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Post by Blue on Mar 9, 2015 12:35:39 GMT -5
Oh right, if it's chicken, then no chicken wings! Yeah, we can figure that out when we get to it. Hopefully she isn't allergic to all birds. I calculated her weight WRT when I first got her -- it was June 21st so pretty much her lowest: she has gained 55% of her original weight (1.51 lbs)!!! So it's not just winter weight gain! I was just going to do soup this morning, and slivers tonight, but then I read your e-mail and got motivated to do slivers, so thank you! You're keeping me on track. I tend to wander on my own. I did .35 oz of slivers slightly smaller than yesterday, and mixed it in with 2 oz soup (no extra water): she ate them just fine! So tonight I think I'll do 1 oz soup mixed with 1 oz slivers. This may mean that I won't have to make soup anymore! (Cleaning the blender is pretty gross.) What's the easiest way to cut the meat into slivers? I've been using paring scissors. I don't have a sharp knife, maybe I should get one? I definitely don't have the necessary skill to make slivers with a cleaver. Half the time I don't even hit the meat!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 13:13:57 GMT -5
Aww good, I'm glad you stayed with incorporating slivers! I think also, because she is doing so well, consistence will only help her along faster! That's also so great that she's okay without the added water! (dance)
Once you do not have to make soup everyday (or every couple of days) life becomes so easy! Haha! I used a magic bullet and then to a small food processor when I was doing soup. I would hand wash AND put the parts in the dishwasher but I cannot bring myself to use them for 'human' food/drinks!
I actually found a knife at our local dollar store. I was picking up some extra containers for their soup and saw they had these knives (it looks comparable to a carving knife) so I thought I'd try it since it was only a dollar. Oddly enough, it cuts through muscle meat (and semi-frozen giazzards) beautifully! If you are able to find one of those, that is what I would recommend. However, if the kitchen shears are working, you can most certainly stick with that-whatever is easiest for you! :thumbsup:
Ha, it took me a quite a few tries with the cleaver until I felt okay with it! I was petrified I would chop my fingers off even though my other hand wasn't even on the cutting board! It took about 3-4 months until I noticed I could hit the same mark! Now I'm usually just worried about splattering blood and bone marrow on the walls (giggle)
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Post by Blue on Mar 10, 2015 22:29:54 GMT -5
Yeah, I can't bring myself to use the raw meat blender for anything else either! As for the blood spatter from the cleaver, when that first happened it was yet another completely unexpected issue. I'm learning so much with raw! Not all of it useful. But I'm beginning to think I wouldn't be so bad at cleaning up a crime scene... Yesterday (or this morning?) she picked some of the slivers out of the mix, and dumped them to the side. This evening, she ate the entire mix, no picking. Then I served a plate of just slivers and she ate some! She keeps being a lot less difficult than I expect, which is awesome. She was so difficult on kibble! Thanks for the cheerleading Katy, it really helps Here she is eating a mix of soup and slivers: Here's what she did with some of the slivers: And here's a meal of slivers only that she did partially eat!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2015 7:54:16 GMT -5
As for the blood spatter from the cleaver, when that first happened it was yet another completely unexpected issue. I'm learning so much with raw! Not all of it useful. But I'm beginning to think I wouldn't be so bad at cleaning up a crime scene...Haha yes! My 'first' splatter; I quickly realized I needed to buy an apron... especially if I decide to wear a white shirt Isn't it amazing how fussy kibble eaters can turn into pro meat chewers? My Zoey wouldn't eat anything but kibble (no baby food, no salmon oil, no fdr turned to warm soup...only that dang kibble) so I knew she would be my hardest transition. She was a little difficult in the beginning but she actually turned to be my first CGH bone cruncher! How are her poops? Still good? Maisie is doing so great! (I LOVE the pictures! Thank you!) I think you could probably try making her slivers bigger. Maybe try some double the length and some double the thickness. It seems like ferrets are just like people as in they have different preferences. (Zoey, Zekrom, and Pepper like square chunks and Reshiram and Elvyra like more of a rectangle) Is she starting to shed yet? My kids are really getting into spring mode! Waking up and wanting to play earlier and play longer, and shedding like crazy! (there is so much hair in their hammocks! AND on my shirts when I leave for work-I have to hug and kiss them all before I leave, hehe) I need to up their weekly egg to twice a week I think. Oh, does Maisie like eggs? Happy hump day! (dance)
