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Post by Sherry on Jul 21, 2018 9:34:41 GMT -5
I'd do a bin. Even a cardboard box like from a dozen sodas will do it. I actually used one of those plastic igloos before as well. What happens if you give them something they aren't as fond of for 3 to 5 meals in a row? That's what I do with mine when they start to get fussy. If they KNOW when they hold out they'll get what they want, they are like little kids.
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Post by fuzzylvr on Jul 27, 2018 10:41:05 GMT -5
I used garden shears to cut the plastic for our dens. As you can see the blanket did not last long. Wow...this is a great idea!!
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Post by crazylady on Jul 27, 2018 13:53:58 GMT -5
In my house its a case of if you dont eat it then go hungry ! believe me once they see the tough lady has not changed it for something else they eat it lol mine all like liver though so thats not a problem chicken wings are the problem here lol why should they chew it in half when mum has a cleaver lol Bev
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nannah
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 232
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Post by nannah on Oct 19, 2018 16:13:48 GMT -5
oh, I didn't see the more recent posts on this. I will definitely try the like 5-meals-in-a-row thing. I was just going to come back to ask for more help, lol. because my babies are more picky than ever! i'm nearly having to revert back to the soupie stage because they are just not getting their organs in and i'm worried about their health. I did get taurine powder, but of course that does nothing for the other organs (and they DESPISE that other organ supplement in powdered form I tried to mix in w/ eggs and stuff like that). I've tried EVERYTHING omg. but I will try serving this organ mix in a row since they will - Definitely - not eat it for dinner tonight, haha! OMG crazylady, same. they won't eat anything bigger than my thumb. they just stare at me till I cut it smaller (i.e. cornish hen & chicken feet, lol). little horrors at dinner time, i stg. I'll also go shopping this weekend for some plastic dens! I have some garden shears that will get their use! ) I'm going to write a massive to-do list for the next two days, haha. I also have some plastic shelf lining i'll put underneath the dens, I think, to help with sanitizing under the blankies or smth. I think it will help with cleanup. ANYWAY, thank you for replying! I can't believe tapatalk didn't alert me to these replies. :/ but thank you!!!!
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nannah
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 232
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Post by nannah on Oct 20, 2018 22:15:31 GMT -5
how long will ferrets usually go before caving and eating what they don't want to ? I feel like I'm starving them, and they act like they're soooo hungry and it HURTS ME DEEPLY. how long before this becomes dangerous to their health, too?
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nannah
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 232
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Post by nannah on Oct 20, 2018 22:25:35 GMT -5
to catch any one up, I've fed tried feeding them 3 meals of organs, and Paco and Kinga are just NOT having it. kinga has taken maybe a tsp at MOST from my hands, but that's IT. i'm seriously worried about these guys now. Misio, on the other hand (the oldest, at 4) has had about a full meal, and he's doing great. @sherry, crazylady is it ok if I tag you in this?
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Post by crazylady on Oct 21, 2018 13:24:27 GMT -5
sure you can tag me lol normally a ferret wont go longer than 48 hours without eating and as long as they are drinking thats fine mine do tear into larger things ( whole rabbit etc ) but they simply feel chicken wings are not worth the bother as there is not much meat on them lol saying that throw three one day old chicks in with a hob (2 for a jill ) blink and they are gone lol try feeding in the cage late at night before you go to bed most ferrets ( this includes wild ferrets ) eat from dusk until dawn preferring to eat when it is dark and quiet ( something else we cannot breed out lol) my guys normally lift all the meat from there bowls and either dump it in a clean litter corner or take it to bed but when I check next morning its all gone lol you could try ferret meat balls lol chop some liver super fine mix it with some ground beef or chicken and add in a little oil form into what I call mini meat balls ( you can also throw in some bonemeal powder ) they still have to mouth it in there mouths but because its an easy swallow they tend to eat them lol you can mix in heart this way if you have too ( mine adore chunky hearts so no probs here lol ) if you have any more questions please just ask Bev
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Post by Sherry on Oct 22, 2018 9:40:41 GMT -5
What organs are you using? With hand feeding, just keep at it. If after 5 m they fight to get away, then give them a break and do another 5m etc. Also, I used pureed organs to get them to eat them.
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nannah
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 232
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Post by nannah on Oct 22, 2018 15:36:08 GMT -5
I don't have a ferret nation cage, and unfortunately they're used to eating outside the cage (and sleeping free-range). :S I am saving for the 182 ferret nation at the moment, and then I'm going to work on those feeding dens & having them eat overnight. the organs I'm using atm: pork heart organ mix: beef heart, pork brain, beef liver Sunday mix: pork spleen & brain or another pork organ, also subbing beef liver (there's an organic pig farm we get organs from nearby) I've tried that 5min tactic - well, once. and for the Sunday mix, I've pureed them. they still won't have it. (at least Kinga and Paco. Misio is a good boy). I just Can't Get Them to Eat. I'm so frustrated and worried. the only times I've been slightly successful on Sunday is mixing the organ puree with a bit of egg. but Kinga doesn't like egg either (rip), so she still won't eat it. I've even mixed the egg with salmon oil and have her lick it off my finger, but it's still a struggle.
