|
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2015 16:28:15 GMT -5
Also I linked my photobucket where I upload all of my Ferret stuff earlier. Can you check it out and see if it works? At least for the videos.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2015 19:09:29 GMT -5
Good Evening.
I can see your photobucket and the videos fine. It's fun looking at all the pictures and videos. I love how sweetly you speak to them. You have a lovely reassuring voice.
Eggs make for loose eggy poops. They shouldn't have one every day, we'd like them to each have one a week or during grooming season even a couple of extras once they are settled into their frankenprey menu. You also don't want them to expect an egg with every meal. In the beginning, it's okay to use a few tricks to help them eat better so keep that in mind and maybe do an egg every other day or just a bit of egg on top to get them started.
You did great on your quiz as Sveta mentioned. Nice job! Hugs to the boys and a a pat on the back to a very good ferrent. :thumbsup:
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2015 19:47:09 GMT -5
It works on my computer so I'm able to access it. Poco is about 2 years old right? My boy Zack was super stubborn about his slivers. What I did was scruff him so he would take a lick of the soup. Then I would continue scruffing him very gently, and I held him close on my lap. I'd pet him while he ate. And like that, the pigso would devour his slivers in soup. That way he felt safe and secure. Before we would give Zack medication with his meals, so he became scared to eat. And he would fight to avoid taking any food. It was Katt that told me how important it is to make meal times a positive experience. You want Poco to feel good when he is eating. So he isn't stressed or scared. Having him happy during the meal might help him progress as fast as he can. I used to feed eggs to entice the soups and slivers. I found it helped. You want to make sure you are not overfeeding those. So with two ferrets it would be 2-4 eggs per week between them. While they are shedding you can make it 4, but otherwise keep it to 3 or less. Add the eggs to the batch of soup that you make for the entire week. And freeze it in smaller daily portions.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2015 19:52:33 GMT -5
If the egg really helps keep using it, but eventually you will need to wean them off it. Replacing it with water, or a couple of drops of salmon oil. It isn't the biggest concern for now though, I think.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2015 10:19:42 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't post this yesterday: 1. Ferret's name: Shinchi 2. Ferret's weight: 2lbs 0.6oz (poor baby lost .8oz since last week. ) 3. Ferret has eaten "2oz" amount on average per meal. 4. Stools on various proteins. Normal up until he started taking his medication. I don't know exactly how much he's been eating. I'm going to have to start feeding him separate from Poco to calculate because he is barely pooping at the moment, so it's possible that Poco is eating the majority of the food since he has gained the most weight. 5. Activity levels: Very hyper and energetic. More so then he has been. Seems his medication is making him feel better. 6. Weekly menu: Chicken soupie with boston pork mixed in and 1 egg. Some slivers before he had to be vetted. 1. Ferret's name: Poco 2. Ferret's weight: 2lbs 5.2oz What a little pig! If only I could get him to eat his slivers instead of soupie! Most of this is probably water weight 3. Ferret has eaten "2oz" amount on average per meal. Most likely more because he is a pig and shinchi is sick. 4. Stools on various proteins. very normal, in fact most of the poo in the box is his and there is a lot of it in there compared to before shinchi got sick. 5. Activity levels: Normal for him. Happy go lucky. He has actually been making those chittering noises. I can never remember what its called. Dooking? Because war dancing is the movement so dooking is the noise right? I actually hear him dooking now! So overall happy. 6. Weekly menu: Same as Shinchi As for everything else: I don't have salmon oil yet (I keep forgetting to pick some up when I'm at the store, since I don't have much time to even go shopping lately) so I'm still giving them the ferrevite. It's usually only to get them weighed and a little bit for Shinchi to get the nasty taste of the clavamox out of his mouth. So I'm thinking of maybe for the time being dipping just the tip of the slivers in the ferretvite to try and entice him. @sveta Yes Poco and Shinchi are both a little over 2 years old. Maybe about half way through. I've tried to do the scruff and stuff method on Poco but he just tightens up. He barely has any skin on the back of his neck for scruffing as he is mostly muscle so he can still jerk around and turn his head about and still refuse the slivers. So, I have to entice him to eat the slivers some other way. He liked it with the egg, but I can't see myself breaking open an egg every meal just to dip a few slivers in it. My husband and I don't eat eggs that often and it's no good for the boys. I doubt too that if I scrambled the raw egg and left it in the fridge that it would stay good for very long. I have also done the scruff and stuff method for Shinchi, but he is a little weirdo. When I lightly scruff him and he is refusing his meal, he will literally dive towards the food and devours it. So if he is being picky, I will gently pinch his scruff instead of holding him by it and he will eat until he is full the little rascal. Sometimes he just won't eat if I don't have his scruff. * Also-This weeks menu is going to be a little different. I'm going to blend their beef with their chicken and see how that goes. Hopefully if I get introduce little amounts of beef at a time, Poco's tummy will get used to the richness of the red meat and he won't over indulge. Wish me luck! (dance)
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2015 11:21:34 GMT -5
Do you warm up their food before serving? Lots of ferrets like it slightly warmed up.