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Post by Blue on Mar 11, 2015 20:59:27 GMT -5
Zoey, Zekrom, and Pepper like square chunks and Reshiram and Elvyra like more of a rectangleThat's hilarious! Perhaps Maisie wants hers in a sphere or in a nice pear cut because today was not a good day. This morning I did half ground pork, half sliver-mix. She has eaten this before. She barely had a few mouthfuls. I was hoping she'd eat it over the day, but she didn't. This evening: just a sliver mix. No interest. I tried finger-feeding with a bit of salmon oil. She'd lick but the meat was always stuck to my skin. I think this is her just licking of the oil and not taking the meat, but also, maybe that's a bad delivery system? I got perhaps 3 pieces inside her; 1.5 of those got spat out after chewing. I put a tiny bit of egg mix on there: she licked the egg mix and perhaps got another piece or two. I've put it in her cage, and left her breakfast there too, hoping she'll eat some overnight. But if she doesn't, what do I do tomorrow?She does like eggs, thankfully. I've been giving her one a week, usually on the weekend. I'm not really seeing any shedding yet, or weight loss. I guess she's working on the weight loss today Poops are still good, yesterday they were mysteriously orangish and a little seedy, but well-formed. Today, dark, almost black, but well-formed. Oh, also, I'm at a bit of a loss as to handle the meat I have, how much to leave in the freezer, how much in the fridge, how to portion it out. I'm seeing a lot of emergency de-freezing in my future... You know, if it weren't for the benefits of teeth cleaning, I think I'd be perfectly happy feeding her balanced soupies for the rest of her life. But I know that me brushing her teeth is just not going to happen. Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2015 11:17:12 GMT -5
Oh Maisie Unfortunately this will happen from time to time. I think it's the little diva inside of them (giggle) How did she do overnight/breakfast today? I would imagine she would give in and eat, but if not you could try making the slivers smaller (were they bigger than the ones she ate the other day?). You could also try holding her by the kitchen sink and running a sliver under warm water and hand feed her a couple that way. That's usually the method to get them to try slivers, but it couldn't hurt-maybe she just wants mommy attention But try, and I know it's hard, not to give in to all soup. (If you already did, no worries! During the switch we might have to start at square 1 and work our way up again-but we can do it!) :thumbsup: I'm glad she likes eggs! Do you give her the whole egg or just the yolk? I usually give my kids just the yolk (and keep the whites for myself) but if they get the whole thing-ha, the faces they make are hilarious! Poops are still good, yesterday they were mysteriously orangish and a little seedy, but well-formed. Today, dark, almost black, but well-formed. I wonder why they were black-did she have more liver/organ that day? It very well could just be her continuing to detox. Since we think she has a chicken allergy, I want us to keep tabs on her poop Oh, also, I'm at a bit of a loss as to handle the meat I have, how much to leave in the freezer, how much in the fridge, how to portion it out. I'm seeing a lot of emergency de-freezing in my futureHow are you doing it now? Do you have an estimate how much she is eating per day? You can probably get away with keeping soup in the fridge for 2-3 days. I know some ferrents make a batch of soup (the 8oz meat, 1oz heart, 1oz liver) and put it in an ice tray. Once they have soup cubes, put those in a ziplock bag. Then you can grab a couple cubes(I think each cubes would be an ounce) and put them in a dish to thaw/add some warm water. Since I had to portion for 5, I would make a few batches of soup and always have at least one thawed in the fridge. Try to estimate how much she's eating per day and we'll try to come up with an efficient game plan I know what you mean about soup forever, but once she starts on chunks and then bones-you really will love your life! It becomes so very easy then! Hehe! You're doing a great job!! Let's try to figure our how much she's eating per day, how much of all the pork you have left, and we'll look ahead to what protein you want to start next!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2015 11:29:53 GMT -5
Oh I forgot to add- She has had her blood glucose tested and does not have insulinoma, correct? As long as she doesn't, and isn't borderline insulinoma...she can go without food until her next meal. As long she isn't acting worrisome (lethargic, flat ferreting, etc.) keep sticking with the slivers with minimal soup. The mysterious orange-ish poop...I bet it was the salmon oil
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Post by Blue on Mar 12, 2015 14:14:37 GMT -5
