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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2012 22:32:34 GMT -5
So Amalia has decided that she wants to be difficult again  lol even though its food that she has already eaten. So I was wondering, will they really starve themselves? or if they get hungry enought they will eat something?Because it is just so hard to force feed Amalia. She hates being restrained or scruffed in any way shape or form and will always try and paw the hand that is scruffing her so I always end up all scratched up (I have yet to manage to cut those talons!!  ) And I always end up with raw food all over my bedroom floor which I am sure that is not so sanitary for me lol. Like last night I put another wing in their cage and saw Davinger eating it, but I was asleep all night and gone all day so I dot know if Amalia picked at it or not... She really likes freeze dried food but I dont think I can afford to feed her an only freeze dried diet... I try to use the freeze dried for some variety and so that they always have something to snack on in their cage but she eats it right up! Should I just stop force feeding her ( I only do that every other meal, I try and give her the benefit of the doubt that she'll eat lol ) and let her figure out that being stubborn wont work herself? She is only about 1 year old... |
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Post by Heather on Feb 6, 2012 23:45:55 GMT -5
Freeze dried food is like "crack" for ferrets. If they think they will get it they will forgo anything else. It definitely has it's place but if you're trying to switch it's not always the best method to use. Yes, your ferret will starve herself sick or to death  You will have to make a decision. Making the switch to raw food is not a casual objective. It's a difficult time consuming deal. If you don't want to or don't have the time to feed, spoon feed or fight with your little one perhaps resorting to a high end kibble diet would be more beneficial to both of you. I certainly don't advocate kibbles (I have no use for it) but I do know that sometimes it's just not something the ferrant has time or the patience for. ciao |
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Post by Sherry on Feb 7, 2012 1:51:07 GMT -5
In the interim, why not just go back to square one with her? Grab and dab on her nose when she goes by playing, and immediately let her go again. Keep doing that til she'll lick it from your finger.
Some are very stubborn, and as Heather said yes- they will starve themselves. I decided Willow and Miss Emily(separated from others at the time) were doing so well with the chicken wing segments I put in whole wings. 36 hours later I caved when Willow was still refusing to eat the whole wing, even slashed. She knew it was food, but it was the wrong size. Boris is another one who will willingly starve himself rather than eat something he's decided he will no longer recognize.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2012 2:37:44 GMT -5
Frozen raw is a good option too but only if you can find it locally. I used primal for loki during the switch and am thinking of putting her back on it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2012 6:32:31 GMT -5
I am using the frozen bravo right now for them... Once I get her started she eats a decent amount... But when she is being difficult it takes like 10-15 minutes of trying to stuff it in Her mouth to get her started... And the problem with that is she doesn't like to be messy, so trying to dab it on her nose, or stuff some in her mouth also distracted her because then she wants to groom herself. and most days during the week I have time except tues and thurs mornings are hard for me because I get up at 6 and have to leave the house by 7 to get to class... And I'm not always home for every meal on the weekend so 3-4 meals Fri-sun my mom feeds them which is another reason why I have the freeze dried on hand because it is easier for my mom to feed them that. She was doing so good and now she is being a brat  Sent from my Desire HD using ProBoards |
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Post by maddy on Feb 7, 2012 9:57:45 GMT -5
Ugh I have had this problem with Badger... Trying to switch her to raw just didn't happen. She was 2 when I got her and I have no idea what she ate... It was a fight to get her to eat salmon oil! She doesn't even like treats... She had had lost so much weight I had to give in and give her kibble. It was a fight even to switch her to epigen 90.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2012 12:01:08 GMT -5
Going back to kibble is not an option so I guess I shouldn't be complaining lol since I did it to myself by opting to make the switch. Because flower and Davinger are def not going back on kibble so the only way Amalia could be on kibble is if Davinger lives with flower and Amalia lives by herself who h I would never seperate her and Davinger since they are bonded together. I guess I was just feeling a little discouraged lol and looking for some encouragement  Sent from my Desire HD using ProBoards |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2012 12:44:56 GMT -5
Keep it up! I wanted to give up but the babies and us persevered and couldnt be happier. Do your best and they will too it just takes time and consistency
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2012 0:33:40 GMT -5
You can do it! Keep going and eventually they will be fully into raw like they need to be.
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Post by orv420 on Feb 9, 2012 10:15:26 GMT -5
I've got a stubborn one too, sometimes he refuses to eat his soup - until you give him a spoonful to lick off, then he's right in the bowl. Not sure if I got lucky or if my mix has anything to do with all 5 taking to it so easily. I know the broth cubes make a difference in how well they eat. IE: no cubes, eat a little; one cube, finish the bowl. The broth is just raw chicken and water - skin & bones, simmered for about 5 hours, or until much of the water boils away. Strain the broth of any bones/chunks. The finished broth turns to jelly in the fridge, but freezes nicely. I freeze the broth in ice cube trays and every day, I melt one in a pot with about 1/8 cup of water and mix it into their raw soup. I really think this has been the key to getting them all eating soup (and leading to raw meat which they get every night)
I feed soup with pumpkin, EVOO, salmon oil and eggshell powder every morning and make sure everyone eats. About 6 hours later, they get raw meats (RMB's, whole prey, muscle meat) At first, no one touched the meat, but after a week of offering every night, they started eating on their own. Hunger is a motivator and as long as they ate their soup in the morning, they should be good till the next morning. As long as there are no health issues which require regular feeding, they can go without eating for a while. Meals aren't always available to their wild cousins and once they're eating their soup, you can at least rest easy that they are getting good nutrition for one meal. I plan to keep feeding soup for breakfast because it's quick and easy after the prep work of pureeing and freezing. Good luck!
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