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Post by gabriel on Jan 29, 2012 0:13:51 GMT -5
Sooo... I'm all excited, I buy a whole chicken, a scale, a feeding bowl, got my egg shells ready and a can of pumpkin. I'm in the process of making the soup and I'm so eager to see their reactions, I go ahead and cut off the wings and put the neck in the dish and take it to them. They both took Right to it! Freakin exciting. I think Ophelia even knew exactly what it was. This is good right? I don't need to transition them? Should I still make the soup and continue offering them kibble? Thanks guys, you all rock!!!  |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 29, 2012 0:28:07 GMT -5
If they are already willing to eat the chunks- give it to 'em  Once they ate doing well, you'll still want to give them a soup maybe once a week so they are used to it. It's easier for them to eat if they get sick. And after they are ill is not the time to try to get them eating a texture they aren't familiar with. |
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Post by gabriel on Jan 29, 2012 0:38:37 GMT -5
You say that like it's inevitable.  So I should cut the kibble 100% so long as they are eating? I think maybe I do need to sign up for the mentoring program cause the soup part, after reading a whole bunch of the threads, I had that process down pat but now I'm worried about portions and exact regimens to put them on. Do I Really have to feed them crickets and mealworms? At the beginning of even considering raw chicken chunks, I was like, "Ach, no way!" but now I've accepted it but bugs... ? Are there some sites that specifically discuss the balanced raw diets and if so, on which threads are they located? Definitely not trying to make you do the work but if you can just save me a little time by pointing me in the right direction...   |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 29, 2012 0:41:49 GMT -5
No, you don't. Can't stand bugs or worms myself, and they simply don't come in here ;D You can definitely sign up for a mentor if you like. That way, you will have a ready hand to help balance your diet for them.
General rule of thumb is 4 days bone in meats, 2 days muscle meat(at least one of which must be heart), one meal of liver/organ, other meal whatever you want- either bone in, muscle, whole prey, etc.
This is based on 2 meals a day.
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Post by gabriel on Jan 29, 2012 2:36:51 GMT -5
Alright, I'm so happy with the way things went that I just had to share the rest of the experience.  I made up a batch of the soup, even left it pretty much chunky with little water. Baby Willow took right to it, eating a little then returning after playing to scarf up the rest of two tablespoons worth on top of the half a wing he ate. Ophelia sniffed at it and left it, took more of an interest when spying Willow scarfing it then after Willow had curled himself up and gone to sleep, she sniffed and licked at the remnants so I put another two tablespoons worth which she ate about a fourth of on top of the majority of a wing. Still, fantastic results and I'm stoked. I can't imagine what a monching machine Willow's gonna be when he grows up but one thing I Definitely can't wait for is the smell of his Marshall's fed poop to go away, I seriously don't think there's Anything more pungent!  He still has his pudgy baby belly and so, when he sees big sister hopping to and from every surface, he tries to follow, nearly succeeding till that big belly hits the air and then, oops, gravity works, lol. ;D On a side note, cute new smiley's but earlier was meant to be the grin followed by the angel face and for some reason it turned into the "bite me", lol. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2012 2:37:56 GMT -5
You definitely don't need to feed bugs. I'd actually consider them more of a treat than a meal. You'll need a minimum of 3 proteins. More is always better though  If your kids like chicken, I'd also try Cornish game hen. The bones are nice and small, and it's my fuzzes favorite meat (beside soup - they love when they don't have to chew  ) |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2012 2:43:00 GMT -5
On a side note, cute new smiley's but earlier was meant to be the grin followed by the angel face and for some reason it turned into the "bite me", lol. Fixed - thanks. I can't imagine what a monching machine Willow's gonna be when he grows up but one thing I Definitely can't wait for is the smell of his Marshall's fed poop to go away, I seriously don't think there's Anything more pungent! [img src="http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h352/JW_2012/Emoticons/ ![]() i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h352/JW_2012/Emoticons/0_o.gif"].gif [/img] He still has his pudgy baby belly and so, when he sees big sister hopping to and from every surface, he tries to follow, nearly succeeding till that big belly hits the air and then, oops, gravity works, lol.  [/quote] Babies eat a TON! More than any adult ferret I've owned. My baby Dixie (female, under a lb) ate nearly 8 oz in less than 24 hours. That is over half her body weight! Crazy  |
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Post by Heather on Jan 29, 2012 2:43:34 GMT -5
Congratulations on your little ones just getting in there and scarfing things down  That's fantastic.  ciao |
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Post by gabriel on Jan 30, 2012 13:36:23 GMT -5
I made my second batch of soup this afternoon only this time I boiled the bones and skin to make broth and added the pumpkin. I used two cups of the broth so it was "soupier" this time. They L O V E D it. I left a whole leg, flayed a little, another two heaping tablespoons of the first batch of soup and the lungs of the chicken in their cage last night; there was only fragments left this morning. I put a thigh in their serving dish this afternoon and prematurely set the dish on the floor in front of them to test the new soup. Ophelia put on that, "Oooooo, this is good", eye's squinted closed face. Then she sniffed the thigh, grabbed it and headed for her carpeted cubby so now I'll need to clean that out which brings me to my question. What kind of cleaner should I be using for their cage so as not to irritate their lungs or otherwise? P.S. Ophelia was acting like a grumpy old woman concerning playing with Willow or even with me while playing with Willow. She may have been spoiled but she had forgotten how to play it seemed like. I saw them this morning in a full out romp and even taking a time out so they could climb into a plastic bag to continue their shenanigans. Can't even tell ya how happy that makes me. |
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Post by gabriel on Jan 30, 2012 13:56:07 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, the smell of Willow's poo is gone and his tummy has gone from this bloated, baby Ethiopian state to a healthy regular size; he looks like a normal baby kit now so I'm thrilled with that as well. Who would have thought it could've happened so quickly. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2012 14:29:56 GMT -5
What kind of cleaner should I be using for their cage so as not to irritate their lungs or otherwise? Most use a vinegar/water solution. I normally let the kids out to play while I clean the cage so they don't have to breath the vapors in. It normally dissipates fairy quickly. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2012 14:30:27 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, the smell of Willow's poo is gone Yay for not-as-stinky poo! |
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Post by Sherry on Jan 30, 2012 14:59:48 GMT -5
Who would have thought it could've happened so quickly.  So glad you've seen the results so quickly And yes, things normally start happening this fast with a natural diet As for Ophelia's behaviour change- think how you feel when you eat a really carb rich meal, totally unbalanced by proteins. Now, think about eating that every single day. |
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Post by Heather on Jan 30, 2012 16:22:19 GMT -5
Sorry to be a real pain but you didn't give your wee girlies a cooked bone right? I misread that information? I'm glad that the soupies is such a big hit and I'm also glad to hear that you're already seeing the bonuses that go with the switch
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2012 16:54:18 GMT -5
Your babies are doing so well! Mine love game hen plus its not as expensive as you might think. We get a whole one for $4 and its almost enough to feed our 3 for three sundays!!! 2 meals times 3 ferrets for three weeks ... Not bad at all.
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