|
|
Post by slinkytiger on Feb 3, 2012 2:42:30 GMT -5
We ran low on Beef & Lamb so introduced horse chunks to fill out the meals. The young ones love it. Is it nutritionally ok to feed horse?
Most meals consist of: possum, wallaby, beef & lamb, chicken carcass mince, sheep & beef heart, sheep kidney (sheep liver 3 times a week), ground up egg shell & bone supplement + a drizzle of vitatone.
We have always included rabbit but we have currently run out.
Does our menu plan sound ok?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2012 8:44:19 GMT -5
Meat is meat is meat  as long as it has no additives or perservitives (the more natural/organic the better) then yes, it is nutritionally ok to feed horse... My guys love goat  including testicles oddly (and grossly) enough. It is awesome that u can offer them that kind of variety! Where the heck do u live? |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 3, 2012 11:22:40 GMT -5
No reason they can't eat horse meat. But before we can say the menu is ok(other than for variety) we really need to know how often, and what kinds, of those meats they are eating  Can you set up a menu plan, and we'll go over it? As in Monday- they get this, Tues.- they get that, etc? It's the only way to tell if they are getting a properly balanced diet. |
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Feb 3, 2012 13:35:10 GMT -5
Awesome protein variance As Sherry said we have to see what and when too to consider if it's a good diet plan ciao |
|
|
|
Post by slinkytiger on Feb 3, 2012 13:45:23 GMT -5
Sherry Lol - They get the lot every meal. Num Num... I do percentages for every meal. We have access to pre-frozen portions of all the wild stuff (rabbit / possum / wallaby) & the organ meat is down the road in the supermarket all the time. We haven't even tried the ostridge, alpacka, hare yet) More Num Num The young ones are gorgeous: well rounded & their fur is plush. As you know they are very active & party hearty for hours each day.  Should I join the 'Switching Thread'? The thing is we have only feed all those varieties of meat - never bought kibble. They had a tiny bit before we got them at just turned 7 weeks old so they might not realise that kibble is even food. comadrejaloquita14 WOW - Testicles!!! I have never seen those anywhere. Probaby considered 'inappropriate' over here in New Zealand.  |
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Feb 3, 2012 14:52:54 GMT -5
I think you're basically switched so I don't think that would be an issue. Everyone, who's interested can post a menu...here is fine and we will look at it and tell you if we think it might need more bone...organ meats that kind of thing to balance your fuzzies diet. Once you get your menu ok'd then I believe you get your raw feeder status I didn't know ferrets were allowed in New Zealand, I thought you were one of the "out of bounds countries". I do know that you're one of the only countries that actually has acknowledged feral ferret colonies, if not the only one. I laugh because there are places here in Canada that will not allow you to keep ferrets....and their big fear is that ferrets will get loose and multiply   Not going to happen, not here. How are they supposed to multiply anyway...all we ever get are farm ferrets ciao |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 3, 2012 15:45:02 GMT -5
Definitely what we need to know is about how much consumable bone they are getting(and are they actually EATING that bone!), how much liver, how much heart, etc. I gather you are doing a grind with all of the above in it? If so, what amounts are you grinding of muscle, bone, heart, and organs?
|
|
|
|
Post by slinkytiger on Feb 3, 2012 15:55:12 GMT -5
Mmmm its a tricky one. Not banned just unwelcome - unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act. The rule is - it is legal to own up to 3 without a license. It is illegal to breed, sell, promote or display. Vets are allowed to treat ferrets but many won't or arent able to. Ferrets live in the wild along with the stoats, weasles & possums. |
|
|
|
Post by slinkytiger on Feb 3, 2012 16:21:39 GMT -5
Thanks heaps Heather & Sherry. The Menu (free range / organic as much as possible) : I include all in each meal because it was a good way of introducing all the variety of meat flavours without fuss so that they would recognise it as 'food' when adults. The bits are mixed in but still retain their identity - lol. They happily eat chunks! The meat that is minced is pre ground & frozen in cubed portions. Each meat is not premixed. So rabbit is just rabbit / possum = possum ect. So I take out the individual meat cube for each meat & thaw / mix & feed. The chicken carcass mince is also preground but it is unfrozen as is the 'beef & lamb'. I go by 20% of each meal is heart & 10 % of each meal is organ (kidney / liver) Probably less liver 3 x week cos I don't want them to have too much vitamin A. The chicken carcass has the bone in & I add sprinkled eggshell (air dried) each day & bone supplement. The chicken carcass is roughly minced - (I'd complain if it was for humans) cos I find bits of bone around their cage & playroom. Oooo - also found bone in the wallaby - yay! I buy the meat with bone at every opportunity. Increasing the bone content is something I am working on. I thought I'd get bone cutter / scissors & cut up the wings into more managable pieces - cos the whole wing was just too much - psychologically & physically. I gave venison bone - & squished the marrow out & they quite liked licking the marrow but wern't that fussed on the flavour of veal. They also get an one egg yolk (free range) with cat milk (lactose removed) on Sunday between them. They get a lick of Ferrivite for peeing & pooing in the right place & they even hold on & make a big fuss of 'I'm now going to the toilet' to make sure everyone is watching so they get their only treat. (Yep - they do try faking) I appreciate your feedback & ideas!!! |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 3, 2012 18:30:44 GMT -5
How is their stool? Fairly normal for raw fed? I'll admit, I'm having trouble figuring out t he bone ratio from what you've written. Mainly I think because I feed chunks and rmb's. But if they weren't getting enough bone, their stools would likely be a bit loose, and the nails brittle(breakage, splintering, etc)
Since Heather makes her own grinds, I'm going to wait for her to figure this one out ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by slinkytiger on Feb 3, 2012 18:50:52 GMT -5
Their stool is very consistent - probably because there isn't too much change on what they are fed daily. Lots of variety every day. I'm a stool watcher (  - OMG where is that toy? lol ) & use the poo chart to learn about & guage whats happening. When we first got them & started our feeding their poo was very dark, wet & loosish. Now it is darkish, firm & well formed but with a wet look to it.  Could provide photos - lol Cos ours like to be treated when they do the deed in the cat carrier (privacy NOT) when they are playing in the bedroom - I can see who did what. Their claws are talons & need clipping weekly. Their coat is super plush & their guard hairs are quite long. We are in summer so this is a surprise - I thought they would moult & have less coat in summer. Mind you our summer has sucked this year - hardly any sunny hot days at all.  |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 4, 2012 0:58:02 GMT -5
It sounds as though they are getting enough. And a lush, although shorter coat is normal in raw fed |
|
|
|
Post by slinkytiger on Feb 4, 2012 1:06:29 GMT -5
Thanks heaps for the feedback Sherry!  Feeding is fun! I am learning so much by watching the threads. |
|
|
|
Post by slinkytiger on Feb 4, 2012 4:42:14 GMT -5
Sherry & Heather can you see if I can become a raw feeder? Heres a pic of Bandit num numing his chicken wing. It went down a treat. The sound of crunching bone was amazing. Thats one powerful little jaw he has.   |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 4, 2012 11:29:19 GMT -5
Of course ;D
|
|
