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Post by Sherry on Jan 8, 2017 14:59:32 GMT -5
Only one way to find out if adding it works Honestly if he takes to the soup well enough, you could potentially give him straight grind, with the rest pureed and mixed in As for that video, that was a former member's ferret. She didn't have access to a vet in the middle of the night to help him cross, so taped it for the benefit of everyone else.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 9:35:42 GMT -5
Well, Monster avoided the grind in his soup last night. I'll try something different, maybe even just chicken grind. Brandi did the same 1/2 tsp, but was more eager about it so this morning gave her a whole tsp and she took it from the bowl! Was not interested in more, but I am so very pleased with her progress! It didn't have to be on my finger!! For dinner I'll try increasing to 1-1/2 tsp and see what happens. Sherry, on the video - I totally get it. My heart breaks for the former member. That must have been a very difficult thing to have to go through. I am not sure I would have the presence of mind to think to record, to help others in their understanding. I have to say I am so very grateful for the knowledge shared in this group. I am glad I found a friend in Euel and he recommended this to me. I am learning so much I probably never would have found on my own.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 9, 2017 10:11:40 GMT -5
Euel is a good guy, and I am glad he directed you to us
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Post by Aftershock on Jan 9, 2017 11:08:02 GMT -5
Sherry actually pointed me to that video when I first got the boys. My husband was being a turd and kept telling me 'they don't need to eat raw, they will be just as healthy on kibble. Kibble wouldn't be made if it was bad for them.' I bawled when I watched it, showed it to him, and told him that's what kibble does. He hasn't said those things since and happily explains raw and how beneficial it is to those around him now. Don't be disheartened! You're on the right track! Beef can be a hit or miss at the start (the flavor is stronger than chicken), but it definitely did not hurt to try it, especially since Brandi took to it!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2017 13:26:01 GMT -5
Day 5 and all is looking really good in my eyes! I am so very pleased with both of my kids. Monster for taking to the Raw Soup right away, and yesterday eating his with just a bit of ground chuck mixed in. Brandi for finally trusting me and taking almost 2 whole teaspoons from the bowl at breakfast this morning all by herself! Monster licked up the last little bit that Brandi didn't want. Today I am making our second batch of soup. I will also take a bit of chicken breast and make it into a grind so that I can add it to their soup (chicken is on our menu tonight so I'll be using some of ours for this). My next step will be trying to make a shopping list for other "flavors". I think this is where I may need the most help as math is not my "thing" so amounts of individual items stump me. I certainly do not want to overdose my kids on anything that may hurt them.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 12, 2017 11:25:04 GMT -5
First, that is wonderful they are doing SO well :boing: Keep steadily increasing the grind/soup ratio every couple of meals until they are on a wet ground stage, then you'll start adding slivers about the size of your pinkie crescent in the same manner As for meats/proteins as long as it's not altered(smoked, salted, brined, etc) in any way they can have it
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2017 10:01:01 GMT -5
Second batch of soup made with a little less water; I'm so disappointed in myself as I have chicken broth ice cubes in the freezer I meant to use as they were made from simmering a couple of thighs without any seasoning to make chicken salad! Next time! So the soup is a little thicker than a creamed soup would be. I also made several ice cubes of chicken breast grind that I can add into the soup serving. Since Monster took his with a bit of grind, I thought he would like it. Nope! Took just a few licks and walked away. Turd! I am persistent and patient though. I am stubborn too! This morning he did the same, but it is egg morning, so he may have had his fill. Brandi is still doing great; a bit slower than Monster, but that is okay. She's increased her intake to an entire ice cube; about 2 tablespoons! Thrilling! For her egg, it's on my finger still. I manage to get about 1 teaspoon into her belly before she cleans her face and wants away; I place her into my lap for this. I seriously don't think she was fed on a regular basis in her previous life. I have located a butcher about 45 miles away so the next time I go into town I'm going to stop in and talk about what they can provide for me. I'm excited about that and feel it will be better choices than at the local groceries. Both still munch on kibble a bit in the middle of the day, but I have noticed it being a lot less than it used to be. They used to wake me in the night with the crunching of kibble too, but that isn't happening any more. I have also noticed their waste is much smaller than it used to be. None has looked abnormal in any way. The only strange looking ones are those after a serving of egg; makes it a bit yellowish, but that is normal, right? They are always firm and on the darker side of brown. I'm fortunate that they use opposite sides of the litter boxes so I can be sure of who belongs to it! My husband is really not thrilled with my decision to feed raw. He is more like his closed minded relatives than he will ever admit. He questions every single thing I have shared with him in my learning. UGH It is so frustrating. I tell him the are MY kids and I am doing what I know is best for them. He has agreed, and promised, that he will take soup out of the freezer daily for them during my absence next month as I have expressed my concern that he will not do as I ask during that time. I have shown him how much they are enjoying this new food (thank God he wasn't watching Monster this morning!), with the closed eyes as they eat, and little muffled grunts! If I could cancel the trip I would, but my dad is riddled with cancer and I'm not sure how much longer he'll be with us... I will only stay for a few days and not the week that I would normally.
