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Post by Sherry on Aug 30, 2015 15:30:18 GMT -5
Why not put up a preliminary menu of what you are feeding so we can help you tweak it? In a Monday to Sunday format would work best
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 22:10:47 GMT -5
Not much to report so far. I've finished the switch to EVOO. I'm still trying to get them to eat red meat and heart. I am blending it with chicken muscle meat and water and some EVOO on top. Still working on taking out the muscle meat, but progress is slow. I've gotten them to eat a bit of solid heart, but they won't touch red meat.
Schedule Monday AM: Muscle Meat (red meat) Monday PM: Bone-In Meal
Tuesday AM: Hearts + Liver + Kidney + Muscle Meat Tuesday PM: Bone-In Meal
Wednesday AM: Muscle Meat Wednesday PM: Bone-In Meal
Thursday AM: Liver + Kidney + Muscle Meat Thursday PM: Bone-In Meal
Friday AM: Muscle Meat (heart) Friday PM: Bone-In Meal
Saturday AM: Bone-In Meal Saturday PM: Bone-In Meal
Sunday AM: Muscle Meat + egg Sunday PM: Bone-In Meal
(The muscle meat in the organ soup is just to get them to eat it and to prevent them from vomitting)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2015 22:00:54 GMT -5
Quick update: N&M have been eating chicken wings almost whole. I just need to smash it once with the cleaver. When they can eat that whole, I plan on introducing turkey necks as another bone source. They are much more accepting of organs! I blend the liver and kidney with a bit of warm water and they lick the bowl clean. Any suggestions for the next best organ to introduce? Beef hearts have been added to the menu. Does this count as an additional meat type since heart falls into the muscle category? Winter is coming... Morgan has gained about 5 oz and started shedding her coat. Nao hasn't gained any weight, but her winter coat is also coming in. I know pumpkin is no longer recommended as a daily supplement, but I have been giving them about 1/4 teaspoon each of 100% canned pumpkin (no spices or added sugar) to prevent hairballs until their coats finish coming in. In non-dietary news, I love my ferrets. Morgan is such a cuddle bunny and Nao is so energetic.
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Post by FireAngel on Sept 17, 2015 22:38:51 GMT -5
Is the menu above still the one you re working with? 7-9 bone in meals 1.5 heart 1.5 organ (half of that is liver) 2-4 muscle meat meals You sort of have it, the added muscle meat to the organ meals throws it off though. Other good organs are brain, pancreas and lung. Lung while not a secreting organ is still good as it is high in Taurine and Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Potassium, Zinc and Copper, and a very good source of Protein, Vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin B12, Iron, Phosphorus and Selenium. It should not be a large part of the other half of the organ mix but it is a nice thing to include occasionally. It is great that they will eat beef heart. It counts but it would still be good if you could get them to eat either beef or lamb as another source. You are right pumpkin is not the recommended way to prevent hairballs, but upping the egg intake to 2 eggs each, each week is.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2015 15:37:27 GMT -5
I switched a couple of the meals around to better fit my schedule. I can post the new order, but the number of meals is still the same. 8 Bone-In Meals 4 Muscle Meat Meals (1 heart-only meal) 1 organ meal with liver and another organ (kidney for now) 1 organ meal with liver, heart, and other organ (kidney)
I have stopped adding muscle meat to the organ meals. They have been readily eating just organs ground with water and haven't gotten sick. I'll keep an eye out for those other organs.
I will definitely use egg instead now, thank you so much! Does it matter if the egg is raw or cooked?
One thing I forgot to mention before, I got some fish oil to use as an animal based lipid. They are pretty indifferent towards it. Should I adjust them to it by mixing it with olive oil like I did for the Feretone transition?
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Post by FireAngel on Sept 19, 2015 22:29:19 GMT -5
Egg should always be raw, just like everything else If they are not taking to the fish oil then yes you can wean then onto it the same way as you did with the olive oil.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 8:59:10 GMT -5
Introduced turkey! I mixed 1 tbsp of ground turkey with chicken juices just to see if they would eat it. The first few bites went over okay, but then they refused to eat anymore. I'll work on the gradual introduction. I put 1/2 tbsp in their soup this morning and they ate it with no more complaints then usual. I read on some guides then when introducing raw, food should be withheld for 12 hours. I haven't been doing that since they stopped eating kibble and I was wondering if that technique is supposed to be used for ALL new food introductions. Another concern I have is Nao's weight. While Morgan is clearly gaining her winter chub, Nao weighs the same. Is this because she just started shedding her coat and isn't in "winter mode" yet?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 9:32:08 GMT -5
I would not do the 12 hr hold for raw introductions at all. One reason, your ferrets could have low Bg to start with and this would make it worse.
One of my ferrets is 2.2 lbs (female) the other is 1.14. I offer them the same thing. But one dearly loves her food.
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Post by FireAngel on Sept 25, 2015 19:01:53 GMT -5
No need to with hold food for that length of time for any reason really with a ferret. Their digestive tract is short so by 4 hours they are pretty much empty anyway. I wouldn't worry too much just yet about a lack of weight gain for Nao. Mine are just starting now and there has not been any drastic changes in weights, yet.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2015 21:26:28 GMT -5
Okay, I will keep doing what I have been then. That's such a huge weight difference! Glad to hear that their differences isn't that unusual. Should I be concerned if she doesn't gain any winter weight, as long as she isn't losing weight?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2015 18:15:15 GMT -5
Okay, I will keep doing what I have been then. That's such a huge weight difference! Glad to hear that their differences isn't that unusual. Should I be concerned if she doesn't gain any winter weight, as long as she isn't losing weight? You're doing great so far. :thumbsup: Just keep an eye on her activity levels, poops and how much she eats. Females really don't eat much. They will both get leaner as they lose kibble fat and then get more muscular. Some ferrets get their seasons reversed like my Juliet. Then when everyone else is getting all fat and floofy, she gets a lovely spring lightweight coat and is thinner. If you keep a weight journal, you'll know what weights are normal for what time of year. Sudden weight changes will also alert you to possible health problems.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2015 14:33:33 GMT -5
Can chicken gizzards be used for taurine? I can't find much information about how much taurine they have.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2015 14:47:34 GMT -5
Chicken gizzards should not be used for Taurine. Hearts or tongue are high in Taurine. The more an animal uses a muscle the more Taurine is produced. Ferrets need a high amount of Taurine and hearts and tongue have the highest amounts. Here is a link on Taurine: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/15089/information-taurine
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2016 15:18:54 GMT -5
I'm sorry I haven't posted an update in so long! Hopefully they're is still on track. For meat I've got them eating chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. For treats they've got EVOO and fish oil. Every once in a while, Nao will get into a mood and need some Ferretone if she's being picky about the soup or her nails, but it's always mixed with 3/4 EVOO. They're still on the same feeding schedule as before. I've been adding 1/8 tsp of egg powder to their soup for the past few weeks and it seems to be improving their poops after.
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