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Post by vhoey39750 on Apr 12, 2011 22:01:38 GMT -5
Yay, so I have started feeding organ meat. I first tried chicken kidney. My one ferret ate some but only after I held her and the food near her face. Then she ate a lot. My other girl wouldnt touch it. Then tonight I tried chicken liver. My girl who didnt want the kidney started eating it all on her own. My other girl was sleeping and I had to go out again so I'll see what happens when I get home!
Also, I tried hooking some chicken meat to a shower curtain ring and dangling it from the ceiling of my cage. They ripped it off almost instantly... I'll have to think of something different so they dont get meat juice all over the cage...
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Post by Sherry on Apr 12, 2011 23:04:59 GMT -5
That's what vinegar/water solution is for ;D I clean the cage floor twice a day after pulling out the old meat, just before putting in the new. It's going to happen with raw. No getting around it! Have you thought about a feeding den yet? And congrats on the organ meat!!! Do you realize I had to hand feed liver soupies for a freaking YEAR before they'd take it on their own ;D Yeah, I'm a sap, what can I say ;D So, in a nutshell, could you refresh for me what they are now eating? Protein base, organ, heart, texture(soup, chunk size, whole wing, etc).
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Post by vhoey39750 on Apr 19, 2011 22:42:26 GMT -5
Ok so, thus far I have them eating: whole chicken carcass including bone, pork chop, chicken heart, and liver and cow kidney cut into 1 cm cubes (they are getting better about eating it from the bowl but right now hand feeding most of the liver), wouldnt touch cow stomach but I dont blame them. I threw it out cause it made my place reek. I also tried veal tonight cause it was severly discounted at the store for a quick sale. I am unsure of how many meals per week of each type of food to give: bone, meat, organ?
Its interesting because a few days ago I gave them a meal of kibble since I had forgotten to thaw their food and I dont want them to totally forget what kibble is just in case... Anyway, it was funny because they havent seen kibble in almost a month and when they looked at it they were like 'whats this'? It took them a mis or two to start eating it. That felt good cause i was wondering if they missed it or if theyd o really enjoy the meat.
About the feeding den, I tried hooking meat to a curtain hook and hung it from the ceiling of the cage. They just ripped it off!! I don't see how a feeding den will work if they can just rip the meat off the hook and take it wherever they like. Any suggestions?
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Post by Sherry on Apr 19, 2011 23:08:01 GMT -5
Most ferret prefer eating in a dark enclosed space. It not only gives them privacy, but helps them feel more secure. Not all will, however. I've got some who prefer them, and others who'll go in, grab their bite of meat, and come out to eat it. You can work with them on it if you like. You just keep putting them back in with the meat every time they come out. Sooner or later, they usually give up and eat in the den *usually* being the key word ;D Ok, we need to get a menu set up for you. The usual is 4 days(8 meals) bone in, 2 days(4 meals) muscle meats, 1 meal liver and other organ(approx. 2 oz of each), and the other meal that day whatever you like. Just mix and match according to what works best for you. Have you read any of the forum posts on tripe? Because that's what you tried to give them ;D It's cow stomach. And yes- it reeks horribly! I tried feeding it once. Only once- the smell almost made me ill ;D As for giving them the kibble- it would likely be better if you gave them the meat frozen. It will thaw. Or- you can pop a baggie of meat for their meal in a bowl of warm water, and it will be mostly thawed in about 30 minutes. One animal in my house is allowed kibble(one of my cats) and that's only because he literally starves himself if you try getting him on anything else. I wound up syringe feeding him twice for a week each time after going to great lengths to switch him even to canned Stubborn little sod! I honestly don't think mine would even know what that stuff was now Most likely they'd think it was a brand new toy to be dug out and played with ;D And most fuzz, given the choice(once they know meat is food) wind up leaving kibble to eat the meat, even if both are in the cage. They know what's better for them Anyway, if you could set up a menu along the above guidelines, then we can see where their diet may need to be tweaked for optimal nutrition
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Post by Sherry on May 2, 2011 0:44:38 GMT -5
Any updates?
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Post by Sherry on Jun 9, 2011 9:38:41 GMT -5
So- any updates?
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