|
Post by Heather on Aug 8, 2011 21:32:50 GMT -5
I would then try some bigger pieces mixed with the smaller pieces. You may find that they stash the bigger pieces to begin with but they're eating them and that's a start. Keep at it for a bit adjusting the size and the quantity until they're eating them consistently and you see them eating them ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2011 14:03:43 GMT -5
I might have to keep doing the smaller pieces until Sari catches up. You were right about her The funny thing is our roommates 4 month old kitty decided to switch himself ;D I caught him several times licking the spoon I use to make their mush. Then today, he got into the trash and started eating the left over chicken wing I threw out this morning ;D
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Aug 9, 2011 14:52:40 GMT -5
If your roomy doesn't object switch him. He will eat exactly what your ferrets eat and live a long healthy life for it. Since I switched to raw, my cats are no longer seniors at 7 and 8 but are still going strong at 14...they're going to be 15 this year. I rather figured you were going to have a stick in the mud with your little one. Take your time, there's no rush ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2011 16:33:23 GMT -5
I've been trying to convince him, but I'm not sure if he wants to yet His name is Professor Bane (a batman villain ;D)... a little 4 month old orange tabby straight from a shelter. His poop will clear a room though Even working for a vet for two years, the only thing more foul than his poops are parvo dog poops I have a strong stomach, too, but it makes my eyes water ;D He's already started trying to hack up hairballs, too I'm trying to use all of this as a reasons to switch him, but ultimately, it's his decision Anyway... I picked up some NV rabbit since I'm running low on NV chicken. I figured it was about time I introduce a third protein ;D It's supplemented with taurine and has pork heart in it, so I'm not too worried about taurine levels. I'm also going to pick up some boneless chicken thighs today since it's hard to cut the meat off of the little chicken wings and I don't really get much Tonight, I'll mix in a little rabbit and see how that goes
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Aug 9, 2011 20:55:58 GMT -5
Sounds good, rabbit is usually well received so I will be interested in how things go. Even a few little slices of a couple of chicken breasts that you're preparing for yourself would be ample when you're first trying to get them to eat pieces. Once they start eating then yes, getting darker meat (higher taurine levels), skin and fat will be important but until then I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to buy special meat for them. Oh, I had forgotten about stinky kitty poops....no you're right they're ghastly....gag ;D Perhaps you should just switch him and then prove the difference. The litter box was one of the big reasons my DH approved of the whole raw meat thing. Of course, he's totally analytical and it makes sense to him after he thought about it for awhile. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2011 19:44:25 GMT -5
No one is really eating the chunks it seems Also, Sari is upset about the rabbit being mixed in with the chicken (big surpsrise, right? ) to the point that she'll go speed bump and sulk I can get her to eat a little off the spoon, but she's not eating on her own it seems My best eaters right now are Reks and Bantha. They lick clean spots in the bowl ;D Even Pan is being a little weird about it, but she at least eats it on her own. Not sure what to do Should I just keep feeding it the way I have been? I was worried about Sari, so I left out the chunks today and just tried to get her used to the rabbit.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Aug 10, 2011 20:32:40 GMT -5
Can you make up something just for Sari? Maybe add the chunks for the other guys but leave some without for Sari? She's going to be a bit of a peach about this. One change at a time for this little one. Can you try popping some of these small chewy pieces in their mouths (will exclude Sari at the moment as she will probably sulk). You know "bait and stuff" Make a bit of a game of it. They'll probably spit it out but it's worth a try, they might just chew it. Keep at it. Maybe you will have to try your different protein and just leave out the meat chunks for now. Let me know how they do. You're doing great...you've just about got your 3 proteins and that's really good....you've only been working this for a couple of weeks. ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2011 21:31:47 GMT -5
I decided to work on introducing the rabbit before moving on to chunks. Last night they had me worried. No one came up to the bowl to eat except Bantha No one else wanted to even eat off the spoon. I hoped that they would eat some overnight, but there wasn't much eaten. This mornings batch went much better, though! ;D Sari ate a pretty good amount, but from the spoon of course. I have rarely ever had to do this with her before Reks used to be my spoon feeding in mom's lap addict ;D I'm tempted to buy some wysong uncanny for them. When they got raw soupie, no matter the protein, they'd eat it with little to no fuss if there was uncanny in it. It's a dehydrated raw "canned" food that you rehydrate to make a sort of soup with it... it's like a powder with some dehydrated meat chunks in there. They love the stuff ;D What do you think? I could even coat meat chunks with it once we get to that stage... or do you think it would make it harder to get them used to raw once I start removing the "flavoring"? Edit: A better description of wysong uncanny is that it's the consistency of a broth or gravy when rehydrated.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Aug 11, 2011 22:02:29 GMT -5
