Ferretsgoboom's Switching Thread/Jackie

[ferretsgoboom]

okay so i bought some chicken hearts today. how much should i feed to them? also i dont know if i told you before, but they both cant chew threw the bones no matter how small i smash them

[Deleted]

For hearts, you can try to feed them whole if they'll eat them. You could also blend them up in a soup. I would feed them about 5-7 hearts each, and give more if they're still hungry.

What bones are you using? I find that small birds like cornish game hen ribs are REALLY delicate and more like cartilage than bone. Easy to chew through.

Chicken wing tips are also pretty easy to chew. I would try those of you haven't already.

You can also sneak some small bone pieces into their soups and see if they'll chew them up.

[ferretsgoboom]

I mixed 7 of the hearts in the soup after chopping them up, they didnt even notice it! also, I made allot of the soup, would it be okay to just take some of the soup and put it in their bowl and freeze the rest and if they don't finish what's in their bowl, can I just put that in the bottom of the fridge? or will it go bad?

[Deleted]

I usually keep meat in the fridge for 1-3 days. You can freeze soup in ice cube trays and then store in a baggy for when you want to use them.

[ferretsgoboom]

so Max and Princess are doing great with their diet they are eating their hearts and liver. also princess is growing her hair back!! its nice to see her with a little more fuzz :)oh and before i do, i wanted to ask you if i could buy some pinkies for them, im going to the pet store today, so today would be the best time

[Deleted]

That's great! Make sure not to feed too much heart or liver. About 3 oz of liver a week and 3-5 oz of heart each.

And you can definitely get some pinkies - these are more like snacks. You can gradually work your way up to bigger mice, and eventually feed adult mice/rats. 90% of prey should be full grown adults

[ferretsgoboom]

okay! how should i feed the pinkies to them? i dont think they would want to eat them directly

[Deleted]

Well, you can cut them up into meat sized-pieces and gently scruff and stuff them. You can chop them and mix them into their soup meals. You can just leave them whole and pour some oil over them.

If you have a lot of them you can also make "pinky" soup just like regular raw soup and see if they like that

[Deleted]

Here is an instructional of how to "scruff and stuff"

holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4340

holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=switch&action=display&thread=4343

[Deleted]

I also wanted to let you know that the mentoring program was just updated and that we are implementing some new "methods" to help us mentors keep track of our switches better and help you make sure your babies are staying healthy.

So, from now on, every Sunday (or Monday, whatever is easier) I will need a weekly update from you.

Please copy/paste this very short questionnaire into your switching thread every Sunday/Monday.

1. Ferret's name:
2. Ferret's weight:
3. Ferret has eaten "X" amount on average per meal.
4. Stools on various proteins.
5. Activity levels:
6. Weekly menu:

Example would be:

Vincent, 3lbs 2oz(1417g), small chicken wing chopped into 2" pieces, bone and all. Stools good colour and consistency. Played as per normal.

Willow, 1lb 4oz(567g), 2 tbsp commercial raw turkey, hand fed. Stools good colour and consistency. Very hyper when up, playing for 2-3 hours at a time.

Mr. Frodo, 4lb 4oz(1928g), 1/4c pork slivers mixed with soup. Stools slightly loose, somewhat seedy, and pale in colour. Somewhat more tired, plays for 30 minutes, then finds somewhere to sleep. Flat ferreting more often.

Weekly menu was:

Monday: chicken legs
Tuesday: Commercial raw
Wednesday: Soup with pork slivers

Etc. Just write what you actually fed them.


I would also appreciate a picture of your baby before we get started that can show the weight and size of your fuzz (like this -> holisticferret60.proboards.com/in....y&thread=4342).

I would greatly appreciate a picture of your baby every 2 weeks.

Until we get past the soup stage, I will need a post every 2 days (you can post more often though ). Please please PLEASE let me know if you are going out of town or cannot post for whatever reason. I am more than happy to work with you and your schedule, I just need to be informed




It would also be great if you could pick up these ingredients and make your soup based on this recipe. It is almost perfectly balanced, and helps to ensure your babies are getting everything they need.

Soup for switch:
8oz chicken(or other meat)
One chicken liver(or 2oz other liver)
2 chicken hearts(or 1oz other heart)
1/2 tsp eggshell powder

You can make eggshell powder by rinsing out eggshells, drying them, and then pulverizing them with either a mortar and pestle or a blender/coffee grinder.

[ferretsgoboom]

SO SORRY!! i have been caught up with school and moving!! O.o its been crazy! okay


Max 2lb 6oz about an oz of turkey and heart chunks with a little ferretone. stools look kind of runny. He would rather sleep then play, but if he's provoked, he plays for 1 hour then continues exploring.

Princess 1lb 3oz, about 2 tbsp of turkey and heart chunks with a little ferretone. stools are normal. she sleeps most of the time. only plays when Max plays or if i come and play with her,

[Deleted]

Thanks for the update

So how thick is the soup your kids are on? Consistency? About how much do they eat a day? Is there any weight gain or loss?

[ferretsgoboom]

the soup is pretty thick, more of a paste. Max eats about an oz a day and princess probably eats 2 tablespoons a day. They both gained weight! its not alot but its noticeable.

[Deleted]

Nov 19, 2011 0:04:38 GMT -5 @ferretsgoboom said:

he soup is pretty thick, more of a paste. Max eats about an oz a day and princess probably eats 2 tablespoons a day. They both gained weight! its not alot but its noticeable.

Okay, that's great. Do they still eat any kibble?

[ferretsgoboom]

nope, they haven't eaten kibble since we started!!