They Started Eating Raw Too Fast - Now I'm Lost!

[msplatypus]

Luke and Leia took about 2 days to go from a high quality mix of kibble to FDR, to FDR+those frozen morsels from Stella and Chewy.  My husband and I were not expecting them to ditch the kibble this fast and we have a couple bags of FDR and fast defrost morsels to tide them over until the weekend when we can defrost their balanced grinds and portion that off.

My concern is they switched SO quickly and it seems like they are inhaling their food.  I can't find a golden standard for how much to give them since every ferret is different.  Between the two of them they get 4 oz in the morning and 4 oz at night.  My husband also gives them another oz or two mid-day because they seem so hungry.  I'm afraid I'm starving them.  Should I just keep giving them extra food until they're done?  Is there a good rule of thumb for the amount I should give them?

I feel terrible for being unprepared for this.  I wouldn't of guessed in a million years my picky ones would ditch the kibbs within a day or two.  I'm just grateful my Hare Today order came in so we've got liver, heart, kidney, and some extra goodies I'm not sure what to do with yet (yummy alpaca and pancreas).  I have the meal plan guideline and once they are on the grinds I will be putting in slivers of meat and hopefully we'll get to the bone stage soon (because tiny tooth brushing...).  

Any advice or help would be appreciated!  In the meantime, I'm going to find the giant binder of feeding raw materials I put together months ago to refresh my memory.

[Deleted]

Females will usually eat 1 to 3 oz per day and males 2 to 4 but for some reason when they initially switch they sometimes take in more than they will further down the road. It could taper off for you over time, but for now just keep putting it out if they ate all that was put out! Good job Luke and leia! oh also if they're still kits, (I can't remember how old they are) they'll eat a TON and those guidelines don't apply, just keep feeding til they are full

[msplatypus]

Feb 16, 2017 19:06:56 GMT -5 @tessvictoria said:

Females will usually eat 1 to 3 oz per day and males 2 to 4 but for some reason when they initially switch they sometimes take in more than they will further down the road. It could taper off for you over time, but for now just keep putting it out if they ate all that was put out! Good job Luke and leia! oh also if they're still kits, (I can't remember how old they are) they'll eat a TON and those guidelines don't apply, just keep feeding til they are full

They are 9 months old.  I think that's too old to be considered a kit.  When I did get them as teeny little kits, I tried switching them then, but no luck.  I have no idea what changed, but I'm happy they've taken to it so quickly.  I'll just keep letting them gobble up what they want.  I'm currently defrosting more morsels since they went through their nightly 4 oz.  

These guys are going to eat me out of house and home.  I feel like I should put in another Hare Today order before it gets warmer and the shipping gets raised.

[Sherry]

Also, when first off the kibble count on them eating about double what they will finally end up at They are making up for lost nutrition that they'd not gotten with the kibble it always seems.

[msplatypus]

Feb 17, 2017 11:07:28 GMT -5 Sherry said:

Also, when first off the kibble count on them eating about double what they will finally end up at They are making up for lost nutrition that they'd not gotten with the kibble it always seems.

Thank you!

I will consider the extra money I spend on meats now punishment for not doing this sooner.  Better now than never though.