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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2011 14:20:30 GMT -5
Hi Guys, I'm currently looking into switching to a partially raw diet for my 3 ferrets. I went to the butchers at the weekend and bought what they call a "pet food stick". It's basically ground chicken carcus, heart, liver, bone etc. So far I've been giving them a little bit of this in the evenings to get them used to it. I'm really worried about giving them food poisoning though. I guess it's because I've just got to get my head round the fact that they can eat raw meat even though I can't I bagged it all up and put it in the freezer and I take one bag out the night before and put it in the fridge so it's defrosted by the time I get home from work. Is this ok? How long can I keep this stuff in the freezer for before it goes bad and how long can it be left out? Any help would be much appreciated
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Post by taratee on Mar 8, 2011 14:44:44 GMT -5
ferrets digestive tracts are very short so the chances of them getting food poisoning is very slim, after my food is thawed (what i consider thawed is just barely warm outside and still frozen center it takes maybe 15 minutes in a sink of hot water its for those of us who cant remember to put it in the fridge the night before) it lasts 24 hours. most ferrets would have to be starved to death to eat bad meat as for the meat in the freezer im not sure because most pets dont mind a little freezer burn on their meats im sure someone else will chime in with an answer on that if you want to get them on the raw track a soup would be a good idea to start with also keep in mind you might have some hold outs most of us do. those one maybe two ferrets who dramatically insist that youre poisoning them but dont worry thats what we are here to help you through
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2011 14:50:15 GMT -5
The 2 girls tucked in straight away but my boy Hurley didn't eat any the first 3 evenings. I think he was waiting to see if the girls had any side effects before he would try any He did wolf a load down last night though They haven't eaten a whole portion yet but that might be because they're not hungry enough as they've had a bowl of kibble in the cage all day. I don't want to leave the meat in the cage yet as they'll get it all over their bedding and start stashing it. I even managed to get the girls to try some tiny chunks of raw chicken last night Hurley would chew it and spit it out so will have to work a bit harder with him.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 8, 2011 14:54:23 GMT -5
First, congrats on the decision to get your fuzz on a healthier diet! OK, food poisoning. It takes things like salmonella about 8 hours to brew up in the gut, before it can have any effect. Ferret, from ingestion to excretion, only have food in them 3-4 hours. And if it's "off" they won't eat it. So, no chance. Remember-a weasel in the wild will bring something like a rabbit down, stash it in their den, and feed off of it for about a week! Which is also why we stress balance over time, rather than every meal. Because guaranteed that hypothetical weasel doesn't eat a bit of liver, a bit of heart, 15% bone, and 80% meat every meal And the way you are doing it is fine! Just make sure they are either eating enough raw, or put the kibble back in the cage for the night for them. Oh! Also, try not to feed the two too close together. Some fuzz get very upset tummies from kibble and raw too close together. Others aren't bothered at all by it, but better to play that one safe. As for how long in the freezer? I use meat with a bit of freezer burn a couple times a week, so that's been in there for a year anyway;)
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Post by taratee on Mar 8, 2011 14:59:34 GMT -5
you could take the kibble out of the cage about two hours before you feed, that will give them an extra push my boys are like that too when i introduce anything new they let the girls eat it first then if nothing bad happens they try
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2011 15:02:29 GMT -5
ok cool. I plan to keep the kibble for the time being to have in their cage while I'm at work and the occasions when I forget to thaw anything out for them (I sometimes forget to thaw my own dinner!) and also if I need a friend to look after them while I'm on holiday it's easier to just give them a bag of kibble than to explain a whole raw diet routine Once I feel comfortable with the meat I will reduce the kibble but I don't want them to become too picky and stop eating it altogether for the reasons above. At the moment I am looking to feed them a meal of this ground stuff every evening and mix in a couple of chicken wings a few times a week and the odd egg yolk. If they are eating more raw so are eating less kibble, would I need to supplement with any other vitamins etc?
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Post by Sherry on Mar 8, 2011 15:04:32 GMT -5
Not for quite a while. And if they are kibble heads like a good number of mine were, they won't forget it, unfortunately Just keep an eye for for potential digestive upsets if you do mix the two meals.
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Post by Heather on Mar 8, 2011 15:50:57 GMT -5
Feeding raw over the holidays isn't any more difficult than feeding kibble. Katt had it down pat when she went home over the holidays (if she doesn't pop in pm her, I'm sure she would be more than happy to tell you how she did it). Little baggies with the correct amount in them and the date written on the outside. I have or had so many that all I had to do was use little freezer containers. My caregiver took them out and put them in a larger bowl and let them have them on a day to day basis. I also made up a couple of extra ones just in case the brats ate more than I had anticipated. It was really easy though. No mess no fuss . My household hasn't really seen kibble in over 12 yrs now. The only time there is kibble in the house is for the new fuzzies coming in and I have to switch them ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2011 16:49:31 GMT -5
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