This is where I will be posting all the good stuffs about my Poco and Shinchi.
1-they already love their raw egg. Eat all of it, every time I give it to them (they share 1 egg twice a week, so 1 egg each per week). 2-Poco weighs 2 pounds and 3.2 ounces (0.998kg) 3-Shinchi weighs 2 pounds and 0.9 ounces (0.934 kg) 4- I have everything I need to get started: Scale/bowl set just for the bubbies; food processor (it's a ninja.. no really..); boneless, skinless chicken thighs; chicken livers (they were on sale for $1.12 per 20oz container! I got 4) and chicken hearts and gizzards (in one pack-I need to separate them. sale too! 1 pack for as low as $1.64)! 5-I have my dried egg shells! Just need to crush them!
I am ready to go! Starting after I separate everything and weigh it all out, etc etc.
Most people end up finding that the packages of mixed hearts and gizzards tend to be rather light on hearts. Depending on your local groceries, they may sell or be able to order in packages of just chicken hearts (without gizzards). I can usually get them this way from two different groceries. If that's a no go, you might be able to get beef heart, I was surprised how common it was after I actually started looking for this type of stuff while shopping.
You sound excited and ready to begin. The key to success will be working with them. Once your soupie is made, sit on the floor with them. Have a towel and a spoon ready. Dab some on Sinchi and Poco's mouth. They have to lick it off. If they run off, go get them. Put one or both on your lap. Dab the soupie again. Then offer some from the spoon. If they run off, go get them again. Place one in your lap and put your other hand lightly under them to let them know you are there. Offer the soup on a spoon. Let them lick it off. If they begin eating the soupie, lower the spoon to the plate and sit with them. Keep the spoon there and let them eat some. Talk baby talk or talk to them. Keep telling them how well they are doing.
It may take a few tries, but you can do it. When they go to bed, put a plate of soupie in with them. Don't put kibble in also. Keep a few hours between kibble and soupie. Kibble is dry and soupie is wet. They digest at different rates. There is some thought that this can cause an upset tummy and lead to a bacterial overgrowth. It's not proven but why take the chance?
I can't wait to hear how it goes. Remember they trust you. This is a new thing to them and they may not recognize it as food. That's where you come in. They may not trust this new food but they trust you. The key to success will be you working with them and knowing that you can make this work.
Poco is first. I pull him into my lap and offer him a finger of soupie. He sniffs it curiously but doesn't go for the lick. After rubbing his gums three times from side to side with said soupie, he started taking it off of my finger. Next was the spoon. He didn't even hesitate! I decide to give him a break after lots of love and kisses!
It's Shinchi's turn. He sniffs curiously as well but then turns his nose up as I go to rub his gums with my finger full of soupie. He isn't happy and is trying desperately to get away from me "omg mom get that nasty vile stuff away from me!!" However, after a quick scruff and rub on his gums, he came to licking my finger. I offered the spoon this time, and he went straight for it. After about a minute though he had enough and started squirming again. I wasn't satisfied with how much he had so I gave him a light scruff and before I could even lift him (he was on my lap) his head was automatically going for the spoon. At this point when he had devoured 2 tsp of the soupie I let him down for a break.
It's Poco's turn again. I add a little bit more water to the soupie and lay the plate on the floor. Both of the boys are staring at it, circling it, wanting it, but not wanting it. I scoop up my Poco and pull him close to me. I offer him the spoon and he takes it with no problems. It took me all of five seconds to lower it to the plate and he was off to eating it on his own.
It took all of 20 minutes to start from finger to gum to plate! I love these boys. Even took out all kibble for the night and left them with nothing but the soupie. It's about 1/3 of the way down. Will check on it in the morning and update with where it is.
Starting with Poco, he wasn't all that interested in eating it on his own, so I had to hand feed him. He ate approximately half of what he ate the night before.
Shinchi did the same. I had woken them both up and neither of them seemed very hungry. Despite the fact that I had fallen asleep and had forgotten to put their kibble back in the cage for the night.
PM feeding.
Both of the boys did amazing!
Poco had to start off with the spoon, no more needing to rub his gums or offer it on my finger. So proud of him!! Lowered the spoon to the bowl and off he went on his own!
Shinchi was a little hesitant. Had to offer the spoon to his lips and nose so that he had to lick it off of his nose before he started in willingly on the spoon. Took awhile but eventually I was able to get his face in the bowl so he would eat on his own.
I realized that the bowl that I had the soupie in was a little too small for both of the boys liking as they both wanted in the bowl but one or the other was hogging, so I switched to a plate.
