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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 8:09:54 GMT -5
Figured id start a switching thread for the both of them to keep track of weights, and progress. but, my scale just broke so im waiting on the new one to come in. Should be here within the week. SO, let me introduce you to my little children  They are both Marshal ferrets, which i wasn't too fond of. But, it is what it is. First we have Rambo. i got him two weeks before Navi, and according to their "birth certificates" they were born on the same day.   And then Navi   and for size comparison  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 8:18:46 GMT -5
I've had to go into work earlier than usual (only for a short period of time. Few weeks. Soon my schedule will be back to normal) so I haven't been able to feed them soupie in the morning. So I've been doing it in the afternoons when I get home, and sit on the floor with them.
Rambo definitely likes it more than Navi does. He will eat the most, but he's been introduced to it before she was so we will give it time.
Then, at night I put in some whole ground rabbit and usually by morning that is almost gone.
When morning comes I replace what's left with their kibble to make sure Navi is getting all the nutrients she needs.
I might have to start seperating them at night no see if Navi is actually touching the grounds or if Rambos eating it all.
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Post by Celene on Apr 28, 2016 16:30:30 GMT -5
Rambo and Navi are both adorable! A couple questions: Are you following our raw soupie recipe? Does the whole ground rabbit contain ALL of the rabbit (i.e. bones and organs too)? If so, you don't need to be worried about them getting any nutrition from their kibble - the soup and grind will give them a fully balanced diet (way more nutritious than any kibble) while you work on switching them to larger chunks of meat. Since they are so young they should be pretty easy to switch as they have not yet strongly imprinted on their kibble. As long as you've seen each take a few mouthfuls of both the soup and rabbit grind, you do not need to worry about them going hungry and not eating it as they already recognize it as food! As soon as you've seen both ferrets eat the soup and the rabbit on their own, you can throw the kibble right out (or donate it to a local shelter if you have a lot left).  One other thing to consider is that young ferrets and ferrets first switching to raw tend to eat a LOT. Normally I would recommend weighing out each meal and noting how much is left over when you go to feed the next meal, but since your scale is broken you can use measuring cups for now. If you keep track (either writing down or charting in Excel) this will help you pinpoint exactly how much they are eating so you can portion their meals to the right amount (so that they have enough to eat, but you are also not wasting a bunch by putting out too much meat). |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2016 17:43:16 GMT -5
Thank you ! Yes, I followed the soup recipe. It has heart, liver, breast meat, and egg shell powder. I followed the soupie recipe on the forum. Also, the ground is whole In including organs, head, bones etc. So I guess you are right, I can just get rid of the kibble all together then. I was just worried about maybe Rambo hogging it all, but since there is a little left over in the morning they should be okay. |
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Post by Celene on Apr 28, 2016 18:01:03 GMT -5
Perfect! As long as there is a bit of food leftover in the morning, they are both getting enough. If the bowl is licked clean you can increase the amount you feed for each meal until there is just a little bit left over.
One suggestion I would make is that for the next batch of soupie, go for chicken thigh over breast. The reason is that ferrets get their energy from fats much in the same way that humans get their energy from carbs, and thighs are much fattier than breasts, which tend to be pretty lean. Thighs are usually cheaper too which is an added bonus.
Once they are on a 100% raw diet with no kibble you can start working on incorporating slivers of meat (eventually working up to larger chunks and bone-in meats) as well as some more variety.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 9:06:01 GMT -5
More energy!? Lol, just kidding Okay, I'll grab some thigh meat today and use that instead. Thank you! ...Still no scale yet  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2016 11:06:54 GMT -5
welp, shes eating it. like a little piggy breakfast this morning  |
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Post by Celene on Apr 29, 2016 11:28:37 GMT -5
So adorable! Glad she likes it |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 16:38:58 GMT -5
My scale came in today, so I'm excited about that.
I'm going to weight the ferts when I get outta work and start keeping track here. I feel like my girl is dropping weight, so at least now I'll know for sure.
I haven't fed kibble in a week. They have been eating soupie, whole ground rabbit, and chunks of the chicken thigh.
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Post by dorena261-Natalia on May 3, 2016 17:15:57 GMT -5
they are both adorable they are not on kibble and that's great! you're doing the best thing for them  i can see you're worried about Navi's weight. do they eat all alone and you can't track how much every one of them eat, or you're separating them while eating? |
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Post by Celene on May 3, 2016 18:00:13 GMT -5
It is normal for ferrets to lose or gain a little weight during the switch, and many ferrets are still slimming down this time of year for spring. Based on the photo in your first post, your ferrets appear to be healthy weights. Ferrets should be more of less straight up and down when you hold them, like a properly stuffed sausage - neither having a belly bulging out nor a defined waistline. Having said that, looks can be deceiving, especially when they lose their fluffy winter coats. Another good rule of thumb is that you should be able to feel bones (ribs, spine, etc.) but not actually see them through their coat. And some ferrets (especially girls) are naturally petite. Here is a picture I took a couple months ago of my two girls, Mocha and Nova. Mocha (lighter coloured girl on the bottom) has a huge fluffy coat and looks much bigger, but when I weighed them the same day I was surprised to find out that Nova (sable on the top) was actually the heavier of the two!  (For the record, they weigh about 1.4 lbs to 1.5 lbs) Here is a recent thread on weighing ferrets. |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 19:11:33 GMT -5
Okay the weights are in! Rambo-2.7 lbs Navi-1.14 lbs. Thank you for being so helpful! I love comming on here and seeing your replies |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 19:13:08 GMT -5
Love the pic, its crazy to think that little girl is heavier.
All I can think of is the term "I'm not fat, I'm fluffy" haha
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 19:25:19 GMT -5
they are both adorable they are not on kibble and that's great! you're doing the best thing for them i can see you're worried about Navi's weight. do they eat all alone and you can't track how much every one of them eat, or you're separating them while eating? I did for a night to see if she actually would touch the stuff without me coaxing her and she ate the whole bowl. So, now I put as much in as I think the two of them would eat and there is little left over in the morning. (My scale broke so i couldnt weigh it out , but my new one came in today. Yay!) I was worried she was turning her nose up and refusing, and Rambo was picking up her slack...but that's not the case she's definetly eating her share, and I've even seen her hog the bowl and make him wait till she's done. But like the gentleman he is he obliges |
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Post by Celene on May 3, 2016 23:53:31 GMT -5
Navi is quite tiny! Ideal weights for ferrets (like humans) really depends on the body type and frame, but if she starts eating soupies then she will fatten up quick!
How big are the chunks of chicken thigh that you are feeding?
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