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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2011 1:25:24 GMT -5
So, everyone is eating boneless chicken chunks smothered with some pumpkin! Until Sari catches up though, I might be on this stage a little longer. Hopefully not too long since it's only muscle meat and no organs or bone.
Do I start making the chunks bigger once everyone is on the same page or try bone-in next? When should I introduce other proteins (I have already when they were eating only commercial ground, but not chunk form)?
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Post by Heather on Nov 29, 2011 16:38:35 GMT -5
I would start adding boned meats and the chunks of the meats you've tried with the commercial grind. I would (I know if it's some sort of exotic meat that you can't get, then this can't be done) try and add some of the chunks to the existing grind that they're already eating. So, if you were feeding ground lamb, I would put some small chunks of lamb in that with that grind, get them used to eating chunked of the meats they've already tried. I personally think bone is more important than what size of chunked meats they're eating. They need that calcium and trace minerals ciao
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2011 20:48:20 GMT -5
They are all eating the chicken chunks consistently now, even Sari I have some chicken wings, chicken necks, and a CGH in the freezer that I will pull out for tomorrow. I also went ahead and bought some chicken livers to start introducing organs at some point soon (I might blend it with some chicken hearts to start with). I'm out of their commercial grind right now, but they are doing so well with the chunks that I think they'll progress pretty fast from here to eating organs and bones... hopefully I think once I can get them eating bones, I will introduce other proteins at that point. I'm trying not to introduce too many things at once ;D Does that sound okay?
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Post by Heather on Nov 29, 2011 22:15:43 GMT -5
Sounds like an excellent idea. Remember you know your little ones and how hard to push them....or not. They are doing very well. I would certainly start to introduce some new protein sources once they get comfortable with the bones. This is the most difficult part of the switch.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2011 0:22:53 GMT -5
Not having any luck adding bone-in stuff They are still thoroughly enjoying the chunks, but they won't touch bone-in (the most that happens is Sari stashes them ). I have tried both CGH wings and chicken drummettes. I don't really have a way of breaking them up though, which I'm sure would probably help. If I have to, I'll add in some bonemeal until they get on bone. It does have a distinct smell to it, so not sure they will take to it being added in What do you think?
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Post by Heather on Dec 5, 2011 0:29:49 GMT -5
I prefer egg shell myself to bone meal...most bone meals are cooked. You can get bone meal from a butcher (some will save it for you). That is raw and it's the meal left over from bone cuts. Have you thought of maybe trying quail, they have fine bones and are a good starter bone. What about the chicken wings or necks...did they not take to them? ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2011 0:44:35 GMT -5
I haven't tried necks yet since I thought they would be more likely to take to smaller bones first I forgot... I did try chicken wings as well with the same result I haven't been lucky finding quail, but I'll definitely look for places that might carry it. Would a mortar and pestle work okay for making eggshell powder? I don't have a coffee grinder or anything of the like, which is why I considered the bone meal (which I also have on hand). They are eating much bigger chunks now, though ;D They quite enjoy them... especially Bantha ;D I know that I need to get them eating some bone and organs soon Should I try offering some liver with their chunks? Do you think they would take to it? It seems like most people have to feed a mixture of ground up organs to get their ferrets eating them
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Post by Heather on Dec 5, 2011 3:14:55 GMT -5
I've got a couple that really love their livers...but....many of mine don't seem to like the texture (can't blame them really...bad enough touching much less eating that stuff raw ) I grind it up with the hearts and some meat and serve it as a soupy. That way I know everyone gets some. It's partially laziness on my part as I started it when I had 18 ferrets all sharing and using communal bowels. It was too hard to keep track as to who was being piggy and eating all the liver and who wasn't going to eat any at all. Try adding a little to their chunks and see if they will eat it. I would start it as small slivers. It might actually stick to their chunks and they will eat it right along with the rest. I use a mortar and pestle to grind my egg shell (I don't drink coffee...tea is my caffeine shot of choice). Have you got a good pair of meat scissors?? That's what I use to cut up chicken wings. Sometimes when the boned chunks look the same as the regular meats they will eat them. You never know. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2011 22:13:24 GMT -5
Not having luck adding anything new Right now, they are getting chicken chunks with eggshell powder and cod liver oil (no luck with the livers cut up yet). They eat that up with no problems. I tried introducing pork (a few pieces mixed with their chicken), but they refused to eat any of it (including the chicken) I still haven't had luck with them eating bone-in. I tried chicken wingettes (separated by the joints), but Sari and Bantha stash them (but no one eats them ). Still haven't had luck finding any quail
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Post by Heather on Dec 22, 2011 23:50:46 GMT -5
What if you added the pork, just a sliver or two...so if they're lucky they might find it rather than a couple of same sized chunks. How big are your boned in meats? I've found that sometimes cutting them into bite sized pieces allow them a bit more incentive to eat them, try bashing them with a hammer too, so that the bone is even smaller and mixed in the meat. See if they will eat that. Don't worry about the quail, maybe duck, goose or turkey might be easier at this time of year ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2011 21:39:27 GMT -5
I've got them eating pork now I tried it by itself to see how it would go. Bantha surprisingly wasn't impressed, but he eats it (it's just not his favorite ;D). Reks and Pan loved it, and Sari is in the same boat as Bantha... not impressed, but eats it ;D
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Post by Heather on Dec 26, 2011 21:50:47 GMT -5
Sounds good...nobody said they had to be thrilled . They might surprise you in the end though, I've had a number of people who's wee ones had meals that in the beginning they would only eat because they were forced or would only eat grudgingly....in the end they considered it their favourite food. As this progresses you will see that they often become more accepting. What are you going to do next? ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2011 21:54:59 GMT -5
I'll probably work on introducing bone-in again (in a smashed or cut up manner which I still don't know how I'm going to manage that without a hammer or butcher knife) and organs (liver blended with something else since I'll be getting my blender back soon ).
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2011 21:56:34 GMT -5
I guess I could go buy a hammer or butcher knife/kitchen shears. Does that work well?
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Post by Heather on Dec 26, 2011 22:00:42 GMT -5
I use all 3....a hammer to smash bones, meat scissors to cut meat and light bone, and a heavy searated knife for cutting through the heavier bones. ciao
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