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Post by Sherry on Oct 23, 2018 9:48:17 GMT -5
I seldom suggest this as they are lactose intolerant, but puree your mix, and add in about 1 tbsp heavy cream. That should be enough of a lure for you to hand feed them. Over time as they start eating it again you start weaning it out.
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nannah
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 232
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Post by nannah on Oct 28, 2018 13:35:16 GMT -5
I seldom suggest this as they are lactose intolerant, but puree your mix, and add in about 1 tbsp heavy cream. That should be enough of a lure for you to hand feed them. Over time as they start eating it again you start weaning it out. i think my ferrets may be some of the pickiest on the planet. what’s up with them? they’ve rejected the heavy cream too. 😣 kinga still takes one lick and SCRAMBLES away as fast as she can, coughing like she’s about to die. misio will take a couple bc he’s a good-natured sweetie but h*ll generally follow after her. i’ve been doing the every 5 minutes, give them another taste, etc. and holding out on meals, but the heavy cream ofc makes it difficult to do that for long. these guys are little babies! do i need to pulverize a bit of chix breast and add to the mix?
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Post by Sherry on Oct 29, 2018 10:08:44 GMT -5
Right now it's trial and error to see what will work. One other idea is to freeze the mix, and then as it's thawing shave very thin slivers off and let them "melt" over other meat.
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nannah
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 232
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Post by nannah on Mar 16, 2019 22:35:40 GMT -5
UPDATE: (03/16/19)
Okay, for those who haven't read the previous stuff (I don't blame you), I have two ferrets: Misio (~6yo male) and Kinga (~5yo female). Both are pretty picky eaters, but for the past 2 weeks miss KINGA hasn't eaten more than 2 tiny tsps of anything but her favorites, chicken and hen, which are PRETTY MUCH the same thing. sometimes I can get her eating turkey, but again, it's still bone-in meat. I have her getting taurine supplements and some like ... liver treats, but this is where I'm at.
!!OH. Kinga also is showing some signs of adrenal disease. she's got the deslorelin implant in currently. --
I have a feeding den now. I also leave them in there with the food for a while; she doesn't touch anything unless it's her favs. overnight, over the course of a few days, etc. I've tried pulverizing it till it's a soupie texture, till it's like a frothy smoothie etc. mixing eggs and chicken in with the soupies, etc. Nothing.
I'm getting REALLY worried about her. my mom thinks I'm overreacting, but I know she needs her proper ratios and stuff, and she's not getting that atm.
I grind & blend everything myself; are there any stores online (hare today, etc.) that sell ... "more palatable" things? or is it just about the same when it comes to organs? (ground up and stuff, I mean)
Sorry to be back here begging for help :S but I really want Kinga to be well!! Thank you for reading!
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Mar 17, 2019 9:21:41 GMT -5
nannah, yes Hare Today has organs. Scan down until you see the box that says organs and click that hare-today.com/category/products_by_proteinAlso you can look here for grinds for cats which have the organs included ---Check to see if any of those have the right ratio of 80:10:10 hare-today.com/raw_food_for_catsAlso you might try adding some whole prey like mice and quail from Hare Today. I buy their guinea pigs the 1-1.2 lbs. Mine likes guinea pigs. They do have grinds in this. If you do try mice--I can give you some tips on how I got mine to eat them. Not an instant love Mine will eat lamb organs blended into a smoothie. I first warm an empty plate in the microwave then pour soupie on the warm plate. (make sure no hot spots on plate by stirring around with finger. I may have to start out finger feeding, but they go to it after that. You can go to 15% bone for ferrets according to my old thread by my mentor which would then be 75:15:10(organ) Here is chart for frankenprey/alternative meals holisticferretforum.com/natural-diet/raw-diet-the-meat-of-the-site/balancing-frankenprey-with-alternative-meals/
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nannah
Junior Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 232
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Post by nannah on Mar 17, 2019 13:03:17 GMT -5
thank you, abbeytheferret6 ! Would you be able to give me some mice-feeding advice? I have a few baby mice left in i Believe all sizes? maybe not the tiniest pinkies. Misio will eat a few mice (with coaxing and salmon oil) ... but Kinga, of course, will NOT whatsoever, haha. And okay! thank you. I'll go on Hare Today and get some organ grinds. Hopefully Kinga will like those better than the ones I make myself (smh).
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