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Post by katt on Sept 2, 2015 22:33:07 GMT -5
Teaching them to hunt - no, not really. They either have the instincts or they do not. It can be helpful to put a new hunter with a seasoned hunter on the very first time to "show them the ropes" - BUT other than that I NEVER recommend letting more than one ferret and one mouse be present or it will not end humanely (think tug of war). A good rule is to let them try hunting twice. There is a learning curve, but if by the second, maaaybe third time, they aren't dispatching the mouse pretty well then they should not be allowed to hunt. IF you try and they don't go for it or don't make a clean kill you can consider trying ONE more time after they recognize the mice as food, but if they fail that time too then they should definitely never be allowed to hunt. Some ferrets have it and some don't.
Also, you should learn to do cervical dislocations. Yes it is more difficult emotionally but it is much faster if your ferret botches a kill. It's one thing using CO2 on a healthy mouse, but putting an injured mouse into a CO2 chamber takes time, then a few seconds for them to go to sleep and die...all that time they are hurting and suffering. Much better to simply dislocate the skull from the spine and be done with it.
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Post by katt on Sept 2, 2015 22:34:14 GMT -5
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 3, 2015 9:13:50 GMT -5
In June Bear found a house mouse, and killed it instantly. However, the house mice we had were small, probably hoppers. Is it possible she didn't successfully hunt the mouse I brought home because it was an adult? I wasn't able to source live young mice, but I (incorrectly) assumed it wouldn't matter to Bear, since she was so quick to kill the first time. I didn't let her eat the house mouse.
After I dispatched the mouse, and held it for Bear she instantly went for the neck, dragging it around & thrashing it. So, I'm going to feed them frozen mice, encourage Bear to play with her food, until I can find live hoppers.
Willy I've written off entirely, and won't let him hunt again.
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 3, 2015 9:21:52 GMT -5
Also people think ferrets stink! Pfft. Mice wreak. Those two mice in the box from the petstore made my ferrets smell like daisies
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 4, 2015 21:27:14 GMT -5
Willy and I are FINALLY starting to bond. He actually sought me out, and initiated play! It was awesome, he is showing so much improvement in the last week behavior wise - much less mopey, way more energy. I attribute to my unwaivering love, but also the much better diet. I love them soooo much, I call them my little snuffleupiguses I got my meat box from work (the perks of working for an all natural meat company) & it was loaded with pork butt chops I will be using for the ferrets muscle meat meals (and my dogs can have the bones) ... Does pork count as red meat or white meat?
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Post by raynebc on Sept 4, 2015 21:35:44 GMT -5
I've only seen pork referred to as a white meat on this forum.
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 4, 2015 21:54:10 GMT -5
Alright, thank you!
This week I left the organs very chunky, since that's their favorite meal they just couldn't resist! The liver I left in quite large pieces 2 inch chunks, the chicken hearts I quartered (1/2 inch cubes) as well as the pork kidney (1/2 inch cubes).
I increased the size of the muscle meat slightly & the grinds, well there isn't much I can do about that. I'm cutting/beating up duck wings for them tomorrow.
If all goes well, they will be eating big/whole pieces of meats by October.
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Post by FireAngel on Sept 5, 2015 20:41:08 GMT -5
Wooohoooo! You got this! Pork is white meat.
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 5, 2015 20:53:53 GMT -5
They've become little machines! I can add new proteins without protest. They didn't even pause when the liver & kidney were cubed last night, when their morning meal was slivers. The health benefits of raw aside, I really enjoy watching them eat species appropriate diet too. They are too cute with their bobbing heads crunching bone, the way they have to rub their faces because they don't like having dirty chins, watching Bear grab pieces & hide to eat them. I like seeing domesticated animals closer to their roots. I'm pumped. I'm so proud of my fuzzies; so fluffy, so little poop, smell significantly less. I'm waiting another 2 weeks before I do a mega, super cleaning overhaul in the ferret room, so Willy is past his detox. However, I had a friend over and he said he could only smell the ferrets if he sat right next to their room. I couldn't ask for better ferrets. Bear Willy (finally playing with me!)
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Post by FireAngel on Sept 5, 2015 20:57:17 GMT -5
See? You're doing awesome! Christmas smishmas!
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 5, 2015 21:05:57 GMT -5
I couldn't have done it with out @julesalot, and FireAngel. August 5th, I helped my sister move & went to Wonderland. It was a 16 hour day, and I thought "hey! I can skip the morning litter box clean" when Willy was still eating some kibble. I got home & my apartment wreaked. Willy wouldn't eat, and I spilled the dirty litter box at like... 12am. I just stood in the room looking at the ceiling thinking I was going to lose my mind. Then I remembered HFF, and you guys. I was like, I can do this! I can survive the transition, without going completely insane! Lol.
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Post by FireAngel on Sept 5, 2015 21:47:29 GMT -5
There are always tough days and some even tougher then tough, but we will always be here to listen to you vent and maybe even have some good advice occasionally!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2015 22:02:10 GMT -5
We all have our rough days, I have had... how high can you count? LOL. Nah, it can get stressful, but it is more than worth it. I don't know how I could have ever made it without my mentors to help me and all the members/admins here, we really are a family here.
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Post by katt on Sept 9, 2015 13:45:40 GMT -5
It's okay to be a little insane. Just watch out for that line to completely insane. Once you cross that there's no going back!
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Post by Klarissa on Sept 9, 2015 14:20:27 GMT -5
It's definitely getting less crazy making, now that they eat bigger chunks. Also, not having to wash dishes coated in dried, jerkified soup is pretty great. Or perpetually cleaning the magic bullet. Or having to clean the litter boxes 2-4 times a day... I'm never going back to kibble. I got a new job (or rather, a second job) as a dog handler/daycare attendant with a doggy daycare. My boss breeds Shiloh Shepherds & is 100% pro raw feeding & our facility actually carries raw meals. Both pure proteins & dinner mixes; most of the meats are local, and all are 100% natural. We carry kangaroo & boar that I can't wait to try out with the ferrets & dogs. Kangaroo is reeeeeally expensive so it will definitely be an occasional treat. I really don't have much to add. Willy & Bear are excellent eaters. Oh yeah! Is it normal for them to get bones stuck in their teeth? Willy has now, on 2 separate occasions gotten a round bone stuck around a tooth. He doesn't stress about it, and I have no problem getting the bone out... I just wonder why it happens to him often, but Bear hasn't had the issue.
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