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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2011 14:30:44 GMT -5
Hey.
All is going well with the raw meat so far. They love the commercial stuff and we're getting there with the chunks. Still nothing with chicken wings though.
Is it ok to give them the skin from my roast chicken dinner? Thought it would make a nice tasty snack for them.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 11, 2011 16:32:13 GMT -5
As long as it's raw, yes. If it's been seasoned, then cooked, no. Plain cooked- won't hurt them, but not much nutrition, but an okay snack- far better than a lot that's on the market What size chunks are they getting now? As for the wings, hold off for a bit, just toss them in the freezer, and we'll work on them in a bit
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2011 16:36:30 GMT -5
It was cooked chicken skin with nothing added to it.
They will only eat chunks that they can fit in their mouth in one go. If it's a bit too big it gets draped on the side of the cage.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 11, 2011 16:40:43 GMT -5
Ok then! Go for it with the roast skin, it'll be a different taste and texture, and that's a good thing too For the smallish chunks, can you try cutting them about the same thickness, or even thinner, but longer? Think spaghetti. Of course, it doesn't have to be that long, but that way, they get the feel of "small" enough to fit, but at the same time, can start learning how to chew.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2011 17:26:07 GMT -5
Ah, that's a good idea, I hadn't thought of cutting it like that.
I must say, Hurley used to have such coarse, wiry fur and I noticed today how much softer and more shiny it's looking already
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Post by Sherry on Apr 11, 2011 18:35:29 GMT -5
It does have a very quick effect. You should notice a difference in the energy levels, too FYI- I found it was far easier to cut the meat like this when it was still partially frozen.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2011 15:09:32 GMT -5
Does the butternut squash have to be cooked? If they will eat it raw is that ok?
Just poked a raw sliver through the cage to see what they thought of it and they all had a little chew of it.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 12, 2011 23:08:13 GMT -5
Um, raw NOT a good idea!!! Blockage waiting to happen!!! They cannot digest it, so it simply goes through their digestive system the way it went in. In other words, yes, please cook it first ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2011 13:34:14 GMT -5
Would sweet potato work in the same way? The supermarket near me only sells a bag of mixed chunks of butternut and sweet potato.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 15, 2011 21:12:31 GMT -5
It would, but isn't advised. Sweet potato is very high in natural sugars. Not a good thing for ferrets. Baby food should work well, too. Just check for butternut squash. I gather you can't buy the whole squash?
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Post by Sherry on Apr 20, 2011 18:39:22 GMT -5
Hi, any updates?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 10:45:26 GMT -5
Hi Sorry, I've not been on for a while I've been on a training course for work I'm still not having much luck with bigger meat chunks or chicken wings. I'm trying to fin some commercial raw with organs as I can't stomach cutting up liver/kidneys, it's horrible! I can get hold of whole minced rabbit which has all the organs, bone and meat. Would 2 meals of this a week provide them with enough organ? I've also found minced ox heart which I can give them once a week. Then the other days I could make up with meat chunks and bone in commercial raw until I can get them eating wings. Does this sound like a good, complete diet? They will have rabbit, turkey, beef, chicken.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2011 11:03:13 GMT -5
If you are going to give them commercial raw for the organ meat, I think you'll likely have to give it once daily. They need about 4oz organ meat(liver + other organ together) a week, or 10% of their total diet. When you buy whole carcass, there is only 10% in that particular meal. Meaning they'd need that amount daily, not just 2 days of the week. They could also have bone in then3 days of the week, and muscle meats(including the heart) the other 4. With the 4 proteins you've listed, that would cover all of their requirements
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2011 11:28:22 GMT -5
I had a feeling that would be the case. I bought some chicken livers the other day and blended them into mush and they seem to like that but it made me gag preparing it. Also, the livers had the odd whole piece of corn in them presumably the chicken it came from didn't chew its food properly. I had to be careful to remove them all, wouldn't want the ferrets swallowing them!
I might see if my butcher would be kind enough to mince some up for me.
Would you say they would need a whole bowl of organ once a week then?
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Post by Sherry on Apr 24, 2011 11:45:29 GMT -5
The liver has nothing to do with the physical aspect of a hen's diet, other than providing the bile. There shouldn't have been corn in it. That's improper preparation on the part of the producer. Will they take whole chicken livers? That way, all you'd have to do is put them in a dish and not have to worry about chopping them up. So, 3 ferrets you'd need 3 chicken livers per week. Or approx 6 oz of any other kind(chicken livers average 2oz each).
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