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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2011 10:58:32 GMT -5
Sorry for the delayed post, I've been so busy Okay, from now on I probably won't be as busy and will log on more frequently which means more progress. If something does come up I'll make sure to let you know. Thanks so much for being considerate.No problem I got Rookie to eat a little teeny bit of his soup. It is very thin currently and I have it drizzled onto his kibble. Should I thicken it up a bit or give him a day or so to get used to it?Until he is consistently eating it it is best to keep it at the thinness it is at now. For Roxy, one of our grocery stores sells unaltered pork that cut up into chunks and I thought Roxy would like it. No bones though. Maybe try some loin chops with no bones in it, if you can find it, in the beginning a softer pork meat will be easier for her to handle. Pork and beef bones are too tough for ferrets to eat anyway. Also if it makes any difference, Rookie has gained weight. Not that he needed to. Roxy worries me though because she's always been very small and skinny. I worry that she's underweight because she's not getting enough food or nutrients but maybe its just her body structure?Wow, good for Rookie! For Roxy, it could be her body structure but since she is so young that it could possibly be a nutrient or parasite problem, is she a good eater in general?
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Post by jaiyr on Aug 29, 2011 17:09:24 GMT -5
Rookie is eating his soup, only if it is drenched over kibble but he's eating nevertheless. He seems to really like it. I think he saw Roxy licking some soup off of his kibble, and he came investigate. I'm really happy for him. Roxy isn't a very picky-eater. She'll eat most of the stuff I've give her except bones or pieces of meat that aren't cut up enough for her. She'll eat Cornish Hen leg and wing bones and quail fine, but anything bigger than that she'll struggle on or try to avoid. She does manage to eat some chicken bones, but always reluctantly. I'm almost certain she doesn't have any bugs, but she's going to the vet next month for her check-up and I could ask there. To summerize, she's a good eater except when it comes to certain bones or pieces of meat she can't tear up or is too lazy to. Mostly I think it's her body structure though. She just seems small-framed in general, expecially next to Rookie, who is a big boy. I've heard you can grind eggshell and add it to boneless meats to bump up the calcuim, so I've been trying that on her pork chuncks, and she didn't seem to notice. Speaking of that, I'll try her on some pork loins, but I expect she'll like them. Another question. Is it better to feed once a day or twice? Right now, I'm giving Roxy one meal in mid-morning and she doesn't eat it right away. She'll eat some, play, eat some more, sleep, and even eat in the middle of the night. If needed though, I could give her some in the morning, and then feed her again in the evenings.... Sorry for all the questions.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2011 22:06:30 GMT -5
Rookie is eating his soup, only if it is drenched over kibble but he's eating nevertheless. He seems to really like it. I think he saw Roxy licking some soup off of his kibble, and he came investigate. I'm really happy for him.Very good! Stay persistent with him, once he eats that amount without a problem start lessening the kibble more and more until their is no kibble left. Roxy isn't a very picky-eater. She'll eat most of the stuff I've give her except bones or pieces of meat that aren't cut up enough for her. She'll eat Cornish Hen leg and wing bones and quail fine, but anything bigger than that she'll struggle on or try to avoid. She does manage to eat some chicken bones, but always reluctantly. I'm almost certain she doesn't have any bugs, but she's going to the vet next month for her check-up and I could ask there.Maybe for the meats that she is more reluctant towards make them much smaller than the she likes more. Quail and Cornish Hen also have a more delicate texture, that could be another reason that she is more reluctant to eat the other foods. As for her weight, you could be absolutely right, my boy, Wolfie, although having Insulinoma cannot keep on weight at all and otherwise he is in good condition. So, you could be right, it is most likely her natural structure. To summerize, she's a good eater except when it comes to certain bones or pieces of meat she can't tear up or is too lazy to. Mostly I think it's her body structure though. She just seems small-framed in general, expecially next to Rookie, who is a big boy.What you could do about the bones, you could smash some of them up and put the pieces in her food and see if she will eat that. As for the eggshell, you can definitely add it to her food for extra calcium Another question. Is it better to feed once a day or twice? In my opinion, I would feed twice a day. I make just enough food so they'll eat it up by dinner time. A ferrets digestive system gets everything done in 4-6 hours which is pretty fast compared to most animals and it causes them to need more feedings throughout the day. I hope I answered your questions, you're looking good, keep at it!
