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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 13:05:50 GMT -5
Hello!
I'm new here! I have 2 fuzzies that I love to pieces. I recently lost my 3rd fuzzie to Insulinoma. When my sweet Podo was diagnosed with Insulinoma I decided I was going to switch my ferrets to a raw diet.
My question is, when starting the switch did anyone just try to give their ferrets a chicken wing? Or did everyone start the transition with the soupie? I'm very serious about making the switch but feeling a little bit stressed out because I want to make sure I do it right.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Im very interested in the mentoring program but since I'm new it looks like that will take time and Im anxious to switch my ferrets over ASAP!
I have a 2 year old ferret and a 5 month old!
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Post by raynebc on Jun 14, 2016 13:15:06 GMT -5
You can try chunks of meat, but your older ferret will likely need some training (ie. hand feeding) to learn to eat a raw diet. If you gave them an entire chicken wing, they may see it as a toy instead of as food. Some folks mix raw meat with kibble, but it's recommended to have a couple hours of buffer between feeding raw meat and kibble to avoid digestion problems. Raw soup is nutritionally balanced for short term use and can help them get used to the idea of not eating kibble.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 13:44:15 GMT -5
Your five month old is a baby and hopefully has not imprinted on his food yet. Your two year old will most likely take to soupie easier. Both of them will try to stash a wing but you can leave it in their cage (if they are caged) overnight. Put two in and slice it once lengthwise and twice width wise. Remember the key is working with them and showing love and patience as they learn to accept a new food as food.
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Post by Aftershock on Jun 14, 2016 17:51:01 GMT -5
Both my ferrets are babies, but my younger one was hesitant on the raw food, I almost think if I hadn't brought my older boy home the same day I started them on raw that my younger one wouldn't have tried it. My older boy sniffed the wing, right as my younger one had sniffed and went to walk away, and grabbed it to take off and the younger one latched on to the wing and freaked out. So sometimes it helps to have one that is easy to switch. Silly jealous children.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 18:33:23 GMT -5
Your five month old is a baby and hopefully has not imprinted on his food yet. Your two year old will most likely take to soupie easier. Both of them will try to stash a wing but you can leave it in their cage (if they are caged) overnight. Put two in and slice it once lengthwise and twice width wise. Remember the key is working with them and showing love and patience as they learn to accept a new food as food. Do you mean slice up the wing? I bought wingettes? Should I try cutting those up before putting them in the cage? Also, should I remove the kibble before introducing the wing? I know there are lots of posts on here about it but there's actually so many that I'm getting confused lol.
They sleep in a 3 story cage at night and during the day I like to give them lots of play time!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 19:18:40 GMT -5
We do recommend removing kibble before offering raw since they digest at different rates and may cause stomach upset which might lead to a bacterial overgrowth. Even with wingettes, they need to smell the fresh blood so slicing once lengthwise and twice width wise will tempt them a bit more. I'm so glad they get alot of playtime outside of the cage since ferrets are simply as smart as a two year old and need alot of stimulation and enrichment. Keep asking questions, it is confusing at first but that's why we have so many experienced ferrents who happily offer advice. Again the key to teaching them is patience and working with them and trust me that it simply gets easier with time. Build a board with bullet points and keep researching and asking questions and you will find it gets so much easier with the more time and patience you have to spend and learn plus you will be amazed at the bond you will build. :wave3:
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 19:39:46 GMT -5
We do recommend removing kibble before offering raw since they digest at different rates and may cause stomach upset which might lead to a bacterial overgrowth. Even with wingettes, they need to smell the fresh blood so slicing once lengthwise and twice width wise will tempt them a bit more. I'm so glad they get alot of playtime outside of the cage since ferrets are simply as smart as a two year old and need alot of stimulation and enrichment. Keep asking questions, it is confusing at first but that's why we have so many experienced ferrents who happily offer advice. Again the key to teaching them is patience and working with them and trust me that it simply gets easier with time. Build a board with bullet points and keep researching and asking questions and you will find it gets so much easier with the more time and patience you have to spend and learn plus you will be amazed at the bond you will build. :wave3: Okay, so the purpose of cutting the wingette is to bring out a more intense smell? So I'm just cutting the meat then not the bone right? I'm sorry if that sounds like a stupid question.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 19:49:31 GMT -5
Never will any question be considered too stupid or silly. We all start at some point. Yes, cutting into them helps release the smell and entice them with the marrow. It also makes it easier for those who are new to bones to learn to eat them. :wave3:
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 19:54:45 GMT -5
Okay so I should try to cut into the bone as well?
Are there any special tools for this? LOL I'm so clumsy I'll probably end up cutting myself!~
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2016 20:00:53 GMT -5
I use a good cleaver and a wonderful ULA knife which my Mentor katt sent me. You will get better with practice. Just take your time and if you need help learning to butcher meat then ask as many questions as you need to. :wave3:
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