Don't microwave it. You can warm it by putting it in a small cup them placing it in a big container of warm water. I used to have a small pan (about 3-4 inches in diameter) and I would warm their food in the lowest setting on the stove stirring constantly, checking it all the time.
How big are the slivers you are making?
If Poco is very stubborn, don't give up on him. I know they can be soo annoying at 1 in the morning when he is wiggling and kicking you. If he gets too worked up, then take a step back, spoon feed him or dab it on his mouth. Then next time try to progress further.
It's a fine line between forcing them to eat, and firmly encouraging progress.
Ferrets don't know what in the world we are doing to them when we go switching their diet. It must seem really strange and alarming to them. So we have to understand that it might take them a while to catch on with the program. Just make sure Poco keeps eating some form of meat, he will get there eventually. Especially since he was sick and now his throat is uncomfortable.
You could try making the soup a bit more watery, and covering the slivers in it. So they will not be able to avoid eating them?
If wasting eggs is a problem, you could try buying quail eggs. They are much smaller, and if you are using them daily like that, it might be more convenient. But it would depend how much they cost in your area.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 15:43:23 GMT -5
Thank you. I usually use warm water when blending their soup but with slivers for him only dipping it will make him want to eat it. I'm starting to worry about Shinchi. He isn't gaining any weight. I will post more later. As far as mixing the soupies wit the slivers, they eat around them .
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 16:41:07 GMT -5
Some ferrets are naturally slim. His weight hasn't changed too drastically lately, just a bit, right? You can try giving them more fatty foods, like duck, lamb, pork. I used to make the soupie and slivers out of Pork, it was cheap, and it has a mild taste. I still added chicken heart and liver though. I had my smallest girl eat the all the pork soupie that was meant for 3 ferrets for a whole day then she slept for the longest time just digesting it just keep giving them slivers. Give them time to get used to it
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 8:06:14 GMT -5
Good Morning. The last two days have been a bit busy for me and so will today. I'll be here more again after today. You are in good hands with @sveta.
Shinchi is more of a whippet. If he is eating well, pooping and playing and most importantly not losing weight then he is fine. Look at his ears, nose and paws. If they are nice and pink, then try not to worry. He may also have his seasons reversed and think it's spring time. That's not uncommon. Two of mine have their seasons reversed.
I love all the noises they make. They dook, chatter, his, chirp, honk (my Juliet does anyway) and can even bark when extremely frightened or excited. Just when I think I've heard every noise they can make then they come up with a new one. They even laugh like heheheheh.
I have to get dressed and head out for my long day. I'll be hanging around all day tomorrow so I'll work up a small lesson plan unless Sveta beats me to it. Everyone is doing just great and I'm proud of both you and Sveta and Shinchi and Poco. Love job ferrenting. :wave3:
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2015 12:53:00 GMT -5
Thank you both. I am thinking they have their seasons reversed which would be good for me because that means I can get them fully on Frankenprey before summer hits and they eat more. I've been weighing Shinchi daily and he's gained 1oz while Poco has lost it.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2015 14:43:55 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about 1oz.
How are they eating?
