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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 1:39:09 GMT -5
ALright and no I didn't blend the CGH into liquid. It's just minced into small pieces with bone. So far.... they didn't take to it well lmao
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Post by gfountain on Nov 25, 2014 9:39:00 GMT -5
Ah, OK. So start adding in just a couple of bites at a time to their meals. Again, I would freeze it in ice cubes so you can thaw just what you need at the time. Bone is the next BIG hurdle after just getting them to eat the raw. Getting them to accept the bone could take a while, especially with Chanel's jaw problem, so just be patient and keep trying. Make sure those bones are either small enough to go through their systems without chewing or large enough that they HAVE to chew them.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 13:05:16 GMT -5
is there an in between that? for the bone. I hope my pieces are fine
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Post by gfountain on Nov 25, 2014 15:06:21 GMT -5
(copy/paste) My problem is that my ferrets started to eat chicken chunks, chicken hearts,and chicken liver fairly well and so I decided to get some cornish game hen and I found some pork heart...well I blended it up (it's not liquid or soup it's minced) with the bone.....and they won't touch the stuff. Even with powder kibble(!!) mixed in and with a little warm water. It's like starting all over again and I'm extremely frustrated suddenly because I made a batch and they won't even try it! I thought I was doing so well....what should I do?
You ARE doing so well. But you've changed what they're used to again. Remember when you first started, how you had to teach them that the new smell/new taste/new texture wasn't poison? Well, you have to do it again. You've put something new in front of them that they've never had before; they don't know it's food. EVERY TIME you change something, a new taste or a new texture, you have to teach them that it's food. But take heart, it does get easier over time. So what to do? Go back to their usual chicken pieces, whatever size they're eating easily. Add a few (maybe 3 or 4) bites of the new stuff. Next meal give them their boring old chicken and add 5 or 6 bites of the new stuff. Next meal, 7 or 8... until they'll eat the new stuff by itself. You've added some bony bits now, so that's not only a new taste, it's also a new texture AND they'll have to learn to chew it. Expect this to take some time. And hand-feed them. It's the best way to insure that they're actually eating it, not stashing it, and you'll be able to tell if they're chewing the bone or just swallowing. Besides, it's great for bonding. As far as the size of your bony bits, if they're chopped, they're probably fine. Can you get a picture of them and post it?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2014 22:41:26 GMT -5
Alright great I got it now! Take my time, and baby steps. I think I will try again with bone later on after I've introduced a few different proteins. How was your Thanksgiving ^^?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2014 22:50:13 GMT -5
are these okay? edit: so this morning they both seem to pig out and ate 2 oz each of raw soupie, no kibble! I've learned that if I just dot Coco's nose/mouth with whatever I'm feeding, he slowly starts to dig in.
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Post by gfountain on Dec 1, 2014 14:01:02 GMT -5
I'm back.. sorry for the long delay. As usual, I'm at work and can't see your images so I'll check them when I get home tonight. At this point, since they're eating less soup and more slivers/chunks, it's more critical to get them eating bone than other proteins. Ideally, we can work on both at the same time, but I'm really more concerned with the bone right now.
I'm so proud of Coco learning to dig in on his own! How is Chanel doing with the chunks with his jaw trouble? Are his poops still looking OK?
Edit: Pictures look good! How are their weights, still stable?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 17:22:13 GMT -5
gfountainNo worries. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving To me they are both looking a little heavier plus when I hold them they seem more fatter too. (I'm sorry do I have to record their weights, it's such a pain! LOL .__.;; ) Happy to say both their poops are looking much better. I guess it was Chanel's system getting used to new stuff. Chanel eats the chunks just fine, no problem! Alright, so how do I start them on the bone? I cut up some chicken wing with my shears.
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Post by gfountain on Dec 2, 2014 17:49:06 GMT -5
They will feel heavier and more solid because their kibble-fat is turning into muscle. And yes, you do need to record their weights at least once in a while, lol, even if it is a pain. But it shouldn't be that difficult. It takes me less than 4 minutes to weigh all 4 of mine. What kind of scale are you using?
Yay for better poops! It does take a while for their systems to adjust to the better food. And I'm so glad Chanel is not having problems with his jaw! So let's move forward with the bone. Have you already tried splitting the wing bone lengthwise? In the center section of a wing, there are 2 small bones. You want to CAREFULLY cut those little bones lengthwise to expose the marrow. It's difficult, but doable. Hopefully they will like the marrow and start chewing on the bone itself. If not, we'll smash. I have a feeling that Coco is going to want his smashed, lol.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 18:44:50 GMT -5
It's just your basic flat kitchen scale...I'm sorry I' m just being lazy. I took their weights just now
Coco - 2 lb, 3oz Chanel - 2 lb, 4oz
Alright so, you want me to cut it lengthwise...that means the two small bones have to be 2 long strips?