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Post by Sherry on Jan 13, 2017 10:59:16 GMT -5
You(and they) are progressing quite well Keep pushing. With Monster, try making the soup/grind 3/4 to 1/4 mixed in well and see how he does. If Brandi is taking that much from you twice a day I would now remove the kibble during the day, and just put it in at night from now on
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Post by Aftershock on Jan 13, 2017 12:48:19 GMT -5
baby steps no matter how small, are progress! Hee hee, Monster is sure proving his namesake, yeah? Go Brandi, go! Whooooooo! Egg can definitely take a bit to get used to, my female still needs spoon fed egg at the start to remember she likes it. It's amazing that you can already see a difference, huh? Yes, yellow-loose stools are normal after feeding egg. Eggs pretty much come out looking the way they went in. Another thing that helped my husband realize raw was best was when we got Cow. The boys were on raw already when we brought her home, and we realized just how bad she smelled. Then she pooped, this size of poop had no business coming out of such a small ferret, and it was huge and stunk soooooo bad. The ferret room stunk for about a month as she went through detox. We watched her fur go from ridiculously coarse, to silky soft. Even her nails went from super thin and wimpy, to thick and well formed. Hopefully, your husband will see the changes soon enough. I'm so sorry to hear about your dad.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2017 14:45:52 GMT -5
Thank you Sherry. I will leave kibble picked up; I do so upon waking at about 5am so they don't sneak some before breakfast without me seeing! Aftershock, YES! Monster came to us named Fred, but we quickly changed it to suit his personality! I will definitely point out positive changes to my husband as we progress! He has seen differences in both since coming into our home as neither were eating very well. I got them on a blend of better kibble and supplemented them with oils (PickledFerret's Pickle Juice) which gave them some weight and changed their coats, as well as their odor. The more I learned, and continue to learn, the more I want to be more natural in my approach. I have found a foster ferrent who is willing to take my opened kibble bags! I just hate waste!! And thank you. Dad has lived a good life without regret. Mom left us in 2013 and he is ready to be with her. I'm just not ready to let him go!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2017 10:24:57 GMT -5
Neither kid was interested in dinner last night, even with kibble taken away all of the day. I was a bit disappointed, but guessing they just were not hungry? Kibble placed for them at about 9:30pm, just before I went to bed. I woke about 2:30am to the crunching of kibble and both kids were at the bowl. Sleepless night so I overslept and didn't get up until 6am. Picked kibble up and made coffee. Placed soup down for both to eat when they woke. Monster ate about 8:30am, about 2 tablespoons (I will begin weighing). Brandi is again showing no interest. I picked her up to my lap, but she won't even take it from my finger this morning. Keeping kibble put up for now. I'm afraid to leave her bowl of soup down as Monster may eat it. I'll just watch for her to meander that way and try again. Both played for a bit - today she actually played with him! Usually she wants NOTHING to do with him - the tunnel maze being a favorite, and then off for a nap. Brandi comes out of her bed bucket and turns at the bottom of the tube to exit upside down! Monster in the tunnel maze The tunnel maze
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2017 11:19:58 GMT -5
I've been meaning to ask and keep forgetting - I have seen there are mentors looking for work. Will my request for not having one assigned until 3/5 cause an issue?
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Post by Sherry on Jan 14, 2017 11:25:13 GMT -5
No it won't With monster for now give him as much as he will eat. They go through a massive appetite surge when first on raw, for about a month, before settling to a more normal amount. With Brandi keep offering the soup. She will start taking it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2017 12:07:43 GMT -5
Phew! I am relieved. Thank you Sherry. I will be persistent and patient with Brandi. I know so little of her, but truly believe she was never let out of a horrible cage with wood shavings as her bedding (pictured in the trading post ad) or fed on any kind of regular basis. She hasn't been with me very long, so I can only imagine is still acclimating. Getting some more soup out of the refrigerator and freezer to lay out for them both!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 9:57:11 GMT -5
The last 2 days have been a bit disappointing with neither showing any interest at all in the soup, even with kibble picked up all day. Can it be that they just are not hungry? Are they being rebellious with me for picking up the kibble? I've taken makings out for another batch of soup so that I can make it more creamy, my thought is maybe this last batch is just too thick.
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