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Post by cierva4 on Mar 9, 2012 10:48:28 GMT -5
Alright. Charlotte's off the turkey (cold turkey? ) for now. I haven't been able to find a definite Charlotte poop, but the poop I have found looks a lot better. (Words only moms and furmoms say without shame.) I'll give her another day of chicken only and try the turkey again Saturday, when I can watch what she's eating more closely and see the end result. You're right on the wings. I definitely have more time on the weekends, so I'll be playing with those tomorrow. Should I put soup/tone on them? Or just let them go plain? They've been eating the regular chicken plain with soup on the side. So the FN arrived yesterday, and we're putting it together tonight. New diet, new cage, way more play time (now that we're open cage at night)... my fuzzies are so spoiled.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 14:46:23 GMT -5
Good good, let me know if her poop goes yucky again with the turkey. Actually with the FN (congrats on that! ) you can separate the two levels by hooking the ramp up on the clip you will see. If you put a litter box on each level you can separate the ferrets for a few hours and get a definitive Charlotte "before turkey" poop and then do the same thing once you feed the turkey again and get an after poop. Actually if you wouldn't mind taking pictures of her "normal" poop versus her " turkey" poop this would help me determine if it's a sensitivity. No shame right? ;D You can definitely put soup, tone, whatever on the chicken wings. It will still taste like chicken so they should like it, they might just take a bit to wrap their heads around crunching through the bone ;D Lucky ferrets! I know what you mean, my fuzz are so spoiled too - 2 ferret nations with a tunnel connector and a whole room to themselves. You will find your ferrets will be much happier now! The extra roaming time and bigger cage sure does make a difference
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2012 16:59:24 GMT -5
How did the chicken wings go?!
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Post by cierva4 on Mar 12, 2012 7:55:59 GMT -5
Yet again, the weekend ate my computer. Chicken wings-- the first time around, they sort of ate around bone like you said they would. At dinner they pretty much ignored them, but I did hear some crunching during the night. I think they both gave it a try. I saw Charlotte gag a tiny bit, but they're both still learning. Is it okay to give them a little bit of wing and thigh meat at each meal, just so I know they're getting enough? Or is that too much bone? Turkey- I got Charlotte's "before" picture, but not an after. She won't touch the turkey. I scruffed and stuffed a tiny bit, but she wasn't having it. Wheatley is still eating a small amount once a day, and his poops have been fine. Is it normal for them to eat about 2-3 oz in the morning/during the day, and then very little over night? I feel like during the day they eat pretty much everything I give them, but it seems like at night they eat the soup, and then only a piece or two of chicken over night each. And we put together the FN this weekend. It's enormous, I love it. I feel like the fuzzies could get lost inside. Now to save up for some pretty bedding sets.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2012 14:03:59 GMT -5
That is great news! They definitely did very well for their first go at bones You can definitely offer them a little bone with each meal to get them used to it and eating it. If you notice their poops getting too hard or dry at all or any constipation let me know though! Also maybe use only half as much egg shell in the soup since they are getting a little bit of bone I would say stop trying with Charlotte and the turkey. She might just be being stubborn but then again she might have a sensitivity/allergy and be avoiding it for that reason. Ferrets definitely "know" when a food makes them not feel well and will avoid it. You can still give it to Wheatley if you want. Maybe let's try a different protein. You could pick up a Cornish hen or some beef (ie stewing beef, a cheap steak, etc). Mine seem to prefer the less chewy cuts of beef, stewing beef cubes are much tougher and chewier than a steak (but also cheaper). Or if you have any lamb available in your area that isn't ridiculously expensive, that's another one you can try too. Let me know what you decide, we definitely don't want Charlotte getting stuck on just chicken. If they are eating 2-3oz each during the day, they are basically getting their daily fill of food right there, so it makes perfect sense that they wouldn't be eating much overnight. That is perfectly fine different ferrets have different eating patterns. If you feel like you are wasting a lot of food overnight, you can try giving less. As long as there is some left over in the morning, you know that they were finished eating and no longer hungry and got their fill That is awesome about the cage! Mine is decked out with pretty bedding sets too I love them! Just be forewarned they will drag their raw meat all over their nice clean bedding ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2012 14:34:36 GMT -5
P.S. A 4 hour drive is nothing to rescue a sweet little ferret ;D
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Post by cierva4 on Mar 12, 2012 20:39:39 GMT -5
Name: Wheatley Weight: 2lb 10.5oz Activity Level: I think he's finally leveled off. Still loooots of energy though. Stool size and consistency: small and dark. some days are a little... gooey-er than others, but pretty much what I've come to expect from soup and chicken poo.
