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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 16:48:20 GMT -5
Hi there, hopefully someone can help me out. This is my first ferret, she's 4 months old and is still on the Marshall kibble. I want to transition her diet to raw but I'm still in the process of doing all my research before I start. I only found out about raw/whole prey diets about 2 weeks ago. From this website when you guys were so helpful with another question I had. But I was wondering, from what I've been reading, that because she's still so young, can I start offering her Chunks of raw as a snack and see if she'll go for it? Versus the soupie stage? .
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Lily
Junior Member
Posts: 172 
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Post by Lily on Feb 2, 2017 17:13:23 GMT -5
If she's willing to take the raw chunk and able to chew it on her own comfortably, you should be fine.  The soupie stage is more for ferrets that are stubborn or aren't familiar with seeing raw meat as a meal; basically a starting point of raw feeding for fussier fuzzies! |
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Post by LindaM on Feb 2, 2017 17:20:56 GMT -5
I'd try the chunks first before bothering with soup. Since she's a baby, she will likely just start eating the raw chunks without it needing to be pureed into soup. If she doesn't want to eat the chunks at all, you can try the soup.
If the chunks appear to be too big and giving her trouble, slice them a little smaller at first until she gets it and then try a bit bigger again.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 18:14:31 GMT -5
Okay thank you guys. That's kind of what I was thinking because she's still so young. I will try it and let you know how it goes
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Post by LindaM on Feb 2, 2017 18:25:26 GMT -5
If she doesn't want to try the tiny chunks, you could add the tiniest dab of raw egg or salmon oil to a piece too.. That could get her to lick and chew at it, getting a taste for the meat she's eating, and will often make the babies try and polish off the whole plate after that.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 18:35:23 GMT -5
Oh okay, I did read the salmon oil trick, I'll definitely try that if she doesn't seem interested. I just recently heard of raw eggs. Is it good to give her a raw egg as a treat like once a week? And would she eat that or is that something I'll have to teach her to eat? And what are some of the benefits? Sorry so many questions this is my first baby and I want to do everything right
And will it give her runny poos?
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Post by LindaM on Feb 2, 2017 18:43:42 GMT -5
Since we do not use things like Ferrelax (sooo much sugar, so bad), we use raw egg as the hairball preventative. Hairballs in ferrets lead to fatal blockages and expensive surgeries or death. Thus we give 1 raw egg, either the white and yolk whisked together, or just the yolk (never just the white) per ferret, per week. During the shedding season, we double it. So get your baby eating her weekly raw egg! So yummy. Since she's still a babe, she'll likely gobble it up without needing any help. Athena, my youngest at 7 months, LOVES her raw egg.. and she eats it faster than Loki.. and I need to hold her from trying to steal his egg too. You're doing just fine! Never be scared to ask questions on here, no matter how many.  Edit to add: The 1 egg limit is meant for a chicken egg. You can also give something like quail eggs, 3 are about equal to the 1 chicken egg. Oh and, not really.. the poop after an egg will kinda come out the way it went in, but it won't cause something like diarrhea, that will only happen if you give too much egg. You can also give that egg in portions throughout the week by just saving the rest in a container in the fridge. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 18:49:43 GMT -5
Oh I am so glad to hear this. Because I heard such bad things about the ferretone I was wondering about a natural lubricant/lax. I'll definitely get her started on that ASAP, especially since she's grooming herself a lot right now.
I've got to tell you, this website has been amazing. I've been on here non stop, learning so much in the last 3 weeks.
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Post by LindaM on Feb 2, 2017 18:57:13 GMT -5
Ferretone's problem is that it contains known carcinogens that can cause cancer in long term use. And the things like Ferrelax and Ferrevite are so chock full of sugars, that you might as well call it Insulinoma in a tube. It's best to avoid all of those yucky things. On a properly balanced raw diet ferrets will get all the vitamins and nutrients they need. Egg replaces the hairball laxative. And salmon oil replaces the need for something like Ferretone as treat or lure.
Athena is also an avid groomer.. she doesn't leave her cage in the morning until after she's properly primped and preened, which she easily spends 15 minutes doing that. A real madam.
This forum is indeed wonderful, people here are very helpful and friendly. And we do not fear questions! We all want the best for our fuzzies and that knowledge is best when shared.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 20:08:24 GMT -5
Okay so I just tried feeding her an egg and she was not in the least interested in it. I rubbed some on her gums and she seemed genuinely confused. But after 20 minutes I have up. Any suggestions or thoughts?
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Post by LindaM on Feb 2, 2017 20:26:54 GMT -5
Oh well.. sometimes that happens, don't be discouraged. You can keep trying to rub a little on her gums in the next few days. Whenever she runs past you, grab her and try a little on the gums, if she wants nothing to do with it, let her go and just try again later when she runs past you again.
I will usually sit with mine on my lap, and have the bowl near, dip my finger tip into it just the tiniest bit, and hold that near their little faces, if they don't lick by themselves, I'll boop them on the mouth, they'll usually lick themselves clean then. Sometimes that will make them start licking your finger at least. If they don't want to still, just let them run off for a bit and try again later. After finger, if they still don't want to try the bowl, try holding a spoon for them, until they try the bowl.
Other than that, you can try a tiny bit of salmon oil mixed with the egg, or even just drizzling some of the egg with food she does eat, or dip bits of food she eats into it and then offer her them by hand.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 20:33:56 GMT -5
Okay that is very helpful. I will definitely try again tomorrow. I wont force her though. I'll give an update when I've tried again
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Post by LindaM on Feb 2, 2017 20:37:34 GMT -5
Of course, we wouldn't want her to associate it with something bad. Fingers and hands tend to be some of the best tools in getting them to try new things. And just like babies.. paaaaatience. All of the patience. Eventually that message is going to stick in her little head that what you are offering is good and yummy. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2017 9:06:25 GMT -5
Okay so just an update: for breakfast this morning I cracked an egg (most of the white removed) over her kibble, since she didn't take to just the egg yesterday. Surprisingly I got some licks in there, but only a few. After 10 minutes I was going to give up. Then my boyfriend wanted to give it a try (after all, spaz is a daddy's girl, for sure) and shockingly he got her to lick alot of the egg off the spoon only. But it was 1000 more times more pleasant than when I tried.
Also I think I am going to start my transition tonight with the soup recipe from here and just see how she takes to it. I have a little boost of hope after watching my boyfriend feed her lol.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 3, 2017 11:03:46 GMT -5
It seems like he is the one she trusts most  It can vary. What you can also try is cutting up a bunch of meat slivers and drizzle some egg yolk or oil over it. Pop a piece or two in her mouth so she knows that's where it goes And don't worry too much about them being upset with you. They get over it and forgive fast |
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