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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2011 1:39:32 GMT -5
I got ALL of them to eat JUST CHUNKS with pumpkin! Even little Sari floof was munchy-wunching away! She had been eating all of the jerkified leftover chunks strewn about their food level just a few minutes before I made their meal, so that's when I decided I'd try just chunks again ;D
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2011 1:48:12 GMT -5
Although, I'm definitely not excited about what I'm going to find in the litter box tomorrow morning
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Post by Heather on Sept 27, 2011 10:24:03 GMT -5
Silly little Sari....she's the dry food holdout...at least she's eating the meat. She'd better hope they don't get too hungry or she will have to eat the fresh or do without ;D ;D That's fantastic that she's taking to it though. Funny, I've had a couple who were really digging their heals in the sand about eating the soupy and they went directly to whole meats. There's really no way to know exactly what they're going to take to, it really a matter of observation and good luck That's fantastic...are you using a calcium supplement of some sort (I'm guessing they're not eating bone yet?). Powdered egg shell? Bone meal? The pumpkin will help with the poopies. Great job. Chicken? right? ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2011 0:23:40 GMT -5
Every time I think we're getting somewhere, they decide they don't like it anymore I went back to feeding them the ground since everyone was basically holding out when offered chunks What do I do now? There have been a couple times where I was ready to give up, but I can't go back to freeze-dried/dehydrated. It's too messy, lacks moisture (haven't ever had luck when I tried re-hydrating), and not as good as bones for cleaning teeth (better than kibble or soft foods, but not amazing). I'm wondering if there's a way I could feed ground (commercial) with some other way of keeping their teeth clean (without having to brush their teeth since little Sari is impossible to do anything like that to) I could go back to feeding freeze-dried/dehydrated, but make wet meals once a day like I used to about a year ago. I would feel as though I have failed them if I give up, though. They might be happier, but not really healthier (not that they weren't, but I still think frankenprey and whole prey are better)
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Post by Heather on Sept 30, 2011 2:14:54 GMT -5
I"m going to try this one more time It's raining so hard here that it's knocking out my satellite internet I've lost this message twice now. Don't get discouraged. Take a step back and try again, in a day or two. Your guys will eat the commercial ground. This is far superior to kibbles and in my opinion the dried and freeze dried stuff. Neither of these will do anything to clean their teeth. Bob Church has proven as much. In fact he claims that the shape and hardness is actually detrimental to their teeth, causing premature wear and chipping. I would go back to the smaller pieces and see if you can get them eating them again. If you're concerned about their teeth, you could always brush them once a week with oil and bonemeal. I've got 3 cats right now who will eat only commercial ground raw (lazy twits). All 3 have gorgeous teeth, they're 14 yrs old. Napoleon, raised on raw, ate whole meats and prey had nothing but problems with his teeth resulting in an extraction and cleaning by the time he was 5. A lot of it has to do with genetics too, so I would keep going on the path your walking. Your guys are eating at least 3 types of proteins...right? You've got half the battle. The commercial grinds have meat, bone, organs? You've got a balanced diet, a carnivores diet. You're 3/4 the way there. The next part is difficult, but it's not the dangerous part...that's done. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2011 18:40:01 GMT -5
You're right. I will try adding chunks in a day or two. Right now, I'm just trying to get them back to eating They are doing fine now. I might go back to the commercial raw (instead of the Hare Today) once I run out of the ground chicken. All the other ones I bought went bad unfortunately Could they be picky about the brand of chicken I buy (for chunks)? The day they ate just chunks, it was a natural brand I bought at walmart (of all places). Then I ran out and went to buy some more, but bought a different natural brand from H.E.B. That's when they decided they didn't like chunks anymore It had a different smell to it. Neither were enhanced meats, though.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2011 18:42:17 GMT -5
Oh, also...