I would be tempted to try and see if they will eat the protein as it's offered without dressing it up. You can try this powder or food if you like, but I've found that if you continuously bounce all over the place to try and find something to suit them they go on strike and decide that there has to be something better going to be offered other than the original meal. There is nothing that says that you have to even change proteins at this time. Let them stay where they are. Let them get comfortable with the flavours and textures (this is a biggy as far as ferrets and cats go). I would at this point just get them comfortable eating the proteins in the consistency that they're getting right now. When they take this without persuasions, and spoon feedings then move on to something different, either a thicker soupy or some meaty chunks. Sound good? I'm here only to guide you. You know your little ones best, in the end it's your call as to what you want to try ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2011 22:07:23 GMT -5
Yes, that sounds good. I have a habit of jumping around on them That's why I really needed the guidance ;D
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Aug 11, 2011 22:30:03 GMT -5
Don't feel bad about it. We love to move with it and sometimes they like to go but when they dig in their heals it's best to backstep than sidestep (add something else new or bring in something different to add what's already being offered). If they're not baulking too badly, sit tight for a few days feeding them this until they will eat it without question. I would then return to another protein that they were eating without problem (venison or chicken) and see how they do with eating that again. You may have to kick start them again, but this time it shouldn't take as along. Look at it this way. You've chosen to change proteins...so let's play with that. Once you've got your proteins covered then we will move to new textures. Every now and again you can try a couple of pieces of meat and see if they're ready...if they don't eat it fine...no biggy...go back to making them like all the proteins you want them to eat in the format that they're eating it. Ferrets are difficult, this is a journey of learning for them, for you and me ;D ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2011 19:00:07 GMT -5
Sari is eating on her own finally ;D Yesterday, she ate from the spoon, but without needing me to hold her ;D Then last night, she did the same. The only thing I was worried about was if she'd eat on her own overnight. Early this morning, I woke up to the sounds of crunching... it was Sari Then today, we had to rush out to pick up some more food for them before the place closed, so I had to put the food in and go (I normally let them eat outside of the cage when it's first made so that I can monitor them). Well, right before leaving, I saw Sari eating on her own Since they are all doing so well now, I went ahead and picked up the venison again. I'll still be adding 1/3 rabbit like I was with the chicken. I'll probably use it to start adding chunks in. That's my biggest worry right now is getting them to eat chunks and eventually bone-in meats and whole prey. They have been lazy eaters for too long ;D
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Aug 13, 2011 22:46:58 GMT -5
Congratulations....that is so fantastic....give Queen Sari a big hug from me and tell her she's awesome. Are they getting ground bone in their soupy? What is the breakdown of their soupy? Forgive me if you've told me all ready (my son is doing some funky download and is screwing up my networks so it's taking so long to get things to work) but this might help me work up where we go next. I think that because we've been changing proteins, that sitting with this for just a bit more to make sure they and Sari in particular is comfortable with the various proteins without issue would prove beneficial. Let me know what you think ciao
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2011 22:58:12 GMT -5
No problem ;D I have been using nature's variety brand commercial raw as their soupie base. All I have been adding is a little squash and a pinch of their mushroom supplement. It has meat/bone/organs in the proper percentages with 5% veggies and supplements. I'm out of the chicken one, but bought the venison one for variety again. If needed, I can pick up some more of the chicken one tomorrow. Sari has been doing great today with the last of the chicken/rabbit mix. No coaxing or spoon feeding needed. They will have to get the venison/rabbit tonight though since I'm stupid and didn't get more chicken instead
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Aug 13, 2011 23:01:40 GMT -5
Not stupid. You want to be able to do this without any problems involved. If there are some, then you will know that they're not ready to do a daily switch of proteins (that's what your goal is) and you will have to make sure that you bridge your proteins at least for now ciao
|
|