Starting with soup! Plenty of room for advice

[Sarah]

So Kili has been on raw soup a few days and I think it's going OK so far. To start I drizzled raw egg yolk on the soup because she wouldn't eat it but we've gotten to where she'll eat without the yolk now!

I give her soup in the morning before I go to work and I spoon feed her what she will take, which usually isn't much as she's sleepy. Ive been able to pop home on my lunch break and I'll feed her more then, and she went to eat from the bowl yesterday! Then when i come home in the evening she gets fresh soupie and we start all over. She doesn't seem to be eating while I'm not home coaxing her, but she's been kind of listless since her sister has been gone.

Question time!

She's eaten about 1.5 ounces of soupie today and has decided she's going to bed now. Im afraid she's depressed without her sister and that she isn't eating enough. Her poops are softer now, which I expected, but they're also smaller. Is that normal or is she not eating enough?

Also sometimes she'll go to town munching up the soup but then suddenly she'll act all disgusted and shake her head and do this "blech!" Kind of thing with her tongue like she can't stand the stuff, and she'll run away, but then she'll eat like normal a few minutes later? Anyone had this reaction when switching their weasels to soup?

Any advice welcome!!

[mermaidsirena]

Following your responses. My one little guy is just working on soup now. When he comes to an unexpected chunk (that didn't blend well) he sort of gags as I think it surprises him. Is that what is happening with yours or something different?

[Sarah]

I think that could be why now that you mention it. There are some little bits in my soup as well. I guess that's something they'll get used to?

[mermaidsirena]

Branch has had times where he had figured it out and completed chewing it. I think he still has a ways to go and I am sticking with the soup but sometimes I wonder if he gets scared a little. My soup is pretty thick -- more like pudding.

[Deleted]

When I feed my babies in their cage, they eat the small chunks that my food processor doesn't break down very well. I never had to coax mine with egg except for their first time having egg introduced as their weekly treat into their soupie. They avoided it until I finger fed and now they eat it no worries.

My soupie used to be thick too and they would avoid it. I would water it down with filtered water in the beginning so it's a more looser consistency then I finger fed them a few times, each time getting closer to the actual soupie in the bowl so they wouldn't get spoiled.

Then as they started getting used to the consistency I would lessen the amount of water I put in. Then they started eating it without any worries. With my three initial transitions anyways.

[Sherry]

Some females do only eat a small amount. She could also be depressed. Do you have any bach's rescue remedy? If so, give about 10 drops a day of that in her water.
Poops on raw are definitely softer and smaller. If they are too loose, you can increase the eggshell powder/bonemeal powder to 3/4tsp per 8 oz meat.
I have switched a good number of ferrets, and to me any reaction is normal lol.

[Sarah]

Nov 16, 2017 12:26:42 GMT -5 Sherry said:

Some females do only eat a small amount. She could also be depressed. Do you have any bach's rescue remedy?

Im not familiar with that product but I'm willing to try it. Is that something I can get at a pet store chain?

[Sherry]

Sometimes. I get the human version from a local pharmacy. While yes, it is preserved in alcohol the amount is minimal and evaporates pretty quickly on exposure to air. There is an animal one with no alcohol that you can sometimes get from pet stores. This is the product www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-information/

[Sarah]

Thank you very much. Ill try and find one or the other and give it to her. How long should I dose her water?

[pegleg]

Just give the rescue remedy until she seems to be feeling better It's not like a drug where you can overdose, so feel free to give quite a bit~ I've been considering using it for my female She just gets nervous easier than my boys