|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 16:36:24 GMT -5
ok, i am about to melt their soup( remember i put it in ice cubes ) and i will put slivers of meat( i have extra) Fingernail sized. i read the first thread you posted and they are eating ( currently) the thick puree and i have added kibble back into the diet during the night and during the day. they get it taken away at 5:00am and get fed at 6:30am then get it put back in and then they get it taken again at 2:30 and eat at about now i will take some pictures, and post them asap!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 17:10:14 GMT -5
Here are the pictures, i put some ferret vite on the ground just enough to keep them occupied! Coda Stiv Hagrid Tubesock
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 7, 2011 20:48:07 GMT -5
Thanks Hagrid certainly can't afford to lose any weight, can he?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 20:52:29 GMT -5
I am not sure about him! i looked at this and though OMG HE IS REALLY SKINNY!!!!! i don't know how he got so skinny! he is perfectly fine, though he is up in that 3 1/2 year age range, we are thinking early adrenal because he has very thin fur lately ( with winter here, that does not make sense) you can see all of their coats are nice and fluffy except for Hagrid! On topic, I gave them their four cubes of raw soup thick consistancy and with bits of meat how you told me, they did not tell a difference! it was really cute, they saw the ice tray come out and started sniffing and walking towards me, i think they know how good for them it is! they sat while i cut small crescent pieces of meat for them!
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 7, 2011 20:55:44 GMT -5
It's not just that they know it's good for them- they like it too With Hagrid, keep a very close eye on how much he's actually eating. They can appear to eat, licking at it etc. without actually consuming very much. Can you separate him out during their next feeding, and see just how much he really IS putting away? Let me know.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 21:14:32 GMT -5
well, i am positive, Hagrid will be the first one to the plate and eat A LOT and then the others will discover it. that is why i have been putting them all near the plate lately. Tubesock and Hagrid were the first two, as you remember and would only eat it then i had to get the other two to try it. Hagrid ate more then Tubesock! and he still does, he is always licking the plate clean when the others are done. i don't get it! but i will seperate them next time
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 7, 2011 21:25:37 GMT -5
I really think it's a good idea. One of mine, Suki, looked like she was eating, but started losing weight, and looked a lot like Hagrid does now. Better safe than sorry You might also want to take him into the vet and get him started on lupron. Do a 3 month course, and you'll know if it's working by then.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2011 22:07:28 GMT -5
Well, we are not sure yet if it is adrenal... I am going to feed him separately for sure, i just don't want to risk it What exactly does the lupron do? i have not really had an adrenal ferret yet, and hagrid is not losing chunks of fur ( yet) if he does have adrenal. just want to make sure what are some early adrenal signs? he HAS been aggressive lately but only towards Coda! every reason i have, i have an answer to it...
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 7, 2011 23:01:39 GMT -5
Zeus was only aggressive to Suki. Lupron basically blocks the reception of the hormones that are triggering the adrenal. It's usually good at the one dose for up to about 2 years, then you've got to add either more lupron, or a melatonin implant.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2011 15:59:10 GMT -5
I have a question about the chicken. i froze it because when i cut it, it did not completely thaw and there was some meat left on it. so i refroze it and thawed it in the fridge overnight and it falls apart really easy... is it gone bad??? ALSO i gave hagrid the last of the chicken since he likes it so much but if the chicken i have left is bad, i cannot make anymore soup until i get some extra money again D:
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 9, 2011 17:33:18 GMT -5
If it's bad, you'll be able to smell it so no worries there. They'll also refuse to eat it. So how much did Hagrid eat on his own?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2011 18:40:18 GMT -5
He ate all of it! all on his own! they refused it so i just decided to play it safe and not make them try it. I am to cautious about raw meat! It is going to be a while before i can get some more raw meat except for some pork chops and they are very small. i would say about 6 oz for both of them. and the livers went bad GRRRRR we will figure it out The amount Hagrid ate on his own i would say is about 3 table spoons ( all that was left) and he licked the plate clean ALMOST LITERALLY maybe he is just skinny?? he eats a lot!
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 10, 2011 10:49:52 GMT -5
I can't answer the part about his natural build. What are his energy levels like, what was his previous weights, his age, etc? You have to factor all that in to determine if he's just a very lean ferret, or if something like adrenal is kicking up. And you really need to start getting and keeping a steady supply of raw in if we are going to do this switch. Stopping and starting isn't going to work for your ferrets in the long run. If money is a factor, have you considered just supplementing with raw? You know- one day kibble, next day raw, day after that kibble, and so on? If you are going to go full raw, what I'd like you to get is enough chicken, hearts and livers for a week if you shop weekly. If every two weeks, then for that period of time. But also include a new protein. You know they'll eat chicken and pork. Maybe try beef or turkey. And remember- when first transitioning, they'll eat a TON. Frequently about twice as much as they finally settle down to. Plan on about 3-4oz per ferret per meal, so 6-8 ounces per ferret per day. Make yourself a shopping list accordingly. If they don't eat that, then you've got less to buy next time around If you are getting chicken hearts, they'll ultimately wind up eating about 20-30 between them for a full meal. Chicken livers(or 2 oz other liver), so 4 per week. You'll also need another organ in there, at least intermittently. Kidney is usually the easiest to come by although any other organ will do. Bone meals will be toward the heavier end of the ounces I listed. So, muscle meats, likely about 6oz a day, bone in meats, 8 oz a day.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2011 15:59:06 GMT -5
OK so i have a few questions. so about a whole chicken ( four pounds) costs 4.27$ about how much do other organs cost and where can i get them? do you think they would sell them at any grocery store??? i am going to make a list and get the stuff ASAP i need a budget i will get up the money and buy twice as much as i need for the first week ( or two) so that if i don't get any extra money by the next week i will still have some. I found some pork chops in the freezer again, and gave it to them. it is frozen though and a whole chunk so i want to see if they will eat whole chunks if that is ok? Are pork hocks ok for ferrets? we bought some but nobody liked them. they are plain, i just want to know if they are OK for ferrets to eat?
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 11, 2011 17:01:20 GMT -5
For cost, you'll need to ask someone who lives in your area. I'm in Canada As for the hocks, yes they can have them. Good exercise for chewing if they'll take them As for large chunk, if they'll eat it, go for it. It's possible it could be too overwhelming though. If si, try cutting it up and give it to them. But keep a very close eye that they actually eat it, and not just stash it
|
|