|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 9:39:07 GMT -5
So! Here we are! At the beginning! Not really, I had to order bone meal powder, new food bowls, and some dried chicken hearts from Amazon, so I'll be starting on Wednesday! I'll actually be starting on Tuesday, Amazon is shipping the bone meal and bowls early with the hearts to have them in the same package.  DVD is for scale, not for showing off my movie tastes. 
7/18/2015  Currently Layla is 600g. She isn't underweight, she's just really tiny. Marty, however, is underweight at 850g. Today's diet: Kaytee's Ferret Forti-diet. Poops are medium brown and squishy until they dry. Marty's smell bad and strong for a few minutes, Layla's aren't noticeable unless I clean the litter boxes right after she goes. Layla's ferret smell is strong around her scruff and ears, Marty's breath smells bad. Layla is active for hours, Marty sniffs around for a few minutes before going back to sleep. Cannot feel ribs or spine on Layla unless pressing for them or feeling the bottom ribs from underneath. Marty's spine is bony, and I can feel his ribs, though they are less bony. Both stomachs are plump. Layla grooms well, Marty does not. I have a question: How much soup should I get them eating per meal before removing kibble from their diet? My next update will be on Tuesday, the night before I start the transition.
|
|
|
|
Post by FireAngel on Jul 18, 2015 10:49:09 GMT -5
Remove the kibble when they are eating any amount of soup on their own. If it's not there they cannot ruin their dinner with it so to speak and once you know they will eat it there is no reason to turn back. Make sense?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 11:14:22 GMT -5
Yep!  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2015 18:24:04 GMT -5
Updated the day I'll be starting! Woo!
|
|
|
|
Post by katt on Jul 19, 2015 0:03:46 GMT -5
Let us know when you are ready to start.  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2015 17:46:41 GMT -5
The stuff got here today! I also found my mom's food processor and a chopper just in case. I ran into a speedbump with the bowls, the bottom of the cage comes up too high and I don't like making Marty hold himself up like he has to, so I'm going to probably drill some holes in the bottom.I'll be starting them on soup tomorrow!
7/20/2015 Layla: 600g Marty: 850gToday's diet: Kaytee's Ferret Forti-diet. Poops are brown and squishy as usual, and then get hard and dark when dry. All is usual health and behavior wise. I also gave them an egg yolk with broken up shell! Layla went crazy for it as usual, Marty took a bit of coaxing to eat it from my finger the first time! Marty wouldn't eat from the plate until I put a little bit of dried chicken liver in it, and even then it was only until the liver was coated and the smell was gone. Layla crunched some pieces of shell, but spit out the last few pieces. I also got Miracle (my cat) to try some from my finger, she wasn't too sure about it and stared at it for a good five minutes before I gave it back to Layla. I put their new water bowl in the cage, and Layla thought it was great fun, and drank so much she sounded like a water bottle when she jumped up and down the levels of the cage (as usual when I change the way they get water). I have a question: If Marty has a slower transition than Layla, but they start eating on their own, should I keep Layla held back with Marty, or keep her moving forward? How do I make sure she sticks with her food, or should I feed them outside the cage? Tomorrow, I will organize their eating schedule for when they've started eating chunks! My next update will be tomorrow! I'm so excited!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2015 17:58:51 GMT -5
This is exciting isn't it. (dance)
First note: Let your eggshells dry out for a day or two and then grind them up into a fine powder. In your soupie recipe, use 1/3 tsp for 8 ounces of meat.
The dried eggshell powder will store for quite awhile in a dry container.
GFountain has a good point about eggshells, they don't wait for them to dry out in the wild, but since we can, you avoid any possible splintery shells.
I have a question: If Marty has a slower transition than Layla, but they start eating on their own, should I keep Layla held back with Marty, or keep her moving forward? How do I make sure she sticks with her food, or should I feed them outside the cage?
They do tend to move at different paces. You can add different size slivers to your soupie and watch to see if Marty eats the bigger ones and Layla goes for the smaller ones.
I wouldn't hold anyone back and wait for the other to catch up. You'll quickly adjust to working with two. Imagine what those Moms with twins must go through.
Working with them really helps. If you can sit with them outside the cage, even for only one meal a day, you will move forward faster.
You can have a towel and spoon ready, put one or both on your lap and offer the spoon. Let them lick from the spoon and once they do that, lower the spoon to the plate and sit with them.
I use two plates. Mine rarely eat from the same plate at the same time. Marty and Layla may prefer their own plate or may share. You'll get a better feel for it as you move along.
Hooray for your first steps, you all did well.
:thumbsup:
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2015 18:39:10 GMT -5
Alrighty! Thanks for the info and suggestions, I've told my family and housemates to start saving their eggshells  |
|
|
|
Post by FireAngel on Jul 20, 2015 19:10:30 GMT -5
Awesome! I just second everything poncesmom said. You guys did great!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2015 20:57:20 GMT -5
I started the diet today! I wasn't able to get the food processor to make a soup without chunks, but Layla sure doesn't seem to mind!
7/20/2015
Layla: 600g Marty: 850g   Today's diet: Kaytee's Ferret Forti-diet in the AM. Everything was as usual. I took their food away at around 3pm and finished making the soup at 6. When I fed them, I don't think they were hungry. Layla: She started going to town right away. After a little bit though, she started acting like she was about to be put in water and freaked out. She then stopped eating from the bowl and would only eat from my finger or a spoon. Right now she's licking the spoon on top of the soupie -.- Marty: He took it from my finger and the spoon, and followed the spoon to the bowl, and only took a few licks of what wasn't on the spoon. He found a chunk of liver and went crazy for it though! I put Marty away soon after 'cause he was giving me the "I've gotta potty" walk. He just went to sleep instead. I should be able to take his neck bandage off in a couple days, just waiting for the hair to grow back, the scab is gone. All in all: I'll try feeding them again in a couple hours! Depending on how they take it I might be able to remove their food right away!  I'll organize what I'll feed them in the meantime. My next update will probably be in a few hours!
|
|
|
|
Post by katt on Jul 21, 2015 21:48:31 GMT -5
|
|
