|
Post by Aftershock on Mar 12, 2017 10:09:11 GMT -5
raebees everything alright? Haven't heard from you for a while!
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 12, 2017 10:19:39 GMT -5
I was just thinking that! We are ok, plugging away at chunks. Yesterday morning was beef and since they've had such a poor performance on it, I cut chunks a bit smaller than I normally would. Wouldn't you know, Bella plowed through it. Last night was beef again but I cut the chunks a bit larger and naturally, Bella wasn't as impressed. Moxie has been pretty steady, she isn't always enthused about meals but she has been eating what makes it into her mouth, even the larger pieces. We are still at about 1/4" to 1/2" in width. This morning was chicken slices and ground turkey, I purposefully made a bit less than normal and kept all chicken pieces within a larger range and dangit, Bella cleared the plate. Moxie got some, too, but ate within her normal 1/2 oz range. Tonight is organs, I swear I'll remember to post weights and menu before they eat π and tomorrow I'm upping the chicken piece sizes. I've been using about 1/2 oz grinds to make a thinnish "gravy" but I feel like it's time to decrease the amount of water I add (a few tablespoons to 2 or 3 ozs of meats). I wonder if I should do that before upping sizes though, so they get used to eating their meat a bit dryer.
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Mar 13, 2017 20:56:00 GMT -5
Whoooooo! Keep it up, you got this! Yes, decrease water and see how that goes overβ€ Kekekekekekeke, menu and weights?
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 15, 2017 2:55:14 GMT -5
1. Ferret's name: Moxie 2. Ferret's weight: 895 β¬ 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: 1/2 oz unless organs 4. Stools on various proteins: good, small, dark 5. Activity levels: Spidermonkey 6. Weekly Menu: Same as Bella
1. Ferret's name: Bella 2. Ferret's weight: 1650 β¬ 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: 2oz 4. Stools on various proteins: good, plentiful 5. Activity levels: Awake much more than Moxie but... Bored? 6. Weekly Menu:
Mon AM - Chicken thigh & ground Pork (bmp) PM - Beef & ground Pork
Tues AM - Chicken thigh & ground Beef (bmp) PM - Beef & ground Pork
Wed AM - Chicken thigh (bmp) PM - 4oz chicken heart, 2oz liver (pork), 2oz kidney (beef)
Thurs AM - Beef & ground Turkey (bmp) PM - Chicken & ground Beef
Fri AM - Beef & ground Pork (bmp) PM - 4oz chicken heart, 2oz liver (chicken), 2oz kidney (pork)
Sat AM - Chicken thigh & ground Beef (bmp) PM - Beef & ground pork
Sun AM - Chicken thigh & ground pork (bmp) PM - 4oz chicken heart, 2oz liver (pork), 2oz kidney (beef)
Sticking with pretty much the same menu. Chunks have not gotten bigger or, at least, have not been eaten if they are bigger. I'm going to work on keeping the chunks enticing and eliminating the water. They both very much require 'moist' meats, Moxie more than Bella. I'm sorry this is so late. We had a switch up at work and I've been getting home at 10 or 11. Naturally, I play with my girls π but my bed has been demanding attention, too π
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Mar 15, 2017 9:10:06 GMT -5
Kekekekekeke spoiled princesses demand moist food, but they are in anti-princess training! Menu looks greatβ€ weights lowering is good (yes, for both)! Also, remember, spring is here, and that means they will drop weight and eat less. Hairball watch is right around the corner too! How much are you offering per meal now?
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 15, 2017 11:48:13 GMT -5
Well, the first couple meals I offered 2.5 ozs, they both helped clean the plate. One morning, even Moxie was still eating as I was trying to prep a little more to toss in there. I've been trying to stick close to the 3 oz mark, last few days, though, they both are maybe 2 ozs combined. This morning I'll be attempting 2.5 oz of "more dry" chicken in smallish slices. I can't yet find the sweet spot of sizes, here's a pic of yesterday's chickens. They deemed them too big. A bit smaller than this and they're more willing to try to eat them. I've been including maybe a half oz of the grinds so most of what they eat is in sliver/chunk form. This is what was left of those chunks. π
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Mar 16, 2017 23:03:56 GMT -5
How goes the drier chicken?
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Mar 21, 2017 11:32:57 GMT -5
raebees everything okay? Haven't heard from you in a while
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 21, 2017 14:30:27 GMT -5
1. Ferret's name: Moxie 2. Ferret's weight: 880β¬ 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: 1/4 oz 4. Stools on various proteins: small, dark 5. Activity levels: Escape Artist 6. Weekly Menu: Same as Bella
1. Ferret's name: Bella 2. Ferret's weight: 1640 β¬ 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal: 1 to 2 oz 4. Stools on various proteins: good, plentiful 5. Activity levels: Engaging in play for longer 6. Weekly Menu:
Mon AM - Chicken thigh & ground Beef (bmp) PM - Beef & ground Beef
Tues AM - Chicken thigh (& ground Turkey) (bmp) PM - Pork & ground Turkey
Wed AM - Chicken thigh (bmp) PM - 4oz chicken heart, 2oz liver (pork), 2oz kidney (pork)
Thurs AM - Beef & ground Turkey (bmp) PM - Chicken & ground Beef
Fri AM - Pork (& ground Turkey) (bmp) PM - 4oz chicken heart, 2oz liver (chicken), 2oz kidney (beef)
Sat AM - Pork & ground Beef (bmp) PM - Beef & ground Beef
Sun AM - Chicken thigh (bmp) PM - 4oz chicken heart, 2oz liver (pork), 2oz kidney (beef)
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 21, 2017 14:42:28 GMT -5
Drier meat is coming along ok, I've dropped from about 7 to 10 tablespoons for 4 oz to a tablespoon only if necessary to get them licking. Bella ate breakfast with no added water today (woohoo!) and she stopped after about an oz, oz and a half so that's fantastic! Moxie is...not hungry? She still will not eat without encouragement. I've let her go 12 hours on her own without eating before resorting to a spoon taste. This morning she was going to walk away from the plate but I used the spoon to give her a taste and she started eating a bit on her own. I've resisted the temptation to allow her more than a few licks from the spoon but I worry because her poops have become almost non-existent. She's still my little spidermonkey, but she's gonna give me gray hairs this summer if she keeps refusing food. I know they eat less, I'm happy with a bite or two but sometimes I can't even get that π We. Are. Not. Giving. Up!!!! πβ€ Sorry I haven't been so active here. I'm juggling a few things (new vehicle, broken vehicle, ferrets, spring cleaning, etc), I don't want you to think we're not still pushing for full on chunks. I cut back the sizes a little to encourage the drier meat, we're still at about the 1/4" thickness.