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Post by gfountain on Dec 2, 2014 20:54:57 GMT -5
Weights are good; Chanel I think is up an ounce or two isn't he? Are you still having trouble getting their weights, even with using oil on the tummy?
The bones will be in 4 long strips if you manage to cut them correctly. My first few times I absolutely butchered them and cut my hand in more than one place trying to cut them lengthwise. I've finally mastered the art of cutting wing bones and I don't need it any more, lol. Cutting that direction will expose all the yummy marrow and it will make long skinny pieces that should be easy for them to chew. Like I said, this tactic may not work but it won't hurt to try it before we resort to smashing.
OH! I just remembered that you ground a CGH! You said the bones are in small pieces right? You can start with that if you'd prefer. I'm not exactly sure what that CGH looks like now, but I'm envisioning a mass of smushed meat with small bony chunks in it. (Let me know if that's not right.) What you'll do with that is cut the meat/bone smush into pieces about the same size as what they're already eating willingly. Mix a few of those pieces into their meal. If they don't eat those pieces, try to hand-feed them each a piece with a little smushed bone in it.
Is Chanel an albino or a DEW, and is he actually white or does he have a lot of yellow? My DEW should be called a DEY (dark-eyed-yellow). He's the prettiest buttery yellow color and so soft and floofy that he feels like... umm, well, the softest, floofiest thing you can imagine, lol! I thought Slinkee and Minnie had luxurious coats, but Casper puts them to shame! His fur is denser than theirs and almost equals theirs in length now, whereas it was very short and coarse when he came home. Leon has just suddenly started getting softer also. I noticed a huge difference in him just overnight last week.. and he's growing hair on his belly - yayy!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2014 22:56:01 GMT -5
No, getting their weights is easy haha I'm sorry, like I said I'm being lazy about it. I place their whole body on the scale, all feet on there and let them lick at an oil capsule. And yes I'm glad to say they gained a little bit of weight! Is there a weight point they need to reach or are they fine how they are now? Oh okay, yeah I have some chicken wing bone chunks that I chopped up a couple day ago. I will try and give them that I'll let ya know how it goes! Chanel is albino~ lol a buttery ferret! That makes me giggle, he sounds adorable! I'm glad your ferrets are doing so well (because you are a good mommy) I just noticed Coco's fur is getting soft like Chanel's. It used to be coarse and wiry. And some people talk about grape tail...so I sniffed both their tails and I don't know, should they have the smell yet? LOL I just smell some strange...I don't know, I can't explain it, but it doesn't smell like grape to me. But it's not a bad smell either.
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Post by gfountain on Dec 2, 2014 23:04:25 GMT -5
No definite weight that they need to be. They're good where they are. We just want to keep an eye on weight especially during the switch to make sure they're getting enough nutrition. It's also good to know where they're weights are during different seasons so you don't worry about seasonal weight gain/loss.
Remember, tiny bone fragments in small chunks and only a few. Don't overwhelm them with a new texture all at once.
I need to get some more pictures of my kids and try to show the butter color. It's mostly on his belly and lower back. Well, and under his neck and arms, and around his ears, lol. It seems like their fur changes texture just overnight, doesn't it? Leon's was so drastic; it took me by surprise. I've been expecting the change (and hoping for it to be soon) but it still surprised me when it changed. Grape tail is awesome. It's more like grape koolaid rather than fresh grapes or grape juice, but my husband and mother say it smells more like strong honeysuckle. Casper and Leon are just beginning to smell a little bit grapey. Slinkee and Minnie are very strong. I don't really care whether we call it grape or honeysuckle or whatever, as long as it doesn't smell like kibble-ferret!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2014 12:50:19 GMT -5
Okay great I just didn't want them to be underweight. This morning I *tried* to give them bone fragments...they definitely wanted nothing to do with it lol so alright, small pieces and just a few like you say And I'd love to see a pic of Casper! I wonder if yours looks similar to Julesalot's Caillou Hehe now that's a buttery ferret (giggle) Did I mention how glad I am to have a mentor?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2014 22:55:11 GMT -5
I chopped up some bone pieces very small and hand-fed them mixed in with the raw. Chanel munched on most of it! I will keep trying. Is it alright to leave the bone pieces with the raw for a long time? They won't dry out, right?
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