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Post by Celene on Mar 5, 2015 0:20:46 GMT -5
So they both ate some. It probably helps that we didn't get home until later (8pm) and their food from the morning was drying and therefore inedible. Mocha only ate a little because she's back out playing, but Nova is still eating and I'm sure Mo will later.
Rabbit tomorrow! I'm expecting this to be more difficult since it's very different. They had poultry before getting the new types of birdies, but they've never eaten rodent so we'll see how it goes.
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Post by Celene on Mar 5, 2015 11:10:43 GMT -5
Bleh. I'm home sick today.... Yay. (not)
I weighed the girls this morning, and although it was on empty stomachs, they were 1.51 lbs each so quite low. They don't seem like they've started shedding, but Nova had a gross diarrhea this morning and I found yet another (small) piece of yarn in Mocha's poop (I am 110% sure there hasn't been any available to chew laying around) so this morning they got pumpkin mixed with egg yolk. I still don't think I will do the full protocol since vaseline is really not good for them unless entirely necessary. I'll give them some more when they wake back up and see what happens.
Chances are this is just springtime weight loss, but if there's a chance one/both of them is eating less because of a floating blockage or something then it definitely can't hurt to push some roughage through them.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2015 13:00:55 GMT -5
YEah i'd say the pumpkin was a good call. She could just have a few stringy pieces floating around so hopefully that will push it through. Do you normally weigh them on empty tummies?
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Post by Celene on Mar 5, 2015 14:56:26 GMT -5
It's hard to say because they nibble here and there. Normally not totally empty though.
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Post by Celene on Mar 6, 2015 16:14:52 GMT -5
So the pumpkin yesterday morning kind of messed with the meal plan... I didn't want to skip the organ meal (for obvious reasons) so they had that for dinner, and really gobbled it right up! Then instead they got the rabbit for breakfast (I'm home sick again so could watch them with the bones). Even though they danced and dooked all morning they didn't eat any of it, but when they got up for lunch (it's actually 1pm, but ferret's don't wear watches) I put a little water in with the rabbit to rehydrate it (because god forbid they have to eat dried meat). So that's three new proteins they've accepted this week! I would also rate them as being 100% comfortable with bones. There were a few larger/thicker bone pieces left behind, probably from legs, but I did hear lots of crunching. There is still some rabbit left (I won't put it out now since it will just dry out anyway) as well as the half portion of pork thawed which was supposed to be for breakfast... So I think tonight instead of lamb will be "leftovers" of rabbit, and pork if they get to it. They last new protein (for now) of frogs legs will be Sunday. So lets see... So far these girls h ave tried chicken, turkey, partridge, quail, cornish game hen, lamb, beef, pork, rabbit... Plus kangaroo, venison, duck, buffalo and wild boar in the form of commercial grind. In the future I plan to introduce goose, ostrich, goat, and freshwater fish. Plus more types of organs. That's probably even more proteins than I've eaten! Nova also really likes FDR elk.So for the raw "checklist" these girls: - Will eat/accept over 10 different proteins
- Eat big chunks of meat by chewing off little bits at a time
- Love their organ meals
- Crunch bones (from ~4 sources) like champs
- Manipulate me into adding salmon oil and quail eggs whenever they can
What's next transition-wise?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2015 16:18:49 GMT -5
Do you think you're feeling ready to be on your own and graduate? I think you're ready and I'll talk it over with the other mentors just to double check. Youre doing really well and I'll still be here if you need me <3
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Post by Celene on Mar 6, 2015 16:27:18 GMT -5
I'd say so. At this point I think my girls are doing pretty well, and there is probably someone on the waiting list who needs your attention much more than I! PS - I finished all the shelf liners for you, I'm just going to make a couple hammocks to send along with them (maybe one covered, and one open for summer).
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Post by Celene on Mar 6, 2015 22:35:40 GMT -5
So I weighed them after they ate* and they are a teensy bit heavier on a full belly (compared to yesterday when I weighed before eating).
