Sheilaamistone1974's Switching Thread/Sherry

[Sherry]

Looking good- we'll just wait for Heather to get in and graduate you

[Heather]

It's good, I have concern about the concept of feeding baby prey or young prey for anything other than stimulation. To get the necessary nutrients one needs to feed adult prey. If you only want them to hunt juvenile prey that is fine but realize that this prey is a treat and holds very little nutritional value in regards to bone and organ meats. I would like to see some organ meat fed (even if it's mixed in with some of your ground mix) My concern is that when feeding multiple fuzzes is that one ferret will often eat most of the organ meats out of the rat (at least that is how it's done here ) leaving the lesser dominant ferrets to make do with what is left over as far as organs. If you feed it separate from the prey then they will get an even share. Other than those concerns your diet looks good. Let me know about either how you're dealing with this or if I've misunderstood your menu (sometimes a menu doesn't give one the whole picture )
ciao

[Deleted]

if u give me a list of all parts that are classified as organ meats, I will gladly go out and buy some and ADD them to there breakfast as that is when they eat more. I also have some cow tongue that I am just waiting to thaw to give with daily breakfast. they like it and the sites on the Internet say it is an organ meat.

[Sherry]

Liver, kidney, lung, spleen, thymus, brain, stomach, I know there are a number of others, but can't remember what right now ;D Most of us just give liver and/or kidney, since those are the most readily available.
Since you are giving so much whole prey, I think I'd only give 1/2 chicken liver per ferret per week. You can alternate with other livers, or kidney, same size amount.

[Deleted]

cool, thanks. I'm bagging next wks food for everybody now. tongue included

[Sherry]

Let me know what they think of the tongue!

[Deleted]

they like the cow tongue. they are little piggies. our little boy kills the prey and once the prey is dead, the others come in for the reward. I bought 4 baby chicks today. it was supposed to be 3 for them and one for the snake. snake wasn't hungry so I tossed it in with the ferrets. once again, chomper ran over to kill it and the others came over to eat. somehow I don't think they will need/want dinner tonight.

[Sherry]

Good possibility ;D Once you get them eating some liver/organ, write your formal menu up again including that
And that's great that they like the tongue! One more body part for variety ;D

[Deleted]

i have chosen to feed 1/2 chicken liver 1 hr before breakfast on thursday mornings when they are hungry since they eat less at night. they have no problems eating it at this time

MENU FOR 3 FERRETS
Monday:
a.m- 1sm rat, 1 chick wing & thigh, 1beef steak

p.m.- 1 sm rat, 1 chick wing & breast, hamburger

snack- 3 live pinkie gerbil


Tuesday:
a.m.- 1/2 med rat, chicken wing & breast, pork

p.m.- 1 raw egg, 1/2 med rat, chicken wing & burger

snack-3 live pinky mice



Wednesday:
a.m.- 1/4 large rat, chicken wing & thigh and beef steak

p.m.- 1/4 lg rat, chicken wing & breast & hamburger

snack- 3 fuzzy gerbils



Thursday:
pre breakfast- 1/2 chicken liver per ferret

a.m.- 1 sm rat, chick wing & breast, and pork

p.m.- 1sm rat, chick wing & thigh, hamburger

snack- 3 live fuzzy mice



Friday:
a.m.- 1/2 med rat, chicken wing & thigh, & beef steak

p.m.- 1/2 med rat, chicken wing, hamburger & raw egg

snack- 3 live hopper gerbil



Saturday:
a.m.- 1/4 lg rat, pork, chicken wing & breast

p.m.- 1/4 lg rat, hamburger, chicken wing and thigh

snack- 3 live hopper mice



Sunday:
a.m.- 1 sm rat, chicken wing & thigh, & beef steak

p.m.- 1 sm rat, chicken wing & breast, & hamburger

snack- 2 live chicks or 3 live mice or gerbils

[Heather]

Just read your menu. I like it
Congratulations.
you've graduated and you're ready to walk this path alone, now. You have the foundation to help you feed your fuzzes in a more natural and healthy manner and something even more important you understand the concept too. Please remember that your learning never stops, and dietary needs change from ferret to ferret and throughout each their lives. I would also like you to be aware that though you now have the capability and the knowledge to create your little ones diets you are never alone and that your mentor (you need only pm) is always available to you. The list is also a very good resource and you should always be aware that it's available to answer any questions you may have either about diet or care.
Good luck, in a few days either Sherry or I will lock down this thread but be aware that you can always look through it as a reference tool but you just will not be able to post to it. Your mentor will be in to congratulate you shortly ;D.
ciao

[Sherry]

Congratulations!!!! You did it. And we both learned through this Whole prey's not a major part of the diet with mine, unlike with your ferrets. I'd not even thought of the alpha's of the business being far more likely to get the "choicer" bits of the prey, like liver, etc, greedy little creatures that they are ;D

[Deleted]

just wanted to say thank you. could not have done it without your help.

[Deleted]

that is funny about the alpha's getting the choice bits. I thought my girl spaz was the alpha because she lays on top of the other 2 and when they try to walk, she stays on top of them. none of the others do that so we assumed she was the alpha in the group. but the boy is the one who kills the pray and eats first. (even if the food is not alive. so who would YOU think to be the alpha in the group)

[Sherry]

Him. If he gets to eat first, then he is without a doubt.