Yes, she's had her BG tested several times and it's always been OK, thankfully. She ate nothing overnight, the brat. This morning I mixed some ground pork in with the slivers and a spoonful of mixed egg (whole), and she had about 10 mouthfuls, most of them off my fingers. I always warm up her food because if it's cold she refuses to eat it. I usually put her bowl in a bowl of warm water, and then put a lid over the bowl. It works quite well, although it takes a while. I'm not giving in to her (yet) because at this point I'm pretty sure it's mostly her being fussy. I dangled her to check and she's quite fat! It's hard getting pictures like that but I'll try this weekend. I was doing the ice cube method which is pretty awesome, but now I'm cutting the slivers by hand and I don't think I could make a huge batch like that. I was wondering -- perhaps I could use my blender on on a very low setting? Would that make slivers? I'd have to add some water though. I guess I could drain it out? Now that she's being difficult I started weighing stuff precisely... but this morning my scale showed 0 no matter want I put on it. It's probably because I rinsed it too much last night. I need to get a scale that doesn't get stuff all over it so easily, or that is somewhat waterproof. Tally of kitchen stuff I have broken in the name of raw diet: - 2 blenders - 1 ice cube tray - 1 vegetable peeler - 1 kitchen scale A couple of pictures: Maisie waiting for me to get my $#!t together -- this was after 2 offerings that weren't up to her standards Last night's unsuccessful slivers only -- a little heavy on the liver & heart. Those red paring scissors are what I use to make slivers, perhaps not the best choice? This morning's concoction. You can't see it very well but it's in a bowl of warm water: Thank you : :
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2015 14:45:44 GMT -5
I dangled her to check and she's quite fat! HAHA! You're funny! I don't think your blender would make slivers but rather mini chunks? You could try it and see what happens Those scissors look fine to me :face: Are you able to freeze some meat, liver, and heart-then thaw for maybe an hour and try cutting 'slivers' that way? (I do that for most of my meats; it's easier for me to cut it that way)
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Post by Blue on Mar 12, 2015 20:13:00 GMT -5
Got home, looked like she hadn't eaten anything -- although the food didn't look identical to the picture I took this morning. Yes, really need that new scale! Tonight, once again 3 tries before she was willing to eat it. I feel like I'm feeding Goldilocks. The final version had a lot of water and several tablespoons of whole egg and was warmed. I feel like she really didn't eat much, but she left about a mouthful or so so I guess that's OK? I've been thinking (uh-oh) perhaps I could try grating frozen meat??!? The ingredients: ground pork, muscle slivers, and some whole egg: The version she finally ate. At least I didn't use any salmon oil this time! What was left, so I think she's not hungry?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2015 11:21:14 GMT -5
Having a good scale really is a treat! I got the cheapest one in the beginning but then got a digital one; ah it's so nice! I am also very careful not to get anything on it but always get a couple blood splatters To clean it, I use a 1:1 ration of water and white vinegar. It seems to work pretty well. Aww, it can get frustrating when they are perfect little eating machines in the beginning and then decide 'nope, I'm not going to eat that and you can't make me!' - hehe. Leaving a mouthful, I think, is great! That way you know she's not still hungry. Just be careful with adding eggs, and salmon oil for that matter, only because it can give her funky poops. Grating meat? I never thought of that! It sure sounds like it could work-let me know! :thumbsup: Gosh she is beautiful! From the pictures, I think she ate a lot! I understand water and egg were added, but that looks like maybe 1.5-2 oz on the plate where she was eating? A couple things to remember and drive you nuts: 1. Adult females eat between 1-3 ounces per day. So if she eats 1oz in the morning and 1oz in the evening, that's perfect! 2. We're entering Spring, so unless she has her seasons backwards, she will start eating less (along with shedding and dropping some weight which is why a weight log is a must) 3. Ferrets are like humans and sometimes, just not that hungry-more like skipping a meal or snacking here and there. If she would refuse to eat all day, that would be different. 4. I think female ferrets are divas and sometimes, as a peasant human, you have to go with the flow :bow: I like the consistency of the food she's eating. If her poops aren't too funky, you can still add some egg to get her going. I'd like to see more slivers in there to get her chewing. If grating the meat is successful, try doing a 50/50 (grated meat and the ground pork) I have a feeling Maisie will accept it. Then if that's accepted, do it again but eliminate the egg. You 2 are doing great! Happy Friday the 13th! Oh-do you remember where you got the little bottle for the salmon oil? (I would like one like that but cannot find one)