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Post by jaiyr on Sept 4, 2011 13:22:02 GMT -5
Well I've been adding soup to Rookie's food as you know but for the first time last night he showed lots of interest in Roxy's food. I was feeding Cornish Hen w/olive oil and Rookie immediantly started lapping some up. Then, he dragged a wing into a corner and started nimbling on it for a few seconds. After that, he went back to his kibble. As for Roxy, she's good as usual.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 9, 2011 19:29:40 GMT -5
Hi Jaiyr! Can you give me an update of where your fuzz are at with their diet switch now?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2011 12:23:05 GMT -5
Hey Annie, yes what Sherry said, it would be great if you could give me an update on the progress your ferrets are making (if any )
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Post by jaiyr on Sept 12, 2011 15:54:31 GMT -5
Rookie still like soupies but he ate a piece of Roxy's chicken giblets last night! (: That's the first time he's actually eaten any of her food. But, I'm feeding something different tonight and I'll see if he'll try it. His soupies haven't gotten any thicker but I'm positive he'd eat them if they were. One question. I want to introduce Roxy to a new meat (rabbit) so how would I convince her it is food? Will she just automatically eat it or will I have to wean her onto it? Thanks again.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2011 23:08:48 GMT -5
Rookie still like soupies but he ate a piece of Roxy's chicken giblets last night! (: That's the first time he's actually eaten any of her food. But, I'm feeding something different tonight and I'll see if he'll try it. His soupies haven't gotten any thicker but I'm positive he'd eat them if they were. ;D Good boy Rookie! Are you still giving him kibble? If so, I think it is time to take the kibble out of his diet and see how he does without it. He may be a little reluctant at first but you can leave his soupy inside his cage so he has free choice of it for now. One question. I want to introduce Roxy to a new meat (rabbit) so how would I convince her it is food? Will she just automatically eat it or will I have to wean her onto it?You can offer it and see how she reacts and if she doesn't take to it you can cut it in to small pieces and mix it with the other food that she is already used to and then build from there. Glad to hear from you
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Post by jaiyr on Sept 13, 2011 19:54:31 GMT -5
Okay. I took out the kibble earlier today and he seems to be fine. He seems to have a bigger appetite for his meats now, but that seems normal since his kibble is gone. I've been feeding him twice a day now, and they are eating a LOT. I have to put extra olive oil on meats to get Rookie to eat them. He still loves his soupies. I'll try Roxy and some rabbit tomorrow and see how goes. Glad to hear from you as well.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2011 11:21:00 GMT -5
Okay. I took out the kibble earlier today and he seems to be fine. He seems to have a bigger appetite for his meats now, but that seems normal since his kibble is gone. I've been feeding him twice a day now, and they are eating a LOT. I have to put extra olive oil on meats to get Rookie to eat them. He still loves his soupies. I'll try Roxy and some rabbit tomorrow and see how goes. That is sounding wonderful! Actually even with his kibble gone he will have a much bigger appetite. He is now getting much more nutrients from the meat than he did with the kibble and he will be eating more to gain it all back, so, do expect that from him, also he may start producing some nasty stools as well but no need to worry that is just his body cleaning itself out And I'd love to know how Roxy did with the rabbit, good luck!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2011 11:37:06 GMT -5
Any updates?
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Post by jaiyr on Sept 19, 2011 21:02:22 GMT -5
Rookie is doing wonderful on meats, but since then he's also become very territorial with food. He'll freak out if Roxy tries to take his piece. I've heard this was normal but I'm not sure? It's been scaring the heck out of my though, because he'll hiss and thrash away from Roxy. She's not agressive with food at all. She liked the rabbit, not staight up but I cut it up a little more and added some extra olive oil and she took to it easily. So did Rookie, he'll pretty much eat whatever Roxy eats. He's a big boy.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2011 12:45:44 GMT -5
Rookie is doing wonderful on meats, but since then he's also become very territorial with food. He'll freak out if Roxy tries to take his piece. I've heard this was normal but I'm not sure? It's been scaring the heck out of my though, because he'll hiss and thrash away from Roxy. She's not aggressive with food at all.I am glad he is doing well on the meats. Are you still giving him soup or is he just eating what Roxy is eating now? The aggression is normal, I remember my ferrets doing that to each other but they never harmed one another, as long as they aren't getting hurt I think it is nothing to worry about. She liked the rabbit, not straight up but I cut it up a little more and added some extra olive oil and she took to it easily. So did Rookie, he'll pretty much eat whatever Roxy eats. He's a big boy.That is great! The more meats the better.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2011 14:49:21 GMT -5
Hey Annie, Any updates? Also what are all the meats they are getting now and have you tried any liver before? Thanks!
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Post by jaiyr on Sept 27, 2011 21:44:47 GMT -5
Rookie has stopped soup permenantly and is eating whatever Roxy eats. He is a little iffy organs (beef livers) but he's getting there. Right now, I'm adding a teensy bit of ferretone to the organs but I'm trying to wean him off. Roxy gained weight! And she's starting to get a plush wonter coat. Rookie gained a tiny bit but his coat hasn't changed. Thanks for confirming that the agression was normal. Rookoe has never actually injured Roxy but he does get pretty nasty: screaming and hissing, when she gets around his food. Silly fert
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