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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2011 2:39:12 GMT -5
Not negligent at all, you're busy! On graduating, I'm not really sure how that works though it sounds exciting! I guess it's up to you. Do you graduate when you're feeding everything you're expense-wise/willing-wise to feed, or what? Because I would feed whole prey only in the way of birds (feathered whole partridge and quail) but my raw co-op doesn't have any orders for those things right now and might not for a long time. Eventually I'll get venison, I have some buffalo. I think he could use a little more weight so I'll go for the duck - we also have some tiny smelt fish from the asian market - the cats hate fish, I hope he likes it. Do your guys like smelt? ETA: Other things I can feed that I haven't include: duck, quail, rabbit, whole prey partridge and quail (someday, when it's available), goat chunks, venison, and buffalo (have a little left of that), smelt, and mackerel.
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Post by Heather on May 27, 2011 22:32:16 GMT -5
Graduation occurs when you feel you're comfortable where your at and understand the concepts (which you do you already raw feed, so that part you already have). Your little one is eating a minimum of 3 different types of proteins, consuming bone and organ meats. You create a week or 2 weeks menu stating what is being fed each day. Basically, Monday am pork riblets -- pm beef heart.... tuesday am chicken wings --- pm chicken livers and so on. By doing so you explain that you understand how to balance your little one's diet and can cope with being in control You of course are never on your own really . You can pm me any time or take your questions to the forum. ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2011 2:33:47 GMT -5
Oh, okay. Well, he's eating four proteins and we shall start him on duck or smelt next. We feed a chicken bone-in piece or cornish hen piece for bone (or turkey neck) every other day - would like to try some soft pork bones next - and organs every other day, sometimes chicken, duck or beef heart for extra taurine some days. Last night I gave him a whole egg, which he had a lot of fun with. Otherwise it is chicken, turkey, pork, or beef, and we're getting started on some other things soon here. He also gets half salmon/olive oil on his tummy when it's nail-clipping day on Sundays. I almost forgot - we can feed him salmon too since we have access to that sometimes.
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Post by Heather on May 28, 2011 9:54:06 GMT -5
You mention organ meat every other day. That seems rather high but are you classifying heart as an organ meat? I usually count that as a muscle meat ....liver, kidneys, brain...that type is what we classify as organ on here. You need one meal of that a week. I feed a lot of heart too. Most of my hearts have been previously frozen and I don't supplement so I tend to feed this more than some people. ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2011 12:46:09 GMT -5
I realize heart is both a muscle meat and an organ - he gets liver about twice a week along with another pork organ (that's all we have till we can get some other things from the specialty store). They have brain, spleen, kidney, liver, and heart. We can also get duck heart and liver, and beef heart. Otherwise I did mean heart every other day - because I don't use supplements either (unless you count wild alaskan salmon oil/olive oil mixture for nail clipping and ear washing).
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Post by Heather on May 29, 2011 12:56:59 GMT -5
Ok, and no I don't classify the salmon oils as a supplement either. Would you like to draw up a weeks menu then? Each student has to supply a week or 2 weeks menu saying what they would or are feeding during that time period for evaluation ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2011 13:06:48 GMT -5
Oh, I thought I already did that a couple posts above - but if you want it written a certain way sure. Would you rather it be one week or two? Up to you, I'll go over it with DH and then post it how you would prefer.
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Post by Heather on May 29, 2011 13:42:21 GMT -5
If you don't mind. It allows others who look through this thread to check out what a finished menu for your little one looks like. You did tell me but if you put it in the format that I outlined then it's easier to look at and tell at a glance. Ok? I don't care if it's for one week or two. I have some students who cover the same basic formula every week...I don't think from what you've posted that you do, so I might be tempted to do 2 weeks just to better illustrate the coverage that you give your little one's diet. ciao
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2011 21:37:37 GMT -5
Okay, I can do 2. Thing is, I don't feel that if I made up the menus now, that it would have all the variety I'm wanting. I can if you want me to, but I would really like to get at LEAST 2 more proteins into his diet before I do it, because otherwise the menu is going to look so boring. I'd like to add in duck and smelt, salmon, or mackerel if he doesn't like certain things. All of the above would be great. The other thing I can get fairly inexpensively is quail. Rabbit, goat, venison, buffalo, lamb, and seasonal meats like emu or partridge, etc. will have to be rarer due to expense or unavailability. But my plan is to have him eating anything I can get my hands on for a decent price. Funny note - he got 5 chicken hearts frozen in his dish tonight and he was so excited he ate them ALL. Glut. He's been eating as much as our 10 lb. cats eat each day and yet doesn't seem to gain much weight. I really DO need to get some duck in that diet... =/
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Post by Heather on May 30, 2011 22:45:52 GMT -5
You don't have to menu your optimum diet, just what you're feeding to graduate. If you want to wait until you've added more proteins to your list you can, but all you need is the 3 or 4 that you have presently. It's just to prove that you understand the concept of what and how to feed your little one (as you're already raw feeding, you understand the concept really well ). You can continue to add and change your little one's diet after graduation, in fact I hope that you can and will do this. Very few people continue to use their graduating menu but change it to accomodate their little ones through age and illnesses. The menu serves as a reference, if you choose to switch another (you know ferret math ;D) or if someone decides to read through this thread after it's been archived. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2011 22:26:17 GMT -5
I just wanted to note here (did in PM to Heather) my internet issues being the reason why I may be unable to post my menu for a while longer. I have had a hard time getting a reliable connection for awhile now and on top of that have a ton of crazy personal stuff going on so have been insanely busy and still am. Hoping this thread won't be archived, as soon as I can get a better connection and we return to some state of normalcy here I hope to post it. Thanks for your understanding of this matter!
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Post by Heather on Jun 16, 2011 22:30:11 GMT -5
Thanks for posting....I hope that your internet issues get repaired soon (I know how frustrating these can be). Let me know when you're ready to get back on board, you're so close to graduating anyway (just need a menu) I'm not worried about things, I know that you're feeding your boy well ciao
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