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Post by marietta on Mar 4, 2017 12:41:06 GMT -5
Having trouble getting Gwin to eat out of the bowl now that it is thicker. He will eat off of my finger and will even eat the small chunks that are in there since it is blended a bit less. He just won't eat out of the bowl for some reason. Frustrating.
Actually going back to look at my records they both ate quite a bit less in total yesterday. They have been eating about 10oz between them and after I made it thicker the total was 6.3oz between them.
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Post by LindaM on Mar 4, 2017 15:27:47 GMT -5
Sorry for replying late, I was out most of the day yesterday with hubby and got back late and just flopped into bed. Sherry's covered all of it really well though.
I haven't personally experienced "fighting" over food, as my two don't want to share bowls or even eat out of each other's bowls, but in a shared bowl situation or where you have one who doesn't mind whose bowl is whose and they're eating together, I can definitely see it happen, especially later on once they start picking up favorites. I think that's probably the closest I've ever seen either of mine give thought into going for each other's bowl, rabbit or duck meals... their favorite proteins. As Sherry said, the alpha between the two will insist on getting their fill first, and then let anyone else get food after that. Which might be what's also affecting Gwin's confidence of eating out of the bowl by himself right now, since he doesn't seem very affected by the soup thickness itself.
Could you give two separate bowls a try, spaced away from each other? Also, if that's not an issue for him, he might just be getting some extra attention.. they can behave like little children very, very often. If you can switch from finger feeding to spoon, let him eat of the spoon for a bit and get into the hang of it, and then slowly bring the spoon down into the bowl as he's still eating off it and let it fill up again, but do not lift it out, usually this will help him to eat from the bowl instead. You may have to try it a couple times though.
As for eating less, I'm not quite sure on your location, but over here, we're going to be heading into spring, which will usually see them starting to eat less than they did during the winter times. Another thing to keep in mind is that usually when starting a switch at first, the ferrets will eat a lot more, and then slowly start winding down how much they eat.
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Post by marietta on Mar 4, 2017 21:37:47 GMT -5
Yeah we are going into spring here. Got them to eat some off of a spoon. Albie will eat some out of the bowl but Gwin is still reluctant. I split their food between two bowls. I'm wondering if they are eating less because the soup dries out quicker with less water. They seem less interested when it is drying out.
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Post by LindaM on Mar 4, 2017 21:58:46 GMT -5
It's very possible. Mine never wanted soup, or even their rehydrated FDR when it starts getting dried out, funny as that is with the FDR as they eat that dry for treats, but once it's been rehydrated and starts drying out, they're like; "Nope...", lol.
Let me know if the split bowls are helping Gwin to eat by himself again or if he's just not interested in trying at all. Did you try the "spoon to bowl" trick or does he just refuse to eat then?
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Post by marietta on Mar 4, 2017 22:09:21 GMT -5
Yeah once I get it to the bowl he doesn't want it. It is so weird because he was fine before.
I just had a very crazy experience trying to give them an egg. First I gave it to them in a little bowl and they snorkeled in it which was pretty funny bc it got all in their whiskers. They tasted a little of it I think. They were making a mess so I put it on a small plate so they couldn't snorkel then they just dumped the plate so they made it worse. Bleh. I will have to try again later.
