Nei's Switching Thread

[Deleted]

Okay, so when you get a chance, please write out the menu in the format that I showed you.
It needs to come from your post not mine.

[lyles]

Monday:
a.m. Ground Rabbit*
p.m. Beef Heart (muscle meat)

Tuesday:
a.m. Cornish game hen (Bone In)
p.m. Cornish game hen (Bone In)

Wednesday:
a.m. Ground turkey*
p.m. Beef Cubes (muscle meat)

Thursday:
a.m. Ground Chicken*
p.m. Beef Kidney and Beef Liver (Organ meal)

Friday:
a.m. Chinese Pork Ribs (With soft ends of rib bones)
p.m. Beef, Cubed (muscle meat) are either of these grinds or simply ground meat?

Saturday:
a.m. Cornish Game hen (Bone In)
p.m. Cornish Game hen (Bone In)

Sunday:
a.m. Turkey neck (Bone In)
p.m. Chicken liver / Beef Heart / Beef Kidney (Organ meal)

*All grounds contain ~65% Meat & Fat, ~25% Bone and ~10% Organs.

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2015 12:38:31 GMT -5 lyles said:

1. You have run out of heart, how much taurine supplement should your ferrets get? (be specific)

About 500mg/day per ferret

2. List 2 good sources of taurine.

Heart & Tongues  Correct

3. What are some good emergency taurine sources if you run out of heart?

Tunafish and Eggs   Fish is a good source, tongue is better. Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid, which is a compound that your body produces from the amino acids found in protein foods. Specifically, your body uses the amino acid cysteine to produce taurine, which promotes cardiovascular and neurological health. As eggs contain large amounts of cysteine, they are one of the best foods for boosting intake of taurine.

4. Does freezing degrade taurine?

No    Correct

5. How can you tell if your ferret is getting too much or too little bone?

By the texture of their poops, too little its runny, too much and it's rock hard.
Correct

6. List 3 sources of edible bone.

1) Rabbit, 2)Cornish Hens, 3)Turkey Necks  Correct

7. In an emergency (you run out of bone), what are 2 acceptable bone substitutes and how much should your ferrets get? (be speficic)

About a teaspoon of Bone Meal for every 8oz or a tablespoon of Cuttlefish Bone.
That's a little high for 8 ounces of meat, it should be 1/2 or a 1/3 tsp.  Eggshell powder is also a good short term solution

8. List 3 organs aside from liver.

1)Kidney, 2)Lungs, 3)Spleen
Correct

9. Organs should consist of approximately how much liver, and how much "other" organ?

Split between liver and "other" Five percent and Five percent of their weekly intake. You got it correct on question 10. So, I know you understand the correct percentage.

10. What percent of the diet should be organ?

10%   Correct

11. How many meals a week should be organ, and of those meals how much needs to be liver?

2, half portion.  A little more specific answer would be better. We're looking for 1 meal a week of Liver plus another organ and one meal a week of1/4  Liver plus another 1/4 organ plus a half meal of heart.
Some ferrents like to configure it differently but as long as the percentages add up, you're fine.

12. How many different proteins does a ferret need in a week at a Minimum?

3  Correct, that is the minimum. More is better.

13. How often on average does a ferret need to eat?

Depends, kibble fed have to eat more often due to most of the food being indigestible fillers. They require food every few hours. Raw fed only need to eat 2-4 times a day.

You're correct. Kits should eat around 4 times a day. Grown ferrets may eat only once or twice a day

14. About how long is a ferret's digestion time?

~3 hours  That's correct and can extend to 4 hours. Just like us, some have faster metabolisms.

15. What is a healthy diet item that can be used for hairballs, and his often should you give it?

Egg, once a week Excellent and correct

16. How long does each type of meat generally stay good: raw soup, ground meat, med-large chunks, bone-in meats, whole prey?

Soups/Ground 8hrs., Chunks 12hrs., bone-in & whole 24hrs.
Correct with one small note: Whole prey may last for 48 hours depending on the heat/conditions.

17. True or False: It is best to give my ferrets meals and put the food away when they are done. (Explain why)

False. Ferrets do not always eat their fill in one feeding, they will sometimes nibble and come back 10-15 min. later and eat more. Kibble fed need food out 24/7, Raw meat can be given at once or broken up throughout the day/night depending on what it is.
Correct.

18. Is it better to give your ferrets set meal times, or to leave food out all day for free-feeding access, and why?

Kibble fed need access 24/7, Raw portions can be split up throughout the day, as long as they have food available including their stashes.

Very Good and Correct!

lyles, you did great. I will post this and forward your menu to Heather. Give her about 24 hours and I will keep checking in.
(dance)

[Deleted]

Just checking in to let you know that I have not heard back yet.
Friday's tend to be busy.
Heather did ask for a link to your thread, so it shouldn't be much longer.
:banana:

[Heather]

Congratulations (dance)
You've graduated and you're ready to walk this path alone :wave3: You have the foundation to help you feed your fuzzes in a more natural and healthy manner. Please remember that your learning never stops, and dietary needs change from ferret to ferret and throughout each their lives as you're finding out with your own business. I would like you to be aware that though you now have the capability and the knowledge to create your little ones diets, you are never alone and that your mentor (you need only pm) is always available to you. The list is also a very good resource and you should always be aware that it's available to answer any questions you may have either about diet or care.
Good luck, in a few days Sherry will lock down this thread and place it in the archives but be aware that you can always look through it as a reference tool but you just will not be able to post to it. Your mentor will be in to congratulate you shortly :thankyou:
ciao