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Post by kraesmom on Sept 21, 2015 13:00:32 GMT -5
I'd really like to get you graduated, since Fez has been 100% raw for a while now. Have you gone back and re-read the beginning switching docs? Do you have any questions? Can you post Fez's current diet and a list of ALL proteins that he will eat? I will pull some exam questions and let's do this!
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Post by kraesmom on Sept 21, 2015 14:14:07 GMT -5
1. What are some good emergency taurine sources if you run out of heart?
2. Your ferret is constipated and his stools are very hard and dry. What is this a sign of and how can you adjust to fix it?
3. Organs should consist of approximately how much liver, and how much "other" organ?
4. Is dark or white meat a better purchase choice? why?
5. How much can a ferrets appetite and weight change seasonally?
6. How many different proteins does a ferret need in a week at a Minimum?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 23:05:19 GMT -5
So the past few weeks, because chicken wings have been so expensive (I buy the ones that are already like cut in half, so it's got the tip part sort of and the thicker part, I don't know their actual names...), so I bought some whole chicken wings and didn't bother to cut them (no good knives right now), and bought a lot of turkey necks instead to use in place of chicken wings. I'm in quite a financial struggle right now, should hopefully be working itself out in the next few weeks though and I can get things back on track again...
His menu is:
Monday: Usually Monday's are: 1/2 chicken wing 1/2 chicken wing
But right now Monday's are the whole chicken wing, as one big piece, and he grazes on it all through the day.
Tuesday: Heart 1/2 chicken wing (right now turkey neck)
Wednesday: Turkey or beef meat, or gizzards Turkey neck
Thursday: Heart, liver, kidney 1/2 chicken wing (turkey neck)
Friday: Gizzards 1/2 chicken wing (turkey neck)
Saturday: Beef meat or gizzards Whole chicken wing
Sunday: Still finishing off whole chicken wing from Sat night's Liver & Kidney
It's not quite ideal right now, I want to get the chicken wings back in more than the turkey necks, and I need to buy some more beef and pork meat but I'm going to get through the turkey meat I've got right now. This is the poorest I've ever been, I'm moving out next week into a travel trailer on a friends property because I simply can't afford rent anymore where I am. So once that's all sorted and back on track I'll be getting his meats back again properly.
As for ALL the proteins he will eat: Chicken Turkey Beef CGH Duck Beef Pork
I think that's it.
Exam answers:
1. Tongue, or any other active muscle.
2. Stools too hard, too much bone-in-meal, I think? More muscle meats instead.
3. 1/2 liver 1/2 "other" organ mixture?
4. Hmm, I actually don't know this answer. Maybe dark meat? Isn't it fattier generally? I know people eat white meat as a leaner choice.
5. Appetite and weight can change a lot. Did we say up to a 70% weight loss change after winter? Also they eat much less etc. (Does this mean come this winter, he'll pack it on again?)
6. At least 3 different proteins a week.
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Post by kraesmom on Oct 7, 2015 11:17:28 GMT -5
I apologize for the delay. Okay, so the menu. It's a bit chicken heavy. I know funds are tight, but if you can find some pork on sale, that would increase the variety and keep Fez happier and healthier. exam answers: 1. Correct with one nitpick: not just tongue, but ruminant tongue. Animals that chew cud really use that tongue more and it results in higher taurine. That said, yes. Constantly active muscles like ruminant tongues and hearts are the best source. 2. Correct! 3. Correct! 4. Correct! Dark meat is fattier and therefore a better source of energy producing fat. They're usually cheaper as well, so that is a plus. Thighs and legs are a great choice and tend to have more edible meat on them than wings 5. Okay...they can lose up to 30%, retaining about 70% of their winter weight. The first winter is usually the fattest and fluffiest, but yes. Fez will likely gain weight again this winter. That said, you're in a fairly warm climate, so the change won't be as noticeable as it would have been in say...Wisconsin. 6. Correct! 3 is the bare minimum...the more variety the better, as each meat offers a slightly different composition of minerals and vitamins. I will submit your menu to Heather.
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Post by Heather on Oct 25, 2015 20:57:33 GMT -5
I have some concerns with the diet you've submitted. Now that being said I do understand that this is temporary and at the moment you're having financial difficulties. I would like to keep you in the program for a few more weeks to see a more optimum menu rather than having you make due with a menu that is not a good long term menu. This much chicken is not a good balance, and probably not optimum of what you would be feeding. I would like you to continue to have support until you can better cover your little one's nutritional needs. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2015 11:15:47 GMT -5
Hi guys. I just got internet again, the move has been a much slower delayed one than it should have. And I feel terrible on Fez's diet so far the past few weeks. It's been very bare. So this week now that I have a fridge again, I'm stocking up on all his needed meats/organs again etc. I am happy to replace a lot of the chicken wings with turkey necks on my menu, they're much cheaper! What would be good changes to the menu. This is what I have written usually as his meal guide.
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Post by kraesmom on Oct 30, 2015 0:03:58 GMT -5
I'm getting a broken link on my phone. Fez eats all sorts of proteins. The greater the variety, the better. He really should have some poultry, red meat like beef, lamb, goat, emu...and pork is a good one. It is relatively cheap too. If you can get poultry, legs and thighs are a good option in addition to the necks. Necks have great bone (if he can eat them) but not as much meat. Also get heart or tongue, liver, and one other organ...just like you usually do. Good "extras" for enrichment are mice, rabbit, duck, day old chicks, eggs...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2015 11:58:13 GMT -5
He does eat a lot of pork and beef, the chicken is really just the wings & gizzards, and liver if I didn't grab turkey livers. I just don't know what other bone-in meal to use rather than chicken, as that's the biggest use of chicken. I mean often I will switch one or two chicken wings up for turkey necks.
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Post by kraesmom on Nov 16, 2015 13:50:17 GMT -5
He does eat a lot of pork and beef, the chicken is really just the wings & gizzards, and liver if I didn't grab turkey livers. I just don't know what other bone-in meal to use rather than chicken, as that's the biggest use of chicken. I mean often I will switch one or two chicken wings up for turkey necks. Turkey is good.
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