Mocha Nova 21-Feb-15 1.67 1.59 23-Feb-15 1.64 1.57 25-Feb-15 1.63 1.59 01-Mar-15 1.55 1.58 05-Mar-15 1.51 1.51 06-Mar-15 1.53 1.54
*I gave them the rest of the rabbit for dinner. While Mocha took her time carefully chewing on a tendony piece, Nova slurped the rest back so the actual portioning of the meal wasn't very even. I put some pork in the dish after but Mo didn't seem interested.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2015 23:05:03 GMT -5
Well they're doing great if you'll go ahead and post a final menu I'll submit it to heather for approval and make up your final test! So exciting!!
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Post by Celene on Mar 6, 2015 23:12:28 GMT -5
Well I normally prep their weekly meals/menus Sunday, but I'll try and do it tomorrow instead
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2015 23:32:20 GMT -5
It doesn't have to be exactly what you're feeding this week. We just want to know that you know how to balance
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Post by Celene on Mar 7, 2015 0:27:34 GMT -5
Ahh. Well in that case, here is a "sample" menu. Probably quite similar to what they'll be having next week but maybe replacing one of the bone in meals with 2 oz lamb and 1/8 tsp of eggshell powder. I was also thinking of thawing some gizzards for them for some extra teeth cleaning and muscle exercising, but since they're not eating much as is I might hold off for now.
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Post by Celene on Mar 7, 2015 1:30:25 GMT -5
Also, I just caught Mocha trying to stash meat for the very first time! Their food shelf is on the 4th level of their FN cage (to try and discourage stashing) and she was munching away at some pork. I hear her coming down the ramps and turn to look at her, and what do I see? Little girl almost at the bottom, running down with a big ol' chunk of meat in her mouth!!
I picked her up and put her back on the food shelf. She gave me the most perplexed look, like "mommy, why you no let me take dis?" It's alright though, she got her revenge. As I'm typing this she has pulled down the nice sherpa fleece-lined blanket off the couch onto the floor and it's getting ready to nest in there.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2015 12:02:27 GMT -5
Okay well here's your EXAM! What are some good emergency taurine sources if you run out of heart? Why are cooked bones dangerous and raw bones safe? List 3 organs aside from liver. What is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it? Are leaner meats better for your ferret or fattier meats? Give 2 examples each of muscle meat, edible bones, and organs. Your ferret's stools are loose/soft. What is this a sign of and how can you adjust to fix it? How many different proteins does a ferret need in a week at a Minimum? Good luck
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Post by Celene on Mar 7, 2015 12:19:47 GMT -5
What are some good emergency taurine sources if you run out of heart? Tongues and eyeballs (although in an "emergency" hearts are probably easier to find!) Can also be bought as a supplement.
Why are cooked bones dangerous and raw bones safe? Cooked bones become brittle and splinter. Sharp bones + ferret's soft insides = bad risk of puncture/damage. Raw bones are softer and can be digested by a ferret's stomach acid.
List 3 organs aside from liver. Kidney, pancreas, brain.
What is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it? Egg yolk! During shedding season ferrets can have an egg yolk every 2-3 days (although my girls are tiny so they usually share an egg yolk every 2-3 days). During non-shedding season ferrets can have one whole egg each per week.
Are leaner meats better for your ferret or fattier meats? Fatter meats! Ferrets get their energy from fat!
Give 2 examples each of muscle meat, edible bones, and organs. Muscle: (boneless) beef, pork, heart. Edible Bones: chicken necks/wings, any bones from a "smaller" bird, rabbit. Organs: Liver, kidney.
Your ferret's stools are loose/soft. What is this a sign of and how can you adjust to fix it? Not enough bone! (Give more bone-in meals.) Could also be caused by too much oil/egg or food sensitivity.
How many different proteins does a ferret need in a week at a Minimum? 3-4 at least - more is always better!
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