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Post by katt on Apr 2, 2015 15:37:38 GMT -5
Any ferret can become a chewer - which is exactly why NO ferret should ever be allowed to have access to rubber toys, stuffed toys with hard ears/noses, foam toys, and soft plastic toys etc that they can chew pieces off of. Ferrets chew for all sorts of reasons - inflamed gums, nausea, upset stomach, boredom, anger, curiosity, and heavens know what else goes on in their little brains. Often ferrets who have chewing problems improve once they begin eating bones bc they can get their chewing action out of their system there. It never hurts to skip steps, so if you feel inclined cut up a chicken wing tip and toss it in the cage for them if they are chewing. That said, any change in behavior can be a sign of something else going on. - What are Dexter's poops like? - What do his gums and teeth look like? - Remind me again - how old is he? - Do you brush their teeth? - How much is he eating? - Is he sleepy? - Is he tooth grinding? - Is he extra energetic? (it is spring, he could be feeling all amped up for the season - many ferrets get a little crazy this time of year - my boys have been tearing through the house like nuts for a few weeks now lol Spring Time Energy Bump!) - Is he bored? - Has there been any change in routine - (besides diet)? He could be acting out (ferrets are very much like toddlers).
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Shawna
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Post by Shawna on Apr 2, 2015 18:44:04 GMT -5
None of their toys are hard or rubbery. Everything is cloth... with the exception of the snakes but those have squeakies in the head part surrounded by cloth & some stuffing.
Dex is about 4.When I've had him out or taken him outside, the poop is small (very small) brown & squiggy.
He's eating less than Zim. I think I'm gonna have to start holding him while he eats & give it to him. He will especially eat it w/ olive oil on it.
How sleepy is sleepy for a ferret? There is no lack of energy while playing... he's even been interacting w/ me more during play.
I'm wondering if it's boredom.
When I first got them, they were out from the moment I got home from work to bed time.. anywhere from playing, stealing to sleeping. Then we acquir some house guests that just... stayed & never left... they had kids which meant my kids didn't get a chance to play. During this period of time Dexter acquired a biting habit. I would stick my hand in the cage to pet them & he would lick then gnaw/nibble then ... CHOMP! It took me awhile to figure out that it was because he didn't get to play very often. He still bites but not as often. The more often that he plays the less often that he feels the need to let me know.
OH! do they gain or lose during spring & summer?
I think I'm gonna mix pieces & soup together for Dex at least.... hmmm maybe Zim too.
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Post by Celene on Apr 2, 2015 20:58:25 GMT -5
Sounds like he just has a lot more energy from his new diet and doesn't know what to do with himself! Not sure what your setup is like, but you can always try switching out their current toys for new bags/boxes/tunnels/cat towers (even if you already have these things, different versions are completely new to ferrets) and maybe moving things around a bit if you can. Most ferrets lose weight this time of year - it isn't unusual for a ferret to gain/lose up to 40% of their body weight seasonally. Because Marshall Factories artificially put their jills into season and breed all year long, some ferrets are backwards and gain in the summer/lose in the winter. Let us know how the pieces in soup goes
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Shawna
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Post by Shawna on Apr 3, 2015 19:57:08 GMT -5
Basically... All I've got is my bedroom for them to play in & not a whole heck of a lot of room at that.
They're doing a lot better w/ a mix of soup & pieces this time around.
I also give it to them every couple of hours too.
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Post by katt on Apr 3, 2015 22:30:02 GMT -5
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Post by Celene on Apr 3, 2015 22:42:50 GMT -5
Ferrets are ridiculous. Today I had to put away all the toys since we're having a showing of our apartment, and they played harder than they ever had in weeks with just each other! (Not even a single ball of plastic bag).
If they have harnesses you can also try taking them to they park for a change of scenery and new smells/sounds/other stimulations (I would recommend they be vaccinated before taking them out).
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Shawna
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Post by Shawna on Apr 3, 2015 23:23:33 GMT -5
I take them to get the mail & back every other day. Sometimes on the weekends, I'll take them to a park.
It's amazing how many people, especially kids, that they draw in.
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Shawna
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Post by Shawna on Apr 4, 2015 23:52:48 GMT -5
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Post by katt on Apr 5, 2015 1:35:14 GMT -5
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Shawna
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Post by Shawna on Apr 9, 2015 23:06:21 GMT -5
Well.... I made another effort to give meat, heart & liver chunks & again Zim eats most but not all & Dexter eats some (well more like a little) so I'm continuing to give a mix of chunks w/ the soup which Zim will eat all of then go after Dex's bowl who will eat most but not all I've been giving them 2 oz of soup with a spoonful of mixed chunks a minimum of 2x daily. What they don't finish, I give to them a couple hours later or the next day. www.zazzle.com/carpet_shark_t_shirts-235320241942882832
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Post by katt on Apr 10, 2015 12:10:10 GMT -5
Have you been finger feeding the slivers?
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Shawna
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Post by Shawna on Apr 10, 2015 18:17:21 GMT -5
Have you been finger feeding the slivers? yes but he's also only eating a few pieces before he thinks he's done, & I'm not sure how much is too much
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Shawna
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Post by Shawna on Apr 12, 2015 4:14:29 GMT -5
made some more 2oz cups of soup (incl bone meal) & 1oz cups of chunks
since the last time they ate was around 11a & its now 2a they should be pretty hungry & will hopefully wolf down the soup & chunks making it 3oz each. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dex again eats less than Zim so I took him & his bowl aside & gave him a few spoonful. He kept trying to wonder away w some pieces in his mouth but I wouldn't let him.
at least this time he leaves about the same amount left.
www.zazzle.com/carpet_shark_t_shirts-235320241942882832
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Post by Celene on Apr 12, 2015 12:40:52 GMT -5
Awesome! From here just basically slowly increase the sliver/soup ratio, and the size of the chunks. Once a substantial part of their diet (say, 40%+) is chunks you'll also want to add in organs and extra bonemeal to keep things balanced.
Once they're eating about 70%-80% chunks and 20%-30% soup I would recommend switching to the frankenprey diet, and using the soup like a dressing/sauce/enticement.
Also, absolutely love your carpet shark pic!
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Shawna
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Posts: 111
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Post by Shawna on Apr 13, 2015 18:00:47 GMT -5
So, I took a look at the frankenprey weekly menu.
Any chance that I can just do stew meat sized chunks for muscle & organ meat, sprinkle bone meal on it & do that daily? That's basically what I have been doing right along w/ the soup which already has the bone meal in it.
I've been thinking about getting some cgr which I believe was ground up meat, organs & bone right? to get them going on bone & periodically giving them duck/chicken feet.
I also just bought some pork meat, kidney & spleen that I want to cut up into chunks.
How much is a ferret supposed to be eating on a daily basis anyway? Like ounces-wise? so many oz of meat, oz or organ meat, bone/bone meal daily?
www.zazzle.com/carpet_shark_t_shirts-235320241942882832
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