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Post by LindaM on Apr 17, 2017 21:44:23 GMT -5
I'd continue with trying the Grab'n'Dab method instead. Grab a ferret, dip your finger in it and dab on the mouth, and let them go again. You can do this throughout the day if you can, or even in a session of 20-30 minutes, just dab every 5 minutes. This might take few days overall.
There are other things you can try if the Grab'n'Dab just doesn't seem to help, though these can also end up making them spoiled if done a lot and they may end up refusing something unless it has the incentive on. So don't use them for too long a run.
Incentives: Salmon Oil Drizzle (Remember to keep in your total 1 tsp per week, per ferret limit) Sprinkling of a crumbled FDR Treat (This works well if your ferrets are used to eating FDR Treats already, good brands are Orijen, Vital Essentials, PureBites, and even NV Instinct) Sprinkling of crumbled or powdered kibble (I haven't used this one myself, but I've heard of some people trying it) Raw Egg Drizzle (This is another good one to use, just keep within the 1 egg per ferret, per week limit. Double for shedding season. Either drizzle a whipped up egg of white and yolk, or yolk only. Never only white. And as they get used to it on their foods, you can start thinning it out with water and decreasing overall, so it's less and less being used.) Water (This one works on meat pieces only, adding some water to meat will make them kinda slimy and the ferrets will try lick it all off, letting them taste the meat)
PS. You can use warm (never hot or it'll cook) water when making your rehydrated FDR or warming a bowl of soupie. Ferrets often like having their food room temperature at least, unless it's in the hot summer months where some cold food can be nice.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 0:19:59 GMT -5
They won't eat raw eggs either. I'm gonna order the salmon and see if they like it. As for the raw soup... I'm still trying Waiting on some of the other stuff you told me to get to try before I concider this a lost cause lol I'll give it a couple more weeks too of course. Just in case, who knows right. I was thinking. Appa has been up and nosy tonight so I go out and he's digging in a cardboard box. I move it to the other room and come to find out there's a cockroach!! 🤢 We are moving soon like I said before and we have tons of cardboard boxes with our stuff packed and some empty ones. Roaches love cardboard boxes I was told and I completely forgot!! So I'm thinking maybe Appa has or had at a roach or two! I read ferrets can have a likin to eating them?! Would that have an effect on his poo and the colour? Maybe that was the cause of the poo being green when I first made this post about it a bit ago. Maybe he ate a roach?! Just curious, who knows. A possibility so I might as well ask right just in case.
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Post by LindaM on Apr 24, 2017 0:34:41 GMT -5
You should try to get them used to eating raw eggs. It's likely going to take a bit of trying and time, especially since it sounds like they are not keen on it right now. But overall, eggs are pretty important in helping prevent hairballs in ferrets, which can be fatal. You can do the Grab'n'Dab to get them used to tasting the egg, or even try a little drop of salmon oil into it if they end up liking the salmon oil. A room temperature egg will also fare better than a refrigerated one, some ferrets freak out a bit if they end up licking right up into a big slimy glob of white that didn't mix too well with the yolk. I've also come across a few that didn't like eating a mixed egg as much as just having the yolk, so you could try to start off like that and see if it works any better for you guys. Fair warning, when getting them used to it, do not be surprised if the little snotters repay you by trying to rub their faces clean on you and your clothes.
It could very well have been the cause of his green poop. Mine have never eaten any bugs (Utah seems pretty decently bug-deprived for the most part, at least that's been my experience for 2 years now), but I do know some people like to give them insects, but I think only specific ones. Others may cause a reaction or even an allergic response, so a funky poop could definitely have been a result of him ingesting one, especially one he just found on his own.
He hasn't had any more green poop issues since has he?
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2017 8:59:12 GMT -5
We can get them on raw with you, never fear As for the egg, try using just the yolk to start if they won't take to it whipped. Do the "grab and dab" Linda suggested. It does work. Also to make you aware- it took one of mine 6 weeks of "grab and dab" before he would admit raw puree wasn't actually going to poison him So you just have to outstubborn them If you don't want to go the official mentoring route, why not start your own switching thread here holisticferret60.proboards.com/board/66/diet-transitions and just do it on your own time?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 12:26:32 GMT -5
I knew it would take a bit of time, especially with my older ones. I'm gonna have to keep trying as you said. Same with the hard food. I got the Ojien but they won't eat it, so i mixed it in with the marshall kibble they all had been on. how long do you think till they'll transition kibble? I have not posted for that just due to being so busy between this switch, work and moving. I'm sure i will after the move and everything calms down. I don't wanna start it and forget since i now I'm so busy right now. ill do my own thread for since i can do it when i cane, for now. no his poo has been perfectly fine except two days ago there was a random green poo BUT the night before again, he was up and very noisy in the boxes again and now i know why. he must of gotten ahold of another roach! that would explain the poop. its been back to normal since the day after. i sprayed down he windows and doors so their shouldn't be anymore roaches around. I'm gonna watch appa carefully the next few nights or i may even put him and kratos in the bin with the other two just for the night to make sure. just for a few nights. i don't want him eating roaches, they are so gross and i don't want him getting anything or having an issues cause of it.
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Post by LindaM on Apr 24, 2017 12:49:24 GMT -5
As Sherry also mentioned, starting your thread in the Diet Transitions board is probably the best idea for you now then, since you feel you won't have the time to post with a mentor or put the full effort into switching just yet. We can always continue on in there, and it'll also make it much easier for some of the mentors, admins and other raw feeders like myself to jump in whenever you need help and advice, and just keep an eye on you guys to see how things are going overall. Some people have even been able to graduate with their ferrets fully switched, all by themselves, so that can definitely be done too. We just like to check in to make sure their diet is balanced and that you know or are learning everything you need to for a healthy, balanced raw diet. Way back when I did a kibble change, the transition took me just under the usual 10 days (doing the 1/10th a day method), granted near the end with mostly the new kibble, I just refreshed with the new entirely and mine ate it happily. Don't be surprised if they try to dig out certain kibbles while you transition them, that sometimes happens. Hopefully there won't be anymore roaches now and he won't try to eat any more of them.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2017 14:00:14 GMT -5
Okay great, yes thats how I'm doing it, i forgot :facepalm so ten days. yes I've noticed that too, the new kibble on the floor dug out okay great, yes that sounds better then resorting back to this thread. will do
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