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Post by Blue on Mar 13, 2015 13:24:03 GMT -5
Here's the salmon oil bottle link. A friend of mine asked why I had little bottles of salmon oil all over the house, and I replied, "In case she does something good, so I can reinforce the behavior immediately." The friend really laughed at the "in case she does something good" www.amazon.com/Plastic-Dropping-Bottles-30ml-pack/dp/B0026K1YCKAnd just because this was so incredibly useful! 1 ml syringes: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007ZDHYTKGrating meat wasn't that great (haha), as you'll see below... I did ground pork and slivers this morning, with a little whole egg (2 tbsp) and a generous amount of water. I think I'll add the water no matter what, at least for now. She used to add it to her kibble by body-slamming the dishes together. (I was impressed.) She ate at least 3/4ths of the food I gave here. I do think she finally has hit "spring" after all that weight gain, and this week is the first that's looked and felt like spring around here. Now for the picture section Warning: there's a poop pic at the end, sorry! Is that too dark for pork soup? (Checking for ulcers.) I guess the grating would work if it were faster/easier and if I could press down a lot harder. The big holes didn't really work for me. Plus cleaning the grater properly - ugh. Breakfast is served in the Blue household! I also eat slivers of raw. The coffee's all Maisie's, though. And now... POOP! Thank you for making it all the way down to here
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2015 14:08:56 GMT -5
Oh that's awesome; thank you so much! I have a pending Amazon order incase I want to add something else, which I usually add something new everyday! The syringes are a good idea too, thank you again! Sorry the grating didn't work how we thought-was it frozen solid? Try thawing the meat a little bit first and it might work. I guess there is the clean up factor to consider too She ate 3/4 of that plate?? I wonder if I'm perceiving the picture larger than it is because that looks like a good appetite still! :thumbsup: The scale that you have-does it still work and would you be able to weigh her food for me? It finally hit over 50 degrees here today! Woohoo! It does look like Spring might finally be here! As for the poop, they look fine to me. I asked Jason his thoughts and he thought they looked fine too. Do you remember what she ate prior to these poops? (Muscle meat, organs, just soup?) Jason said if it was an ulcer, they would be tarry and black as midnight-regardless of what she ate. (Usually organs and rich bloody meats, like beef, can give super dark poops) Oh, tell Maisie to lay off the coffee-she's crazy enough as is! (giggle)
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Post by Blue on Mar 15, 2015 23:02:02 GMT -5
We've been having a frustrating weekend! But first, I got a great new scale and did the weekly weigh-in: Jan 19 835 g (1 lb 13.5 oz) started raw chicken soup Feb 01 875 g (1 lb 14.9 oz) Feb 08 905 g (2 lbs!!) Feb 15 975 g (2 lbs 2.5 oz) 1st time: raw egg, lamb Feb 22 1005 g (2 lbs 3.5 oz) 1 kg!! Mar 01 1005 g (2 lbs 3.5 oz) same weight Mar 08 1060 g (2 lbs 5.5 oz) started pork on Mar 3rd Mar 15 1015 g (2 lbs 3.8 oz) So a very small loss and probably about time, too. I put her dangling pic below, what a belly! Having said that I've been stressing all weekend about her not eating. I'm still trying to give her the ground + slivers mix, which is balanced (80% muscle, 10% heart, 10% liver, all pork) which she seems to like less and less. Yesterday she ate a little over an oz altogether, and mostly because I gave her the rest of the egg I'd been portioning out all week. Today it was about 0.2 oz off my fingers in the morning, and maybe 0.3 oz tonight. On the other hand, she had a textbook poop tonight Speaking of which -- maybe now is a good time to do the chicken challenge? It's been 13 days since her last chicken, and also, since it's still the soupie version (frozen cubes in the fridge) I might be able to see what her appetite's like. If I get a reaction, will it happen soon? Like after just one meal? I don't have to put her through several? Poor thing. I have the feeling I'm forgetting something but it's getting late. Here's the belly picture At the beginning, for comparison (end of January):
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Post by Blue on Mar 16, 2015 8:11:16 GMT -5
Well now I'm confused (Maisie: "Mission accomplished!"). She ate quite eagerly this morning. Maybe she finally got hungry enough? I was beginning to worry that the soup had gone off. Weight-wise she ate 1.2 oz but at least half of that was water, so maybe 0.5 oz of actual meat? She ate until she was full, anyway. Also, thinking about the chicken challenge: I just realized she hasn't ground her teeth in days. Could that be because she's healed from the chicken? In which case I really don't want to mess with that right now. It's so confusing... I hope you're having the same gorgeous weather as us in PA!
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