The girls are feeling good though, they played and wrestled together today for about an hour non-stop. That's the longest Bella has engaged with Moxie since she got fat!
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Mar 22, 2017 9:58:38 GMT -5
It looks like they are both losing weight! That's great! It also sounds like Moxie is definitely going into summer mode. Remember, rather than resorting to spoon you should put a drop or two of salmon oil on the food. Spoon feeding at this point puts us all the way back at square one. Ferrets are so very manipulative. Gator used to pretend to go to the bathroom (back up, lift tail, then hop out and butt scoot, and look up at me with those big eyes) just to get a treat. Croc would bite the top of Trevor's foot because Trevor would hand hold him after, shake his head no, let him go, then pick him up and love on him. Croc was nipping Trevor's foot because he wanted picked up. Mind you, I can play with Croc with my feet and he doesn't even mouth them. Ferrets are masters at molding us to get what they want. Also, remember that as we progress into bigger pieces, that mixing the proteins is not a good idea. This is because they will take every chance to pick out their favorite food, then ignore the rest. I don't feed mixed because I've watched mine inhale the favorite, then not touch the rest ever again. They hold out for another favorite. I suggest beginning to feed single proteins at a time. Remember, you are boss, not them. Yes, they are your babies, but you are Mom, not friend. Also, since summer is coming around, I would like to assign a bit of homework. I know we did this before, but I feel it was very helpful for you, especially since Moxie's appetite puts you into a panic. I would like you to post up weights of food at the beginning and end of the feeding. I would also like you to post up a little note on how you felt while serving them. The note does not have to be long, a sentence will do. I would like this done daily please. And when you feed them, if you begin to panic and feel like spoon feeding Moxie again, please message me on facebook.
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 24, 2017 1:25:57 GMT -5
Whoops, you said daily π
3/22 Breakfast - Chicken thigh (thinly slivered + salmon oil)(bmp) Offered 56g (2oz) Bella ate 15g (.55oz) Moxie ate 1.5g (.05oz)
Dinner - Beef (thinly slivered + salmon oil) Offered 56g (2oz) Bella ate 11g (.40oz) Moxie did not eat
3/23 Breakfast - Beef (thinly slivered)(bmp) Offered 56g (2oz) Bella ate 6g (.20oz) Moxie refused I added a tbsp of warm water Moxie ate 4g (.15oz) Bella went on to eat 24g (.85oz)
Dinner - Organs (4oz chicken heart, 2oz pork liver, 2oz pork kidney) Offered 227g (8oz) Both ate 98g (3.5oz) combined. Moxie ate for less time
The girls seem to eat better at separate times, Bella's interested right off but Moxie needs some warming up. I have to catch her before she snuggles in somewhere if it's not ready by the time she is though. At this point I half want to ditch the plate. Moxie will come close to it and start licking where Bella has dragged a piece of meat but won't lick the plate anymore. Even the drizzle of salmon oil doesn't get her going enough. I'm at a loss. I even had to warm up the organ pudding to get her going (which I forgot to pick up hearts yesterday so we're a little switched around this week). She has been drinking more water, I'm guessing because she hasn't eaten much. She's gone right to the water bowl directly after the plate both mornings π like she's rinsing her mouth out. π Stubborn, stubborn girl. I am still worried about how long she can go eating so little. Not necessarily energy wise but health wise? She sleeps harder than Bella does, always the last to wake in the mornings and afternoons. In fact, I have to wake her up most times or she'll miss out time. When she's up, her energy is good but once she's asleep, she is out.
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 24, 2017 1:28:48 GMT -5
So much for a little note πππ
|
|
|
Post by Aftershock on Mar 24, 2017 17:05:04 GMT -5
The joys of summer mode; ferrets eat a lot less, are more likely to skip out on a meal, drop weight, shed, and get super active. Her behavior is not concerning at all. she is just going into summer. Good job on adding water/salmon oil to get her to eat! Keep it up! YOU CAN DO THIS!
|
|
raebees
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
Yes, i am contagious. ππ
Posts: 219
|
Post by raebees on Mar 24, 2017 17:21:02 GMT -5
So as long as she remains active and curious, I shouldn't stress. God I hope she never gets sick. I can't imagine what having to spoon feed or syringe feed her would do for our progress π¨ She skipped out on breakfast again this morning. I'll wait til after tomorrows breakfast to start freaking out again. π
|
|