Gizzards, Heart and Eggs

[Deleted]

Hello all! So I've been reading up on all these interesting posts about switching and have decided to switch my little guy, Fidget. I've only had him about a week but I figure there's no better time to start!
So today I went to an Asian store to buy hearts, but they didn't have any. So I went to Walmart, and found a package of hearts and gizzards! Shown here:

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But when I got home, I first of all didn't know what the difference was between hearts and gizzards, so I guessed and put one in my soup mix. But after examining the package further, I discovered 1) I put in a gizzard, not a heart. 2) there are only 2 hearts in that WHOLE package. so I must find a different source for hearts cause that's really stupid.
My question is, should I throw away the mix I made (only about 1/2 a cup) and remake it with the hearts? I also didn't put any dried eggshells in the mix (cause I was too excited to wait till tomorrow after I have eggshells...) will that be a problem for now? I would kind of like to just use the soup mix I have because Fidget seems to like it and just make new when I have eggshells and more hearts...

[Aftershock]

Why hello there! Welcome to the forum!
Those packages sure love to fool us, don't they? They are very unpredictable in how many hearts are in it.
Couple of quick questions before I answer anything for you;
How old is your sweet little guy?
What other stores have you tried in your area?
Have you thought of applying for a mentor at all? (There is a requirement of having posted on the forum 15 times before the application will be accepted) Having a mentor is a fabulous thing and I wish that I would have applied when I first started my switch. It would have saved so much stress and confusion.
Part of what I did while searching for different proteins or organs was call as many places as I could, that was I wasn't making the trip for no reason. In my area, I get hearts, liver, duck, chicken, and sale beef and pork from Fred Meyers.
I worry about serving the soup without the heart for the fact that heart provides your new furbaby with taurine, which is essential to their diet. I know it's exciting to start, but you may want to play it safe until you find a consistent place to find heart. (Please read The Dangers Of An UNBALANCED Raw Diet here: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/17480/intro-raw-newbies-read)
If you cannot find heart, there is also the option of ordering taurine powder online.
Again, welcome to the forum!

[Heather]

I wouldn't throw out your mix. Did you add the 2 hearts that you had in your package?. The concern that I would have is the lack of eggshell. I would suggest if you don't have access to egg shell or bone meal to put your mixture in the freezer to be used when you do. I have less concerns about your lack of heart (it's important, very important) but it's not going to make a total mess of things. The lack of egg shell will cause loose sloppy stools and may cause digestive problems especially in a new switch
ciao

[Aftershock]

X.x I thought about the lack of eggshell and spaced it. Thank you for bringing that up Heather!

[Deleted]

Little Fidget is about 1, or will be in about a month. That is what my coworker guesses, since when her roommate (the girl who abandoned them) got them 4 months ago, then they were 7 months old. So I'm just going to say he turns 1 on November 1st.
I haven't called any other stores yet, but I have the morning off and was planning on doing that today. Thank you for the Fred Myer suggestion! I figure since I live in the Kansas City area it should have at least some variety of meat entrails.
I also plan on starting to dry out some eggs- definitely don't want loose stools. And I think I'll go ahead and add the 2 hearts I have as soon as I get the eggs dried.
Question- do they have to be dried? Or could I just grind them up as soon as I crack them?
I do want to sign up for the mentor program, but this is only my 2nd thread and my 3rd posting.

[abbeytheferret6]

I use a cheap coffee bean grinder from Walmart to grind eggshells.  I also have used a Bullet. If things get to smoking, it is eggshell powder:)

Here is a way to do it faster than waiting 24-48 hours. I have done this twice, a little more involved though. 
This will get you started with a little.

1. About 4 large eggs shells rinsed out to get sticky out of egg(you can do more if you like)
2. Try to pull out membrane if you can.
3. Then dry with hair dryer on LOW:))I held each half while drying, they will blow everywhere.
4. Break up to fit in grinder.

My 4 large eggshells gave me 1 tablespoon.

If you wait 24-48 hours, there is no need to rinse or pull out any membrane.

If you decide to use bone powder, you want just plain bonepowder, no additives (extra minerals and vitamins)
KAL and NOW are two brands. There are probably others.

[Aftershock]

I wouldn't recommend trying to grind wet eggshells, you're likely to end up with a sticky mess.
You have a Fred Meyers in your town then?! I enjoy that I signed up for a members card (or whatever they call it) with them since I buy most of my ferrets food there. I get points to a percentage off of fuel.
Do you happen to have an Albertson's too? I get Turkey necks from them.

[Deleted]

Well, I just looked it up and apparently I don't have a Fred Meyers. 😕 but I will call a few places to get some good ideas of availability.