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Post by tazmania on Dec 27, 2011 13:28:38 GMT -5
So when I get my ferret I plan on feeding raw but I have a couple questions. How do you make soup? Do you start out with a raw soup or cooked soup? Do you add kibbles? I'm not totally new to raw feeding, I feed both my dogs raw. And the cat... well, lets just say I know how to pick my battles lol (she gets a grain free kibble and occasional freeze dried or frozen/thawed raw, but won't eat it consistently) Are the ratios the same for a dog just in smaller amounts? (80/10/10) I have more questions, but that is enough for now
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2011 14:19:25 GMT -5
Is the ferret eating kibble now? It might take her a while to realize the raw soup is food so if she is eating kibble your going to have to have kibble for her until she is eating enough raw on her own. Definetaly raw soup not cooked. I want to say the basic soup mix is 8oz chicken, 1 chicken heart, 2 chicken livers, and I forget how much eggshell powder. And they can have 1/2 tsp of pumkin daily. I'm sure someone more experienced will chime in.
You want to take the kibble away 2-3 hours before you try the raw soup as they digest at differant rates and may cause an upset stomach.
My girl is in the switch to raw right now. It is helpful to go and look and the mentoring programs and read through peoples switches to raw. Ferrets react differantly to it. You are not allowed to post on their switch threads though. Good luck!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2011 15:00:32 GMT -5
The raw soup recipe is actually: 8oz chicken breast (raw) 1 chicken liver (raw) 1-2 chicken hearts or 1oz other heart (raw) 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed egg shell or bone meal (to crush egg shell, air-dry egg shell then crush with mortar and pestol or in a clean coffee grinder ; alternatively bone meal can be used, you can usually get this at a pet health food store that sells raw). -Add water until soupy. You want to start with quite soupy at first. And blending up in a food processor is the easiest. -I always add the 1/2 tsp pumpkin as well If you read through the stickies in the raw feeding/mentoring section you can see how to hand-feed a ferret raw soup. This is recommended to start. I also use a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (no more than 1/2 tsp per day) to entice them to try to raw at first. If they don't like the EVOO, you can also try fish oils (for example Salmon oil). Ferretone is not recommended because of the BHT (carcinogen) but you can mix 1/2 ferretone / 1/2 EVOO to start and then wean the ferretone out of the mixture if you end up with a super picky fuzzy. Other than that, you may want to sign up for the mentoring program ferrets Aren't a whole lot different than cats, but they are different than dogs. They require: 75% muscle meat (including 1 full meal of hearts AT LEAST per week) 10% EDIBLE bone Per week 10% organ (1/2 liver - no more than 2oz per week and 1/2 other organ which includes kidney, spleen, brains, etc. Though 1/2 of the "other" organ should be kidney) 5% roughage - this is your 1/2 tsp per ferret of pumpkin per day. Helps the food pass through better (mimics skin and fur's role),and prevents hairballs. Most also feed extra virgin olive oil (no more than 1/2 tsp daily) to help with coat and hairballs but a FISH oil is also recommended to replace the EVOO a few times a week as they can actually digest the Animal based oils. Kibble can be used to "coat" the raw at first (ie kibble crumbs on the raw) but if you end up getting a kit, they should take to the raw no problem, older ferrets are definitely a bit trickier though. Taking away the kibble for 2-3 hours before offering the raw is recommended but only if you KNOW your ferret is healthy and does not have insulinoma (only really a concern if you get an older ferret with unknown health history, but getting a kit or seemingly healthy adult vet checked before the switch is also always recommended). Let us know if you have any other questions
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Post by tazmania on Dec 27, 2011 15:20:28 GMT -5
Thanks for all the info! We always have pumpkin around as its the only way one of my dogs can have firm poopies (I swear he could eat nothing but bone and still have soft serve poop) so that shouldn't be an issue. What do you use to make the soupie? A food processor? I have my eye on a fuzzy, but I have to go through the adoption process first and someone has already shown some interest in him. But I'm hoping I will be able to go straight to small chunks because he is a FATTY lol.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 27, 2011 16:43:59 GMT -5
I use a blender, but make sure to cut the meat into smaller sizes first. And NEVER try to do bone in a blender ;D We've had a few try, and yes, it's new blender time!!!
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Post by tazmania on Dec 27, 2011 17:34:29 GMT -5
Well, I'm off to make some chicken soup for the new guy! So excited!
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Post by tazmania on Dec 27, 2011 18:45:54 GMT -5
Well, I made him some soup and he actually ate it! Not a whole lot, but enough to make me happy. Its not quite dinner time, so I'll try again in a few hours
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Post by Sherry on Dec 27, 2011 19:16:29 GMT -5
That is fantastic!!! Do you have any idea how long it takes some of us to have ours get to that point, ;D
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Post by tazmania on Dec 27, 2011 19:23:30 GMT -5
I thought he was going to be a turd at first, but then I dipped his nose in it and he decided it was good I was hoping that since he was chunky he wouldn't oppose to any sort of food lol
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Post by Sherry on Dec 27, 2011 19:30:27 GMT -5
It certainly doesn't hurt when they love food in general ;D
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Post by gabriel on Jan 26, 2012 3:18:15 GMT -5
I was totally wondering about the bone in the blender Sherry, lol. Curiosity killed the cat but Sherry saved the blender!
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Post by gabriel on Jan 26, 2012 15:12:11 GMT -5
Alright, so this might be a silly question but... I plan to make soup this weekend and so I wanted to get the eggshells all set. I love boiled eggs so I used that method to get my shells. The boiling process shouldn't have any effect on the eggs usefulness right? Or did I just ruin the calcium aspect?
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Post by Sherry on Jan 26, 2012 15:28:13 GMT -5
If it's ground to a powder, it's fine if you are just breaking them up, it needs to be raw
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Post by tress29 on Jan 28, 2012 21:22:23 GMT -5
My liver has a sell by date of the 29th. How long is it good in the fridge? Should I freeze what I don't use? If I can find more heart I'll make up more to freeze. I bought that pack of gizzards and hearts, and there were only two hearts. I've got another store to try tomorrow, and then I'm gonna have to find a butcher shop on Monday!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2012 22:55:50 GMT -5
My kids only eat liver soup (little brats) so I blend up my liver with some pumpkin and freeze it in ice cube trays. Way easier than just freezing it into a solid chunk
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