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Post by LindaM on Mar 5, 2017 2:49:33 GMT -5
You may have to try it several times over the next few days, it doesn't always correct right off. LOL! Was this their first time? They can get a little weird with new things at first. Mine HATE getting food, especially egg, on their whiskers though. It usually gets rubbed off on my carpets. Other food items, they'll go rub off on the kitchen towel I leave them for that purpose.. but egg.. egg goes right onto the carpets, and once in my freshly washed laundry pile on the bed. The novelty will wear off, you can help by dabbing their gums with it to let them know it's actually edible and not really meant to play in. I've also found that using a relatively flat type of bowl works pretty good with them compared to usual bowls or plates. Athena will drag paper plates off to stash under the dresser, food and all, and makes a game of tipping porcelain and glass plates really hard and I got concerned about chipping and breaking. And I don't like using plastic, as it's not as hygienic as other options, and Athena drags those off too. So I ran into an Asian Restaurant Supply store and picked up several small, flat steel bowls (more aptly termed dinner dishes) at $0.99 a piece, which worked so well for them, I sent my husband back the hour drive the next day to buy the rest of them remaining in the store, as well as a couple of some of the bigger sizes. So this is what I use for my ferrets:
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Post by Sherry on Mar 5, 2017 10:03:34 GMT -5
marietta use a flat dish like a bread plate. Works much better as whiskers don't have to get dirty
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Post by marietta on Mar 5, 2017 10:07:36 GMT -5
Not giving up on Gwin and Albie just a little frustrated and tired. It feels like all I do when I'm not at work is make ferret food and now dog food. Or trying to get the ferrets to eat something.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 5, 2017 10:13:43 GMT -5
I know the feeling. And they ARE getting there, and it will get easier I promise. Move them along another step every meal or two even if just a tiny bit. Add another sliver or two every time they accept what they have move them up one more step. The sooner they get onto chunks the less work it seems. What I do is mix up a good size batch of soup and freeze in ice cube trays. I do the same with a couple cubes of slivers. That way all I have to do is defrost what I need, and maybe add some extra wee bit larger bits.
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Post by marietta on Mar 5, 2017 15:31:34 GMT -5
I'm just extra frustrated because I am not sure Gwin is eating when I am not spoon feeding him. And even then it is tough because Albie keeps pushing in even if he has his own bowl! His behavior is getting on my nerves. Gwin's confidence is shot. He was eating fine until Albie started doing this. I am not really sure what to do. I don't really want to move them forward until I know Gwin is eating the thicker soup.
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Post by marietta on Mar 5, 2017 19:00:49 GMT -5
They have eaten a lot less today. I am lost. I also really don't know what to do about this bullying situation. Gwin isn't eating much of anything because he keeps getting pushed away by Albie.
Albie isn't eating as much either so I'm not sure what is going on.
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Post by marietta on Mar 5, 2017 20:07:23 GMT -5
Just spoon fed Gwin about an 1.5oz and my husband kept Albie away with his own bowl and he ate a bit more than an ounce. Earlier today they ate about 3 oz between them. Mostly Albie I think.
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Post by LindaM on Mar 5, 2017 20:09:09 GMT -5
Is there a way you can separate them at a meal time in the morning and one in the evening at least for now? Like leave one in the kitchen and one in the cage, or one in the cage and one in a carrier or smaller cage? That way Gwin might be able to get at least 2 good meals in, even if he has troubles with Albie during the day, and we can see how the situation progresses.
Another thing you can try and do is to introduce two separate feeding dens. You can modify a plastic storage container for the purpose of serving as somewhere to eat by placing the food bowl inside, and just having a single ferret sized hole as an entrance. Feeding dens are usually more popular during the stages where they already eat muscle chunks and bone-in, since it gives them a place to stash and eat food, but you can start teaching them early by placing their soup inside, and it could help separate them for eating.
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Post by marietta on Mar 5, 2017 23:17:26 GMT -5
I can try the feeding den thing. I can really only separate them at night. I am gone at work most of the day during the week. They are asleep when I leave usually so I just put food in.
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Post by marietta on Mar 5, 2017 23:18:08 GMT -5
Going to start posting these to get in the habit before it is required of me.
Weekly holistic ferret form
1. Ferret's name: Albie 2. Ferret's weight: about 1220g 3. Ferret has eaten "3oz" amount on average per meal. If they are eating the same amount. When they started eating soup on their own a few days ago they were eating about 5oz each but the past couple days have been eating about 3oz each if they are eating the same amount. I think Albie is pushing Gwin out a lot right now though. I think Albie is eating more thanks Gwin. 4. Stools on various proteins. Only on chicken based soup now but looking better than before. 5. Activity levels: normal activity 6. Weekly menu: Currently just on soup recipe
1. Ferret's name: Gwin 2. Ferret's weight: about 1230g 3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal. Same as above #3 answer 4. Stools on various proteins. Only on chicken based soup now but looking better than before. 5. Activity levels: normal activity 6. Weekly menu: Currently just on soup recipe
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