They pretty much ate all of the food that I pulled out for them. I had to go from my desk to the floor because they decided to take turns dooking at me while the other was eating, which was fine with me!
After dinner was done and I put up all the food and dishware, I noticed that Poco was following me around, dooking in my general direction! Normally he is off to himself for awhile before he seeks me out. This time, it was right at me, "Play with me mommy or I will chase you down!" I loved every second of it.
Shinchi is of course off trying to stash a tuppeware bowl that he snatched off of the table awhile ago...
I do not think I will be putting any food, soup or kibble, in the cage again tonight. I feel that sufficiently they both ate enough to carry them on until morning. I mean, they both literally ate about 1/4 of a cup each. I'm hoping that by doing this, they will be hungry enough in the morning to not have to struggle with feeding them as thursday's are my very early mornings and I have to get up and out the door with very little time to stop and feed.
Last Edit: Sept 10, 2015 0:33:51 GMT -5 by Deleted
I don't have time for pictures, but both boys were hungry this morning! Had to how them both the spoon, then lowered it into the bowl and bam, both of their heads were in the bowl eating as much as their tummies could hold! I'm loving how easy my boys are making it to switch right now. My only hope is it continues to be this easy.
PM feeding
I couldn't be a happier ferrent right now! My boys are basically snubbing the kibble and when I put down the bowl of soupies they immediately went for it. I have them both sitting on my desk each eating from their own bowls, devouring their soupies. Yey!
Last Edit: Sept 10, 2015 20:01:45 GMT -5 by Deleted
Day4 AM they didn't do very well. Ate just a little bit when I put the bowl in the cage but as soon as I walked away, so did they. Checked in on them a little later before I had to go to work and they hadn't touched it. Did the same thing, put them right up to the bowl and they started eating. I went to work and came back to practically a full bowl of soupies.
PM they are eating almost everything. Including the little chunks that are still in there because I didn't do a very good job blending it up this time. They pull the chunks out of the soupie, eat it and then go back to the bowl.
I've weighed both boys as it's day 4 of their transition and Shinchi has gained 1 oz in weight already and Poco has gained an astonishing 3.5 oz in weight! You can certainly tell who is enjoying the switch more lol!
The next couple of days are going to be touch and go because of personal issues in my life so they will mostly be eating kibble with a small amount of soupie.
Their poops are uniform. Small, watery and the same color. Like a greenish brown. I've learned my lesson though-no free roam during transition.. they don't want to use any of the litter boxes we have around and waiting for the runny poops to dry seem to be a dream not coming true..I have little black soft spots along my walls.
I made the mistake of letting them free roam over night as the previous times I've done it, they used their litter pans just fine. Little devils! Pooing out of place! Haha
You're doing extremely well! I feel like i'm reading a story, do you write?
How old are Shinchi and Poco? Both boy's seem to be progressing well. In your video, they seem very eager to be eating the soupie. Thats fantastic~!!
When I switched, Mine wouldn't really touch kibble during the soupie stage either They seemed to be going really well with the soupie and then suddenly snubbed it. I'm suspecting it could be the kibble. Did you leave the kibble in the cage when you left the soupie there? Soupie can stay out for about 6-8 hours, I thought I would mention that incase you didn't know already. ;u; Do you normally feed them early in the morning between 1-4am? What time at night do you feed them also?
Ahaha! Sounds like they made themselves quite hungry for dinner time!! That sounds so great that they're eating the chunks already. Have you tried just giving them chunks as they are?
Life is understandable, I hope things work out for the best for you. ;u; During my switch I saw some really funky looking poops and they're apparently because the ferret is detoxing the kibble. It's totally normal.
Ferrets need their exercise otherwise they will become bored, and or have behavioural issues. Let them free roam, only after you see them poop beforehand or remove their food shortly before playtime. I have to remove the plate from my lots cage otherwise my youngest male, Yuki, will stash all the food. //Sigh// Ferrets. When playtime finishes, they get really hungry and end up eating all their dinner up. ;u; Nothing beats having a good playtime, exhausting themselves out and then eating yummy food, then sleep the day away~~~ Ferret life must be the best. ^^
Thank you! I do write from time to time. I have an active imagination that's for sure! I'm glad that you are able to read it without getting too bored haha. Both boys are 2 years old. Shinchi is 2 years and 1 month and Poco is 2 years and 3 months.
As far as when I feed them, it's usually between 7am-11am for AM soupies and PM soupies is between 9:30pm-1am all depending on when I get home from work or when I have to go in the morning.
