lot!!!! Oscar went to bed So I think this confirms he doesn't like the beef and heart, so I will need to work out if its the heart that's mixed in that he doesn't like or if its the beef So should I had another bowl tonight considering Oscar didn't get a look in
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 16:15:05 GMT -5
I think Oscar is probably a bulldog shape looking at the pictures, he's quite stocky
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 16:18:21 GMT -5
I think Oscar is probably a bulldog shape looking at the pictures, he's quite stocky That was my initial guess too
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2014 16:25:00 GMT -5
Yes that does look just like Ollie and he is also very quick!
He has that LOOOOONG tail too! lol Good news!!! I just put 4oz of chicken and turkey meat in Ollie has eaten the whole lot!!!! Oscar went to bed
:boing: YAY!!! That is a good amount too! So now we know it is the beef and/or heart he isn't keen on! When you get the taurine in, just be sure to give them that supplement and we will work towards the things he doesn't like when we have him thinking raw is better than kibble! I am so relieved! haha So I think this confirms he doesn't like the beef and heart, so I will need to work out if its the heart that's mixed in that he doesn't like or if its the beef
You ordered some heart right? I think you did... so yes, you can try giving a meal of that and see if its the heart or the beef. Mine love heart, of any kind, and not so much any cut of beef, so by guess is it's the beef that he doesn't like. Although, who knows with Ollie anymore huh So should I had another bowl tonight considering Oscar didn't get a look in
Yes, definitely give more for poop Oscar. Frankly, maybe Ollie will eat more too. Funny that they will eat the chicken grinds, but not the whole wing... lazy ferrets
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