|
Post by hazelrah on Sept 19, 2011 10:52:51 GMT -5
I've increased the size of the chunks twice now, and he's going along with it like it's no big deal He even stole a bone from Falcor yesterday, and then ACTUALLY ATE ALL THE MEAT OFF!!!!!! He's now eating meals full of chunks about half the size of a dime; he has to chew them, but they're easy to handle. I'm soooooo pleased with his sudden progress!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2011 17:28:30 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by hazelrah on Sept 20, 2011 10:49:40 GMT -5
Yeah, it definitely seems that way. He was still reluctant until this weekend, when it seemed like he did a 180. He's now the most enthusiastic of all three when I bring their meals Here's a pic of him enjoying Oryx and Falcor's meal I'm just so proud! So do I get to start diversifying the menu now that everyone's eating? I'm so excited to start playing with new meats!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2011 14:01:51 GMT -5
You can. Is he eating bone consistently? If not, that's important to work on too (as well as organs, before bringing in various meat *sources*)
|
|
|
Post by hazelrah on Sept 20, 2011 20:31:23 GMT -5
He isn't eating bone consistently yet; he's only really gotten the idea within the last 48 hours or so, so I'm not completely banking on it as reliable. I've been using powdered eggshell for all three, but, as I have to do it myself and it takes forever, they probably don't get quite enough of it They've all been pretty good about the three meals of liver they've had, but that's all the organ meat I've given thus far. I know I need to add heart meat in and that it's really important, should I go for that one next? And I'm assuming it's pretty much the same deal (blend, oil, water) for the intro?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2011 23:40:50 GMT -5
heart is very important, so yeah. Get that in there. He'll probably take to that a bit easier (similar in texture, etc to what he's just gotten used to). Bone, too, is important. Eggshell puts the calcium in there, but that's it. And there's a bunch of other minerals found in bone that he's not getting, so, too. When you think he's firmly and easily eating chunks (without you worrying about backsliding), start small. Get bones that are thinner and lighter for him to eat (and you to smash or cut up if it comes to it) - wing tips, game hens, chicken/duck necks, etc.
Right now, organ's good. So you can start introducing hearts and bones, and we can worry about adding in the kidney later (for now, they'll just get their 10% through the liver).
|
|
|
Post by hazelrah on Sept 21, 2011 23:17:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2011 14:03:48 GMT -5
mostly, it's just all gizzard. a good way to tell is trying to cut them, if they're hard and tough, it's a gizzard (they also tend to be a bit flatter), if they're pretty easy to slice through - it's a heart (you'd also be able to see valves sometimes). You'd be safer just treating them all as gizzards (which translate to muscle meat). If it's a concern, supplement with taurine that way you know they're getting enough (dosage translates to about 125 mg/ferret a day). Seafood also has a lot of taurine (higher than meat, actually) - cold water fish, shrimp, clams and oysters, etc
|
|
|
Post by hazelrah on Sept 27, 2011 10:06:00 GMT -5
Ok, thank you! I isolated the ones I could be absolutely sure were hearts, and then just labeled the rest as gizzard, though I'm sure I missed several . They've all been seeming to be getting more adventurous as none had any hesitancy whatsoever about eating the heart meat. Everyone has also conquered the whole eating bones thing (the necks have helped a lot) For the last three days, I've been giving meals of necks , then I gave liver on Sunday night and heart last night. Should I be waiting a full week before I feed liver and heart again, or just a couple of days?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2011 10:51:11 GMT -5
heart is actually considered a muscle meat - I usually take it out of that category and place it in isolation because taurine is SO important (I generally say: 8-9 edible bone meals; 2 meals of hearts, 1 meal of organ, 2-3 meals "other" muscle meat. You can also feed liver/kidney with bone-in to reduce the nasty poos, if you want) . So, really, your guys should be getting 2 meals of hearts/week - and that doesn't really matter when you do it - but, for variety's sake (and if it's feasible) it's always good to break up meals when you can, so they don't get tired of something. Liver, on the other hand, is a DEFINITE wait a few days type of meal, or you're going to have some nasty poos (also make sure you don't feed more than 2 oz of liver, 2 oz of other kidney per ferret a week. If you can't get kidney, then feed all liver, but still break it up).
|
|
|
Post by hazelrah on Sept 27, 2011 22:48:48 GMT -5
Ok, sounds like a plan I gave necks this morning, then cut up a back for dinner. Nothing is quite as pleasing (in a disturbing way) than watching my babies crunch through ribs and a spinal cord I'm thinking of just playing around some this weekend to see what other types of meat they'll eat. Is there anything that I should avoid (for instance, what types of seafood are ok)?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2011 0:53:08 GMT -5
hahaha, don't feel bad, I love watching my guys eat They get to do something completely natural and instinctual, and what's better than being able to give them that opportunity? Fish is great, of course (especially salmon, lots of good fatty acids, and tilapia's nice and light, and usually well regarded. I've fed swai [kinda stinky] and flounder [same], and you can feed sardines, too), shrimp's good, as well. I think oysters and clams are fine, but I'll have to double check that. There's not much that's a no-no, but stay away from any canned tuna that's not in spring water, and don't overfeed red meats (besides the usual warning: no sausage, smoked, seasoned, cured, etc meats either ).
|
|
|
Post by hazelrah on Sept 29, 2011 12:15:38 GMT -5
Awesome! I think I have some shrimp in the freezer, I'm curious to see what they make of them Maybe I'll put them in water and they can go shrimp bobbing I'm actually heading out this evening to go camping with the boyfriend until Sunday, so I won't be posting for a couple days. I wish I could bring the little ones, but I'm waaaaaay too paranoid! My roommate is going to feed raw for me while I'm gone, or I wouldn't even consider leaving and risking a backslide after all this hard work
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2011 20:27:58 GMT -5
Sounds great, and thanks for giving me a heads up
|
|
|
Post by hazelrah on Oct 6, 2011 14:46:18 GMT -5
Hey! I'm back, and everyone's still right on track. They're eating backs and necks that have been cut to reasonable size with no problem at all
|
|