Is Poco back on slivers in soup yet?
Did Shinchi get soup without slivers while Poco was recovering as well?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2015 16:10:02 GMT -5
In the beginning I was feeding them both on the same plate so feeding them separately slivers while Poco was sick wasn't an option but recently I found 2 crystal plates with a raised lip that holds easily 3-4 oz soupie. So now I can feed them separately. Also even though they are eating the soupie I've been leaving little bits of food in there that didn't get completely blended. They have been cleaning their plates.
I'm going shopping for more meaties for them tonight after work because they are out of pork. I think I'm going to try the pork slivers because I don't think the boys like the chicken slivers. They get slimey after awhile.
You can see the new bowls/plates in one of the reception uploaded videos on my photobucket.
Also I wouldn't worry about 1oz but it seems that the boys are bouncing weights around 1-2oz.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2015 10:40:15 GMT -5
Good Morning Their weights do go up and down a bit here and there. If you weigh them regularly then you will see a pattern emerge. That way you won't worry about an ounce here or there. You'll get familiar with summer versus winter weights. Your switch is still new and they both will loose some kibble fat. They get nice and lean and in a little while you will see a more muscular body form. If they are cleaning their plates, then try adding some more food. They seemed to have reached that stage where they enjoy this new food and it's time to pig out a little. That's a very good thing. Mine all enjoy plates much better. I'm glad you found some with a lip. Bowls cut off their line of sight and in the wild they need to be able to see any approaching predators. It's a natural instinct left over and still applies to our domesticated ferrets. You all are doing very well. :wave3:
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2015 18:00:21 GMT -5
Just checking in. :cup:
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2015 11:45:14 GMT -5
In the beginning I was feeding them both on the same plate so feeding them separately slivers while Poco was sick wasn't an option but recently I found 2 crystal plates with a raised lip that holds easily 3-4 oz soupie. So now I can feed them separately.
You can feed them separately, but if it gets too much then just proceed with the pace of the slowest member. I had a very stubborn ferret and 2 others that gobbled everything. I tried a couple of different things. One thing that I did was have a container of slivers, and a container of soupie. And I mixed them according to what ferret i was feeding at the time. Also even though they are eating the soupie I've been leaving little bits of food in there that didn't get completely blended. They have been cleaning their plates.
They have been cleaning their plates? this is excellent. Their soupie looks pretty thick and that is good. That means that you need to add more slivers. Make the soupie thinner, and keep adding more slivers in. At this point you are aiming at getting the soupie to be like a gravy for their slivers, but this could take some time. When switching you end up keeping the ferrets on the edge of their comfort zone. Just as they get comfortable eating what you give them, BAM you move on to the next step. And they get stubborn again, and you persevere until they get comfortable, and as soon as that happens, it's the next step again I'm going shopping for more meaties for them tonight after work because they are out of pork. I think I'm going to try the pork slivers because I don't think the boys like the chicken slivers. They get slimey after awhile.
Meat goes through a couple of stages as it goes bad. You need to also remember that ferrets can eat meat that is wayy off for people, ferrets will be fine with it. First meat will get sort of dry/crusty, then it will get oily, then it will get slimey, after that it starts to stink pretty bad. After those stages you get a couple of options: sometimes it goes dry and becomes something called ferret jerky (which is gross dried stashed meat, you should throw it out), or it could get maggots D: which is just soo horrible and gross. When they start eating bigger pieces always check for stashes that ferrets leave for later. For ferrets slivers and small chunks are fine for 12 hours (might depend on temperature or climate, but generally that is the ballpark), soup is less, the bigger chunks last longer, whole prey can go for a couple of days (mine are currently snacking on 16 hour old chicken and mice chunks ). You can see the new bowls/plates in one of the reception uploaded videos on my photobucket.
If you upload new videos or photos, add the link to that video and picture in the post please Also I wouldn't worry about 1oz but it seems that the boys are bouncing weights around 1-2oz. If the weights are bouncing, I wouldn't worry. If it is a steady decline then you might want to look for other signs of illness, or get some tests done. And if it was spring or autumn, their seasonal weight changes can be very drastic.
|
|