Sometimes I put in extra things overnight just in case they run out of food and are still hungry. Last night, I put a chicken wing in. Guess who I caught gnawing on the skin and the boney end? Silly Sari floof ;D She didn't really eat any, but she had fun just chewing on it ;D
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Post by Heather on Sept 30, 2011 22:21:05 GMT -5
;D ;D You know what....Little Sari will be the one eating bone and chunks before anyone else She'll show them all up ;D ;D I have heard you're not the first to complain about ferrets eating one batch of meats and refusing the same meat but different brands. Some meats even though they're not advertised as enhanced are injected with saline solution (salt and water) to make the meats look plumper and for full. If you do this under a certain amount you don't have to write this on the packaging. Newly switched fuzzies are often a bit pickier than some of the more hard core or ferrants often putting things down to a bad batch of food and just throwing it out. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2011 8:15:23 GMT -5
Sorry it's been a while. Honestly, nothing much to report on They are happily eating their commercial raw again, but I haven't had the chance to go out and get that particular brand of chicken that they liked I will let you know when I get it. That's when I'll be trying chunks again. As far as teeth, Sari's have always been the worst. She has the weirdest smelling breath Everyone's teeth have all gotten worse since eating just ground, though And Sari doesn't let me brush her teeth, let alone do anything else to her (other than clip her nails which I use olive oil as a distraction ;D).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2011 18:46:55 GMT -5
I keep trying not to give up, but I feel like they haven't been as happy with the switch The thing I'm worried about the most is moisture in their diet. I used to feed them one meal a day of wysong uncanny (dehydrated raw "canned" food essentially, that would become a soup or broth when you add water) with some commercial ground mixed in. The rest of the day, they had free access to freeze-dried raw. It's not perfect, but better than kibble by far. They are just too set in their ways that I don't think I'll ever get them actually eating whole or even rmb's Also, the fear of being stuck in a situation where I can't feed them their second meal of the day. They definitely aren't used to having meals, and don't seem to be getting used to it. Any future ferrets I get will be transitioned to frankenprey and whole prey, but I don't see it happening with my current crew I'm sorry if I wasted your time
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Post by Heather on Oct 13, 2011 22:00:43 GMT -5
Are you sure you want to do this? Stop the switch...you came close a couple of times. Sari was the only one who was giving you trouble. Everyone else was progressing. I know that it's difficult but you're not wasting my time. What is bothering you about the moisture? There would be more than enough moisture in the raw (even the commercial stuff) better than the freeze dried, unless you're feeding it rehydrated (which you should be). Get back to me ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2011 15:34:40 GMT -5
No... you're right. They have come close a couple of times, even Sari with her chicken neck stashing I will try and get the chicken today that they like and start adding chunks in again. Thank you for the motivation, Heather
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Post by Heather on Oct 14, 2011 22:06:57 GMT -5
Don't let it get you down, it's hard I know. I can remember fighting with Babushka and wondering why I was fighting with a 9 yr old ferret who was more dead than alive. Why was I up force feeding her at 3 am. I really could spend my time better fighting for a younger ferret. After all what benefit could this old ferret derive from this? Well she did...she lived another 18 months, she would not have got that without the diet. She barely would lift her head when she was dumped at my place. Her owner didn't want to watch her die. I thought it was one of the cruellest surrenders I had ever done. She had been purchased by that person as a tiny kit, she had lived her whole life with them, then when she was sick and old they discarded her Here I was changing her diet...and making her unhappy. When she came in she had no interest in anything, she did nothing but sleep, but once she started eating more raw than kibbles her whole demeanour changed. She started staying up longer and investigating things. She never played (who can expect a 90 yr old lady to play) but she lived life and enjoyed it. I know it sounds weird but I really believe when the oldsters eat raw they have a better chance at life. I hope you stick this out. I know it's frustrating and I know sometimes you have to wonder about what benefit is actually going to come out of this but it will. Even your raw commercial stuff is better than your kibbles and freeze dried foods. I"m glad that you've decided to stick it out. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 14:34:01 GMT -5
Thanks Heather I don't know how you do it. I would rescue a ferret in a situation like that if I saw it, but it's got to be heartbreaking But knowing that their last experience before they go was a good and loving one is why you do it, I'm sure. Also, extending their life even just a little through diet is worth it... I agree with you 100%. Luckily, my guys are still youngish (three 3 year olds and one 1 year old). I bought the chunks a few days ago, but haven't added it in yet since Sari has been sick, so I was just making sure she would eat (and mush seems easier and less stressful while they are sick). I posted about it in the health and medical board so that you know what's going on Anyway, I'll keep you posted. It might be a few days to a week before I add the chunks (depending on how fast Sari recovers).
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Post by Heather on Oct 17, 2011 14:49:28 GMT -5
No, you're right...don't change anything right now. Leave it sit until Sari is feeling better. Change something right now and she would dig in her heals and stop eating altogether. Great job ciao
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