|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2016 16:49:46 GMT -5
That moment when Fedex is here and you think it's ferret food and it turns out to be a package for someone else...*sigh* The waiting continues.
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Dec 9, 2016 16:56:57 GMT -5
O.O devastation! I am Gator waiting for your package. 😂
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2016 18:53:50 GMT -5
It's here!!!
Might have to switch back to kibble due to my dad.
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Dec 9, 2016 18:56:14 GMT -5
:/ is he freaking out about freezer space again?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2016 19:00:26 GMT -5
More like still. And I'm not seeing an alternative.
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Dec 9, 2016 19:20:11 GMT -5
Is there possibly any friends or relatives nearby that wouldn't mind storing the ferret food? Maybe see if you can 'rent' freezer space from them?
|
|
|
Post by katt on Dec 9, 2016 19:20:27 GMT -5
Okay don't panic or make any rash decisions yet. There are almost always workarounds given enough trouble shooting. First in regards to your dad's concerns about a chest freezer raising the cost of electricity bill, I would suggest using some rational arguments that it really won't raise it much, as well as offering to pay the increase in the bill - which will NOT be very much. Case in point: www.walmart.com/ip/31136428?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228022880328&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=43324539032&wl4=pla-82770709952&wl5=1027760&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=31136428&wl13=&veh=semThis is a similar freezer to the one I have. As you can see it only raises the electricity bill by $18 a YEAR. My suggestion - show your dad this, and offer him $18/year in "freezer rent." ALSO note that there are smaller freezers, this was the easiest one to find with a picture right in the ad that had the energy usage. A smaller one will typically use even less energy. It should say how much when you buy it, esp if you buy in person vs online. Mine had a tag on it like the pic in this ad that estimated energy use. Secondly - let's address how you are storing the meats. What is your current storage method? Eg are you putting the meat in its packages in the freezer? Bagging it? Ice cube trays? Containers? I have found the most space efficient method is to portion everything into meal sized portions in sandwich ziploc bags. Press the air out of the bag, seal it, fold the top over, and gently smoosh the bag into a flattish rectangle. Then stack them nicely in the freezer. They take up very little space this way.
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Dec 9, 2016 19:23:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by katt on Dec 9, 2016 19:27:05 GMT -5
Thanks Kelsey. The pics above are to show some meat packing. To give you an idea for size that is a full meal (12 hours) for 2 adult male ferrets (and often with leftovers at the end of the meal).
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 1:31:31 GMT -5
Okay don't panic or make any rash decisions yet. There are almost always workarounds given enough trouble shooting. First in regards to your dad's concerns about a chest freezer raising the cost of electricity bill, I would suggest using some rational arguments that it really won't raise it much, as well as offering to pay the increase in the bill - which will NOT be very much. Case in point: www.walmart.com/ip/31136428?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228022880328&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=43324539032&wl4=pla-82770709952&wl5=1027760&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=31136428&wl13=&veh=semThis is a similar freezer to the one I have. As you can see it only raises the electricity bill by $18 a YEAR. My suggestion - show your dad this, and offer him $18/year in "freezer rent." ALSO note that there are smaller freezers, this was the easiest one to find with a picture right in the ad that had the energy usage. A smaller one will typically use even less energy. It should say how much when you buy it, esp if you buy in person vs online. Mine had a tag on it like the pic in this ad that estimated energy use. Secondly - let's address how you are storing the meats. What is your current storage method? Eg are you putting the meat in its packages in the freezer? Bagging it? Ice cube trays? Containers? I have found the most space efficient method is to portion everything into meal sized portions in sandwich ziploc bags. Press the air out of the bag, seal it, fold the top over, and gently smoosh the bag into a flattish rectangle. Then stack them nicely in the freezer. They take up very little space this way. After an hour and a half of talking about it, it came down to 'we'll try what we have and go from there.' I package the meat up in 8 oz portions, baggied and smushed until the air is out, but I still need to do that process with the HT orders. That will probably happen tomorrow, hopefully. I'll take tomorrow to package and start new grind-included diet on Sunday since Im out and about for a while tomorrow. Is that okay? Also, how many times can I freeze/rethaw meat? Ex, take out and package once thawed, put back in freezer, thaw for meals?
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Dec 10, 2016 2:05:10 GMT -5
Sounds good to me! I'm just glad some type of middle ground has been established for now. Thawing it to repackage isn't a big deal, but I personally don't do it as much as possible. That's because I'm lazy. Katt may chime in with better knowledge on specifics though.
|
|
|
Post by katt on Dec 10, 2016 2:24:20 GMT -5
There's no set number really - the less often the better. Keep in mind the meat has usually freeze-thawed once by the time you get it (e.g. Any "fresh" grocery store meat is almost always previously frozen). I personally try not to do more than two more times after that - esp talking complete thaw (vs partial). After that I find the meat gets a little weird and seems to spoil much faster. That said the box of meat in my fridge has made a few trips back and forth on road trips in a cooler and partially thaws each time (stays mostly frozen but still) and the meat is still perfectly fine.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 15:22:47 GMT -5
I divided up the grinds, labelled and stocked in the freezer. They were done on a partial thaw. The beef lung and trim will probably be partial too, but I'm doing those after I get home from my assessment ride so it may be a full thaw. After that I have duck necks and bone in rabbit pieces.
I think from now on I might get rabbit chunks instead of pieces because these pieces are really big. I'll update pictures when I get back.
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Dec 12, 2016 14:10:20 GMT -5
Hey, did you manage to get pictures? Also, have you seen if Bo or Blaze would take a new protein?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2016 22:55:02 GMT -5
I'm doing that first thing tomorrow morning with rabbit grinds, and then tommorrow's PM feeding is going to be duck grinds. Apparently my computer didn't save that post with the pictures, so let's see if it works this time. The bag came with about 5 or 6 pieces this size. It was kind of hard to cut them up, but easier than the duck necks.
|
|