I haven't tried giving them just chunks yet, but I did pre-blend everything before separating it so it's chunky. One day I forgot to reblend it and add water to it and just stuck it in their cage. They licked it a bit and then walked away. I'm going to have to hand feed them the chunks at some point, but it probably wont be this weekend.
However, where I'm staying they have raw deer meat so I'm going to blend that up and see how they take to that. If they like it, I might see about contacting some hunters around the area.
Their AM feeding was great! It was about 8 ounces and I knew we were going to be traveling for a couple of hours and there are lots of kids around so they need their energy to play play play. They ate all of it with minimal complaint! Such a happy ferrent!
I'm excited about their PM feeding. Even though we are at a new place for this weekend, I have hopes that it will be alright. I have kibble in their cage right now though just in case it turns into a nightmare! My Goddaughters are excited to help feed them at least! So there is that!
PM feeding didn't go as well as I expected. I took their regular soupies and added the deer meat to it. Poco (my DEW) practically devoured as much as he could. When I put him back in his cage, I did so to where he was sitting up hooman style and he did not move. His belly was so full he licked his lips and fell asleep just like that.
However, poor Shinchi didn't want any at all. Just absolutely hated it! For the first time since starting the transition I had to scruff him to make him eat. I only brought a little bit of foods with me, everything else was frozen and I had already mixed the deer meat in with the chicken soupies so he had to eat his dinner the little fuzz butt!
Regardless, he ate around 1/3 of the soupie recluctantly. I didn't even have to scruff him hard. Just had to hold onto the extra skin. He could have easily moved away from me and gotten away without the effort, he just needed to be held a special way I guess.. Poco finished the rest of the soupie. A WHOLE 2/3 of the container. What a fat butt! (giggle)
Last Edit: Sept 13, 2015 22:11:41 GMT -5 by Deleted
AM feeding went a lot better than expected. Shinchi was less reluctant to eat because there was no deer meat in it!
PM feeding was pretty much normal. Had to keep bringing Shinchi back to the bowl because Poco was being a pig! They both ate as much as they could and cleaned the bowl completely!
All went well. Both meals were easily devoured, they still aren't walking up to the bowl or following me around for foods yet, but at least when I sit them down at the food bowl they take to it with just sniffing. Like "what.. is..*sniff*.. this? *sniff sniff* NOMS!" *nom nom nom* And they stay until they've had their fill. Poco won't move until the bowl is empty and Shinchi still acts revolted when he's finished eating, like he can't get away fast enough, but it's ok. He's getting better!
You are doing great and so are they. Poco and Shinchi are little characters and funny to read about. You do write very well. You're easy to understand and make your posts fun.
They have nice big appetites and that gives you encouragement to keep working with them. I wish all our new to raw ferrets would eat so well.
If you will allow me one small note. Try a plate with a lip. You can pick one or two up from a Dollar store. It will give them a little more space to eat from and also ferrets can't see well when their head is in a bowl. Their natural instinct during feeding is to scan for predators. Even domesticated ferrets carry this instinct.
It won't be long now before you see a change in their fur. It will get so soft and silky. Just wait until your God Daughters learn that they smell like grape Kool-Aid. You'll be the coolest GodMother around!
:wave3:
Last Edit: Sept 16, 2015 7:54:14 GMT -5 by Deleted
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words! I will be looking for a plate with a lip as soon as I can. I just got back in to town and my friend by the way is doing great! They were able to re-sect most of the tumor! The boys didn't have to have much in the way of kibble either. I put a small amount in their cage and they barely touched it all weekend, so regardless I had to feed them their soupies!
Day 8 Fed them before leaving and they ate everything again!
I got home last night and gave them their dinner and within minutes it was gone.
Last Edit: Sept 16, 2015 8:02:50 GMT -5 by Deleted
AM feeding went well. Shinchi dipped his foot in the soupie on accident (or maybe I did and I'm blaming his wet meaty foot on him..we will never know.. ) and so he had to lick every bit of it off before he started in on his bowl. Poco was already halfway done!
After tonights feeding I am out of soupies. Well, I'm out of chicken thigh. Going to try the soupie with the thighs transitioned out and use the gizzards this time and see how they work with that. Poco and Shinchi are already eating the chunky pieces but Poco tries to stash them. Being that it isn't whole pieces I don't let him just yet, however Shinchi will just pull it out of the bowl and stand there for now.
Off to class-supplies after and then to work.
Last Edit: Sept 16, 2015 8:06:55 GMT -5 by Deleted