Silverben's Switching Thread/Sunnyberra

[silverben]

Hi I'm sorry its been a while again ill try to get on here more often. So I tried mixing the organs with pork meat and they still wouldn't touch it (even Revan which is odd as normally she does eat the organs). So should I jusy dilute the organs with more pork or is there a better meat to mask the flavour? Also I've noticed a big decrease in the amount they're eating, so I'm slightly worried, but I've also read for the first few months they eat A LOT and then it drops a fair a bit. So I shouldn't be too concerned? As far as everything else is concerned they're doing fairly well. Eating large chunks of pork and chicken meat, wing tips and even the second set (there's three sections to the whole wing, so the one in the middle) of bones on the chicken wing, and big pieces of quail with all the bones. But when I fed them the third and biggest piece of the chicken wing they barely ate any of it. I didn't think they'd eat the bone, but they hardly chewed off the meat either. I'm not sure how to get them to eat that because with everything else up to that they're fine, so there's not really another step I can introduce them to before that one.

[Deleted]

If they like stronger tasting meats (i.e. beef, goat, rabbit) - that might work better. Pork's kind of light tasting, so not the best for hiding stuff!

They do go kind of crazy after getting on raw (their bodies are making up for the deficit in nutrients). Also, dependent on where you are, if you've had warmer weather for a bit, that will slow them down, too.

As for the chicken wing, you can first try mashing it with a a hammer or mallet until the bones are broken up, then cut slits into the skin to give them something to hold on to as they rip into it. If that's too much for them, bash it up and then cut it up so that the marrow in the center's exposed. Then you can slowly get them to tearing into it whole.

[silverben]

I went to purchase some more quail to mix the organs with but they were all out so I bought beef for that and frog legs for more bone they've been getting just the beef to get them introduced to the taste and tonight will be the first time having the beef mixed with kidney. So I will let you know how that goes. They love the frog legs I'm also going to try to write up a set schedule for their food, so when I do I will show it to you and you can help me revise it

[Deleted]

oh, frog legs, how neat

Sounds great, I'll look forward to the menu!

[silverben]

So here's the first draft of the menu:

Mon AM: quail pieces (which includes the bones and organs)
Mon PM: pork chunks (boneless)
Tues AM: chicken wings (will alternate between wing tips and the middle piece of wing, and the drumstick part of the wing (which they now eat fine:) ))
Tues PM: beef soup with kidney (alternate between pork and beef kidney)
Wed AM: frog legs
Wed PM: boneless chicken chunks
Thurs AM: chicken heart and gizzards
Thurs PM: quail pieces
Fri AM: commercial raw venison (with bone and organ)
Fri PM: beef soup with beef liver
Sat AM: chicken wings (alternate)
Sat PM: pork chunks
Sun AM: frog legs
Sun PM: heart and gizzard (pork or chicken heart)

Does that sound good? I hope I have the right percentages. I find their poo stays tarry for a while after the heart and organs if I don't give them a lot of bone around the organ/heart meal.

[Deleted]

Okay, I LOVE the two meals of hearts, and you have a great variety of meats (I count 6 protein sources - frog, chicken, beef, quail, vension, and pork), so that is FABULOUS!

I'm only counting 7 bone in meals, though. I also see that you have commercial (ground, I'm assuming) + 2 meals of beef soup with organ in, which is possibly too much organ (which would explain the lingering tarry stools).

So what we need to do is 1) add in at least one more bone-in meal, + "beef" up the frog leg meals (adding in a bit of neck [duck, chicken, turkey, what have you] would be great, but can be anything you have), and then 2) cut back on that organ (you can replace ONE beef soup day with another bone in meal - gamehens, turkey, are great - usually easily found in stores - meats, but again can be whatever you have).

Specifically for the organ - generally, you'll find that they include more liver than kidney in commercial foods, so I'd use that as your "liver" day (you can add in about 1/2 tsp or a little less of liver to *that* meal to make sure they get enough). Then put the kidney into the one remaining soup day, and see how their poos do on that. They will still have slimier poos on that day (organs just do that, LOL), but it shouldn't linger.

Once revisions are done, we'll review again and then get this sent off to Heather, and see about graduation, if you feel ready for that?

[Deleted]

check in? how's the menu coming?

[silverben]

I went to stock up on quail and frog legs, but unfortunately they were out of frog legs, so right now those are off the menu for the ferrets. However I did cut up the young chicken I'd purchased a little while ago to give the ferrets more chicken bone variety instead of just wing tips. So the revised schedule is (once I'm able to get more frog legs):

Mon AM: quail pieces (which includes the bones and organs)
Mon PM: pork chunks (boneless)
Tues AM: chicken wings (will alternate between wing tips and the middle piece of wing, and the drumstick part of the wing)
Tues PM: beef soup with kidney (alternate between pork and beef kidney)
Wed AM: frog legs, with chicken back or ribcage
Wed PM: game hen chunks
Thurs AM: chicken heart and gizzards
Thurs PM: quail pieces
Fri AM: commercial raw venison (with bone and organ) with a bit of extra liver added
Fri PM: game hen chunks
Sat AM: chicken wings (alternate)
Sat PM: pork chunks
Sun AM: frog legs, with chicken back or ribcage
Sun PM: heart and gizzard (pork or chicken heart)

I haven't been able to find necks, do you have to purchase a whole bird to get those?

[Deleted]

Chicken and duck necks can be hard to get a hold of (unless you go to a butcher's). Turkey necks are sold in packs of 3/4 at most stores, though, so if you have a knife that can get through them, they're really fun additions to the menu (you can usually find chicken necks in whole cooker chickens, and necks are included in the perdue cgh).

Okay, I'll send this menu off to Heather for a look. Good job

[Heather]

Congratulations you've graduated and you're ready to walk this path alone, now. You have the foundation to help you feed your fuzzes in a more natural and healthy manner. Please remember that your learning never stops, and dietary needs change from ferret to ferret and throughout each their lives. Fantastic mix of proteins...well done. I would also like you to be aware that though you now have the capability and the knowledge to create your little ones diets you are never alone and that your mentor (you need only pm) is always available to you. The list is also a very good resource and you should always be aware that it's available to answer any questions you may have either about diet or care.
Good luck, in a few days either Sherry or I will lock down this thread but be aware that you can always look through it as a reference tool but you just will not be able to post to it
Your mentor will be in to congratulate you shortly .
ciao

[Deleted]

Congrats, Marnie! You've done a great job switching your guys, and I enjoyed working with you. If you ever have any questions/concerns about their diet, feel free to PM me