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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 12:02:54 GMT -5
Hi! So, I'm working on getting all the supplies for a mentor and starting the switch. (Scale, supplements, mini freezer so I can keep my ferret food separate from people food, etc.) And I have a couple questions about what to get. I'm planning on a Frankenprey diet, if that helps any. Here are my questions: 1) I'll order taurine powder; what other supplements should I stock up on, if any? 2) Is there a certain brand of scale that works well? ( This is the one I was thinking of ordering, would it work for meat and weighing the ferrets?) 3) Is there any other items it would do well to order ahead of time before starting the switch? Thanks  |
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Post by Aftershock on Sept 30, 2016 13:04:52 GMT -5
Have you not been able to find hearts in your area then?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 13:41:00 GMT -5
Not from a continuous source. I have a local store here that sometimes has them, but it's a small package and supply is periodic at best, unfortunately. I'm making a few trips today though, so we'll see.
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Post by raynebc on Sept 30, 2016 14:49:12 GMT -5
Is that store unwilling to special order hearts for you?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2016 14:57:56 GMT -5
I knew I forgot to ask something! I'll go back there while I'm out.
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Post by Aftershock on Oct 1, 2016 10:22:10 GMT -5
Have you tried giving them a chicken wing without doing anything to it already? I'm asking because if you end up having to do the soup phase you end up needing bonemeal or ground up eggshells. Other than that, on a balanced frankenprey diet, you don't need any supplements. I like the scale, though it could be a bit small (mine is too) but that just means you get a Tupperware or something big enough to fit a ferret in to weigh the fuzzy.  I will personally recommend either getting an ulu (I am in love with mine, it is so great for cutting meat and bone) or a sharp cleaver and maybe even a mallet. There are times when you start giving them wings and stuff (or the bottom of a turkey neck/any thigh bone in) that they don't know they should eat it. Personally, I wish someone should have just told me to get an ulu because I am much faster and use less effort with it. It's kind of fan shaped, so you have better weight distribution behind it. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2016 18:26:05 GMT -5
Have you tried giving them a chicken wing without doing anything to it already? I'm asking because if you end up having to do the soup phase you end up needing bonemeal or ground up eggshells. Other than that, on a balanced frankenprey diet, you don't need any supplements. I like the scale, though it could be a bit small (mine is too) but that just means you get a Tupperware or something big enough to fit a ferret in to weigh the fuzzy. I will personally recommend either getting an ulu (I am in love with mine, it is so great for cutting meat and bone) or a sharp cleaver and maybe even a mallet. There are times when you start giving them wings and stuff (or the bottom of a turkey neck/any thigh bone in) that they don't know they should eat it. Personally, I wish someone should have just told me to get an ulu because I am much faster and use less effort with it. It's kind of fan shaped, so you have better weight distribution behind it. I haven't had the chance to try them on anything but an egg, and that didn't work out so well. They sniffed at it, looked at me like I was trying to poison them, and fled the scene. I'll take a swing at the chicken wing next week when the humans go shopping. (can I leave the skin on for those?) I think what happened was I misread the mentor thread (it said you needed taurine) and I figured I may as well get it and have it than need it and not have it for another two days while it delivers. That ulu looks like it means business! I'll definitely have to invest in one of those.  Thanks for the informative reply! |
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Oct 1, 2016 19:45:46 GMT -5
Yes, leave the skin on. You can cut the wing at joints if ferrets do not seem to know what to do with the whole thing.
Do you have a farmer's market in your area? May have to google that and your home town. If you do, people who sell chicken meat will have hearts and all those weird goodies you hardly find at store.
If you rely on Tyson, look at the hearts and gizzard, and pick the packs that have the dark, brownish bits, The hearts are a different color than the gizzards. It is an unreliable source. I did get about seven hearts out of a pack not too long ago, but found some at farmer's market today.
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Post by Aftershock on Oct 1, 2016 19:59:36 GMT -5
Bahahaha, egg has been a battle with mine to be honest, Gator took to it okay (I think he just likes eating off of a spoon), Croc goes straight for the spoon, but won't eat it off the plate, and Cow likes to stick her nose up at it and try to scramble away. I think egg is such a different texture for them that it ends up being a shock, so they refuse. You'll get more bang for your buck buying a whole chicken and taking it apart, as a side note. (That means you get the spine too, and I love the spine for my kids, they eat it very well) Getting everything together for the switch is overwhelming and intimidating, so misreading something isn't something to worry over. that's why you have us. Hahahaha, yes, ulu's mean business!  You're so very welcome! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2016 22:42:16 GMT -5
And here I thought I had the only ferrets that turn their nose up at egg! Just out of curiosity, how do you prepare yours? (I just cracked mine in a tiny bowl and mixed it a little and offered a dab on my finger.) Bo was a little more interested than Blaze, but as soon as they got too close and booped it with their nose, they wanted nothing to do with it! The texture concept occurred to me, too; is scrambling an option (without seasonings/butter/anything added)? The good news is, my aunt came by a with a meaty surprise for the ferrets this evening, but they're wingettes instead of wings  so I figure I'll try one of those tomorrow morning. Just thaw and feed? I'm glad I joined the forum; without the advice I've received so far, I'm sure I'd probably be in information-filled quicksand! abbeytheferret6 - I was actually looking at the Tyson packs today, but noticed exactly what you described and decided against it; a relative knows a place I can get packs of one or the other instead of an uneven mix of both. There's one market that I know of, but they're more veggies and things like pots and pans than meat, so I'll keep looking for others, just in case. |
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Post by Aftershock on Oct 2, 2016 1:47:43 GMT -5
I actually have noticed better results with using a plate. It's less intimidating. Oh yeah! I crack it and whip it together with a fork! I can try to get a video of the spoon feeding tomorrow as I'm trying to introduce salmon oil to my ferrets and I have one that is giving me a rough time on it. Yay for surprise ferret food! Yes, just thaw and serve. You may have to scruff and slip it into the mouth while they yawn to get them to taste it, but don't be discouraged if they don't turn into hissing fiends. Every ferret is different. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2016 12:48:06 GMT -5
Update: no go on the chicken wing. I scruffed them and tried your suggestion, and Bo actually got so sick of shenanigans that he bared his teeth at me and hissed. The good news, though, is I ordered my scale it will be here Friday. And I attempted the egg on a plate; there was more interest than in the bowl, but still no takers. |
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Post by raynebc on Oct 2, 2016 12:59:23 GMT -5
Slipping food in their mouth mostly works if it's a small piece or if it's soup-form. With a larger piece of food (meaty piece), I've sometimes had luck while holding it in their mouth while scruffing and they end up chomping on it trying to get rid of it. Once they squirm, let them down, but keep trying it and they should eventually get a good enough taste of it to realize it's good food.
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