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Post by Sherry on Aug 3, 2011 0:05:56 GMT -5
Ok, I'd start leaving the kibble out for about 12 hours at least. Make sure to give them enough soup to last until you get home from work/school, then replace whatever may be left with new. But to be honest, I'd be getting those little monkeys something to chew on ;D ie: meat slivers!!!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 3, 2011 0:06:38 GMT -5
Sorry, forgot ;D Soup can be left out for up to 8 hours. But not to worry- if it goes bad, or even if it dries out, they won't touch it
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Post by jenpettit on Aug 3, 2011 8:57:09 GMT -5
Hi there! Well I gave some chicken slivers last night and this morning with soup and they ate it. They only ate a little last night but it was only in there for about 4 hours. I am going to leave it out longer today to see how much they will eat. I am a stay at home mom so I am able to keep track pretty well of how much they are eating. I am really surprised at how easily they have taken to the raw so far! Lets just hope they take to bone in meats like this as well!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 3, 2011 10:36:12 GMT -5
Fingers crossed, anyway ;D As long as they are accepting it well, keep adding more slivers, and less soup til it's all slivers. If at some point they start refusing, just go back a step or two to where they were willingly accepting it. We want to push them, but not so fast that they get stubborn abut it.
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Post by jenpettit on Aug 4, 2011 9:32:53 GMT -5
So I have been taking the kibble out in the morning and replacing it with about 1 cube soupie and the same amount of chicken slivers. It takes them about 6 hours to eat that. Then I just refresh the food and let that sit for about another 6 hours and at night I give them their kibble back. Does this sound like they are eating enough raw meat throughout the day? It just seems like such a small amount of food for 2 ferrets to last 6 hours. Also their stools are a little runny, but I was kinda expecting that since I am changing their diet. Thanks Sherrylynne for answering all my questions. I'm sure it can get pretty repetitive!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 4, 2011 9:42:26 GMT -5
You know something? I actually enjoy this, masochist that I am ;D And yes, their stool will be a bit looser, and once the kibble's gone entirely, much MUCH smaller! You can add in the eggshell powder to help firm it up, or even a bit of pure pumpkin. Keep one thing in mind, though. Their poops will always be a bit wetter and softer than when on kibble. No fibre, and no fillers As for amounts, my females on average eat maybe 2-4 oz a day, and my males from about 3-5 oz a day. Not per meal- per day! Since they process virtually all of what they are eating, they don't need nearly as much as when they are getting all that unnecessary crap they do in the kibble.
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Post by jenpettit on Aug 5, 2011 15:13:51 GMT -5
That is why you are such a great mentor! You know your stuff and you like what you do. Do you think I could start some commercial ground? They are eating the soupie really well and the chicken pieces. I tried giving pieces of chicken alone yesterday and they would eat a few then throw some to the side. When I came back later some of the pieces they threw out were gone, but I can tell they like the soupie better than the chicken. Also how much pumpkin should I feed them per day?
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Post by jenpettit on Aug 5, 2011 17:09:08 GMT -5
Oh yeah I almost forgot! Can I start feeding them chicken gizzards or is it too soon for that? I saw some at the grocery store earlier and was really tempted to buy them!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 5, 2011 20:21:07 GMT -5
You can certainly give them gizzards, or commercial raw Try to keep it to one new protein every few days, though. That way, if there is a sensitivity to something, you'll know what it is. As for liking soup better than meat, of course they do! They don't have to actually work at the soup ;D Ferrets are very lazy eaters by nature, and if offered an easier option, will generally prefer that
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Post by jenpettit on Aug 6, 2011 19:02:21 GMT -5
Well they are now eating the chicken pieces pretty well on their own without the soup mixed in. I am going to try and get chicken gizzards tomorrow. We have a place out here that personalizes a raw diet plan and delivers free for dogs. They have a pretty good selection and I am going to place an order next week on payday. While I am waiting is there anything else I could try feeding them from the grocery store? Maybe a different protein? Also I have noticed Mowgli's energy level is gradually increasing. He is acting almost like a young ferret again!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 6, 2011 22:03:49 GMT -5
you can either do a different protein(pork and turkey are usually well recieved), or you can try increasing the chunk size to build up their jaw strength.
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Post by jenpettit on Aug 8, 2011 14:46:36 GMT -5
Well I went to the grocery store today and they were out of gizzards, but I did buy some pork chops. I cut one pork chop into pieces about the same size as the chicken pieces and will try to give it to them tonight. I think I am going to start cutting the chicken pieces a bit bigger and see how the handle that too. So I have a kind of a weird question. I have a friend who lives in the country and her dogs keep killing baby rabbits. She immediately takes them away and puts them in the freezer until trash day. I was curious to know if I could feed them to my ferrets? I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. I guess I just feel bad for the poor things not knowing if they were killed quickly or not.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2011 14:54:43 GMT -5
Definitely! I'd keep them frozen for at least two weeks in a deep freeze, just in case there are any parasites present(low freezing temps kill them), and then feed A great source of extra nutrition. Depending on just HOW young, they may not be a good source of calcium, but nutritionally, they'd be a good addition, since it's an extra protein source. As for larger chunks, go for it If they'll take them, great! If not- go back to the size you are using, and just add in a few a wee bit larger to get them used to it. And good idea trying out the pork as well Funny story. My guys adore their rabbit. So I got some rabbit pinkies for them, thinking they'd adore them the odd time as a "treat meal". ;D Little beggars all very politely took their rabbit pinkies, placed them almost in unison at the back of the cage, turned around facing me again as if to say "Thanks mom, but where's our food?: ;D
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Post by jenpettit on Aug 8, 2011 22:26:53 GMT -5
lol Ferrets are such funny creatures! Sometimes I wish I could get into their minds and figure out what they are thinking. It would make things a lot easier for us ferrents! I tried the pork tonight and they just threw it to the side. Do you think I should cut the pieces up smaller or maybe just try again in the morning? I tried adding just a little soupie but they just licked it clean. Also about the rabbit. I don't have a deep freezer to freeze them in. Can I just put them in a regular freezer? Do I have to skin them or can I leave them whole? I know it is not quite time for them to eat whole prey but I don't want to have my friend keeping the rabbits in her freezer for me if I decide not to use them. I just don't know if I could skin a rabbit!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2011 22:56:58 GMT -5
Certainly you can keep them in the fridge freezer. They just need to be frozen longer, that's all And no need to skin them. Or you *shouldn't* need to, let me say. My little brats won't touch it if there's too much fur on it. With the pork, by all means try chopping it smaller. Make it smaller than the chicken bits, and mix it in well with that meat. That way, one takes on the flavour of the other, and basically tricks them into eating it ;D
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