Name: Charlotte Weight: 2lb Activity Level: she's a happy playful little ball o'fun. Stool size and consistency: since we've cut turkey it's been back to the usual dark plops.
I'll admit I didn't keep very good track of each meal this past week. Wheatley's had a little ground turkey every day. They've both had soup and thigh all week, with some wing added Saturday night, both meals Sunday and breakfast today. There is still some left in the cage from this morning for them too.
I don't think they're actually eating much of the bone yet, but they're definitely chewing it a little.
About the rescue-- I'm discussing it with Josh. I think we might be able to swing it, but it's going to require a bit of planning both financially and practically. I've never traveled more than 20 minutes in a car with a fuzz. I'll be posting about that later tonight for some ideas.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2012 1:58:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the weekly report! No worries about recording their meals exactly, that is more important for when they are eating different meats each day. You can try cutting the chicken wing bones even tinier if they are having trouble chewing them. I have a feeling they will get a hang of them in no time though. Very exciting! It will be a long trip for sure but the little ferret will be fine. My ferrets have easily spent 4 hours in their carriers during long vet trips and they are always just fine. As far as finances go, feeding a third ferret raw isn't a huge difference. And I guarentee you, the baby will be crunching down bones faster than Charlotte and wheatley will be ;D they pretty much switch themselves! They do eat a lot at first but once all three are switched, you'll find it's not that expensive. And it's better to wait until the kit is 4-6 months old to vaccinate (despite what vets say) so you don't even have to worry about vaccine costs for a while. Am I convincing you yet? ;D Anyways keep up on the chicken bones! And hopefully decide on a new protein this week and other than that the switch is still progressing fantastically!!!
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Post by cierva4 on Mar 13, 2012 8:16:42 GMT -5
I wasn't worried about the daily expense of another ferret, it's really just the trip/cost of the ferret itself that's a little intimidating. *sigh*
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2012 19:45:39 GMT -5
I definitively understand! She sounds like a sweet little girl though and I am sure if you decide to go ahead with the trip it will all be worth it
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2012 21:02:03 GMT -5
Ohhh she is so cute! Definitely worth it ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 3:29:04 GMT -5
Any progress with the bone? Did you want to give another protein a try this week? If not, we definitely want to do this next week for sure I understand you are probably busy with preparation plans for the adorable hopefully new addition! but I just want to make sure Charlotte and Wheatley are staying on track too
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Post by cierva4 on Mar 15, 2012 7:46:48 GMT -5
So I was planning a desperate post on how to make them eat the bone, since I'd heard a little chewing but kept seeing the bones left on/near the plate, when they bothered to chew on them. Then this morning I was about to complain to Wheatley about pooping next to the box, not in it, and I found a poop full of little pieces of bone! I haven't seen that from Charlotte yet, but I'm hoping she'll catch on now that Wheat's eating it. I can do another protein this weekend. What meat do you think I should try next?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 12:12:51 GMT -5
Hurray Wheatley! That is fantastic news! Charlotte should catch on soon, but if not you can aways try getting some even thinner bones for her to try. I find rib cages are great for this. Not so much the sternum but the side ribs are super tiny and good starter bones for them. Either a small whole chicken or a Cornish hen will have these. As for the next protein you could get the Cornish hen which would serve the purpose of new protein and easier bones for Charlotte. Either that or beef or lamb muscle meat. The only thing about these last two is that they are "stronger tasting" proteins and the ferrets might not take to them right away, especially if they didn't like the pork. That being said, they might have different tastes and actually like them right away, who knows ;D Just don't buy a huge amount or that expensive of lamb or beef though, just in case. You want them eating at least 3 proteins once they have switched (generally chicken, beef, pork), but more is better so I usually get mentee's to do at least 4 or 5. This gives you more flexibility with the menu
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Post by cierva4 on Mar 15, 2012 13:13:58 GMT -5
Alright. I'll see about some beef or a hen this weekend.
Quick question-- since my fuzzies really only tend to eat a lot in the morning, how will this affect my menu planning? I know it's a bit early to really worry about that, but they eat most of their plate in the morning, then my boyfriend gives a little extra in the afternoon (an extra spoon of chunks) to hold them over until I get home at night. Usually they still have most of that left and snack on that through the evening and night, and maybe another soup cube.
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