Boojum01's Switching Thread/Sunnyberra

[Heather]

Name: Shel Smith
HF Forum Username: boojum01

1. Where did you first learn about natural diets for ferrets?
I've know natural diets for most pets were an option for a very long time now. This website is the second practical place I've gotten information on the process. Susan Brown's article is the first.

2. Please describe the type of diet you would like assistance in switching your ferret(s) to. Be sure to include if you are interested in feeding whole prey (live or frozen-thawed) and if you are wanting to FULLY switch to a natural diet or PARTIALLY. If you are unsure what kind of diet you want to put your ferrets on, please express that and we can help you find the best type of natural diet for your ferret.
I would like to get both of them on raw/frankenprey diet. I managed to do it with one, but to convert the other one while the first one wants to eat all his kibble is a puzzlement.

3. Why are you interested in switching your ferrets to a natural diet?
It's practical. I can always get meat from the grocery store. It's good for them and I have a solid idea about what they are eating. Smaller poops. Smell much better. 'nuff said.

4. Do you understand that switching your ferret to a natural diet can be a lengthy, arduous process? Its not an overnight switch. It can be a commitment of several weeks or even months. Your HF Mentor will be more then happy to assist you in switchng your ferret(s) to a natural diet, but you need to be equally as commited. If you aren't willing to tough out a potentially lengthy switching process, or if you have major life changes approaching (baby on the way, moving, starting school, getting married/divorced, etc) then it might be a better idea to wait on switching your ferret's diet until you have more time. Are you willing to make the commitment?
Now is the best time. I am not in school and I am integrating my second ferret into the household.

5. How many ferrets do you currently have? What are their names? Ages? Genders? Do they have any health problems? Are they overweight? Underweight? How long have you had each ferret for?
I have two ferrets.
Artie; 14 mo.; male-neutered; no health problems; good avg. wt. about 2.2 lbs; I've had him for 3 mo. approx.
Teddy; 24 mo.; male-neutered; deaf; almost 3 lbs; I've had him for 2 days.

6. What diet do you currently feed your ferrets? (Please include all treats, supplements, etc)
Salmon, veal, pork, chicken, pheasant, taurine, pumpkin, bonemeal, meaty bones, S&C duck,duck,goose, marshals kibble. Working on replacing ferretone with salmon oil and EVO. I use the chicken and other fats for their fat percentage. My understanding is 75% protein, 10% fat, 10% roughage, 5% bone with combinations of 3 different kinds of protein.
Their meals are 3-4 meals/day.

7. Have you ever tried to switch your ferrets to a natural diet in the past? If yes, what happened?
Yes, I switched Artie completely. Artie likes Marshall's better than raw so he eats Teddy's Marshalls + raw and ignores his own.

8. What additional information about yourself or your ferrets would you like to share?
I love my fuzzies and they have the run of the house. Artie comes when I call his name-more or less. I am working on a floor tap or maybe a light to signal Teddy. I am retired, and don't have a job at this point.

9. How often during the week do you have access to a computer?
90% of the time

10. Please post a picture of each of your ferrets (if possible).
Artie is on the show us your weasels/sleepy ferrets thread and Teddy is on the Health/Adrenal board.


Hi and welcome to the mentoring program. In a little while your mentor (Sunnyberra) will introduce herself and you can get started on a new adventure in natural ferret care and diets. Please remember to post regularly (daily or as per arranged with your mentor) so that your mentor can assist you move along safely in this adventure. If you experience computer difficulties or are going to be away, please notify your mentor and most of all relax and have fun . Your mentor is here to help you on this journey.
ciao

[Deleted]

Hi, I'm Annie (known on here as sunny or sunnyberra ), and I'll be helping you switch your guys to a more biologically appropriate diet. I love daily check-ins, but I'm aware that life gets hectic, or there's nothing to report, so every other day is perfectly fine as well, or, if something major comes up, just drop me a line and tell me you'll be MIA for awhile, I don't have a problem with that, either! After a week with no response, I'll prompt you, and after a month of no response, the thread will be vaulted (but you can always request it to be taken out of the vault at another time).

A little about me: I'm 25, love reading (mostly fantasy/sci-fi, but other genres sneak in there from time to time) and writing short stories, as well as baking; when I'm not doing school related stuff, work, or care-taking fuzzies, I'm usually found doing one of those three things. I've been a proud ferrent for six years, now, and have been feeding raw to my fuzzies for four of those years.

I currently have six ferrets: Pixie, who's 6 years, now; and then Hiko, who's 3.5-4 years old; two 3 year olds - Yogi and Sian; and two not-quite kits anymore, Rula and Neera. I first decided to switch after doing a bit of independent research after Pixie and her brother, Yew, turned two. That was the age I was dreading as a new ferrent - it seemed so scary, as I read more and more about the illnesses that seemed to start cropping up around that age. I decided then to do everything I could to lessen my guys' risk. One of those things was getting them off of kibble and onto a more natural diet.

There are quite a few methods used for switching. For my guys, I decided to disallow kibble. Instead, I offered kibble coated boneless chicken chunks and I would supplement feed meals of baby food every few hours after the initial fasting period (Yew also got soup, made from pureed chicken meat, baby food and olive oil, because he liked it, whereas Pixie didn't).

After a bit of hair pulling, they were both switched completely, and they never looked back. Sadly, Yew's since passed away, and I eventually introduced Yogi (first) and Sian (second) as kits, and both were eating meat chunks the same night I got them. Hiko is my rescue (and suspected Waardenburg baby) who had been used to eating sugary treats like gummi bears and sugary Wal-Mart kibble. I treated him the same as the others - gave him kibble-dusted meat chunks, and he started eating them that first night. By his second evening with me, he was completely on raw. By the end of the week, he was eating bone-in. Now, he's a proud raw-eating pro, who occasionally really enjoys a frozen/thawed quail or two. Rula was the easiest switch in the world as well. Neera, on the other hand, was surprising stubborn for a little kit, but after a syringe feeding session, she realized "oh hey, this stuff IS food," and then I offered her a wing tip, and she's been bone crazy ever since

I'll be asking that you post a menu of what your ferret ate and what amounts he ate, weekly. Also weekly write ups - energy levels, weight, poos, anything of import, are a must. As per the stickies in the switching thread, bi-weekly pictures are also great!

I see you've made some headway into the diet already, and that's great. What we can do, since Artie is still a kibble head, is begin the both of them with some soup. Here's the standard recipe:

8oz chicken meat
1-2 chicken hearts
1 liver
1/4 tsp powdered eggshell
Enough water, or homemade chicken broth(straight chicken, no spices, veg, etc) to make a soupy texture

Puree all of the above together, freeze in ice cube trays, baggie cubes after frozen.

This is a great standard recipe, and it's worth trying it out (they, of course, might not go for it right away), but you can change some things, especially in the beginning. If they're just kind of confused, try adding in a bit of the freeze dried (rehydrated or sprinkled on top) or a bit of crushed kibble to the top, to assure them that it IS food.

[Deleted]

bump^