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Post by katt on May 4, 2012 3:26:07 GMT -5
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Post by mjbez on May 4, 2012 10:18:15 GMT -5
I will clarify the egg shell amount! I put a 1/2 tsp in with a batch of soupies, which will last 3 ferrets a few days to eat. It is the 8oz of chicken recipe and because I am mixing the soupies with chunks etc, it takes a few days to go through (maybe 3, its hard to say because I made a quadruple batch the last time. But they eat 3-5 cubes, which are 1oz (some 1.1 or 1.2) a day with their chunks and duck too. The duck does have bone ground up as well but it sounds like I may need more bone meal huh? How do I make sure each ferret gets enough bone meal when Bear eats a large amount, and Kyra eats a much smaller amount? I don't want Bear to get too much, or can that even happen? Sorry for the dumb questions! Last night, I fed the duck and chicken soup and Bear and Mika ate and ate! Lol! I put out about 4oz. Kyra had eaten some with me feeding her. It was almost all gone by the time I was going to put them to bed so I gave another oz of chicken. It is almost all gone (minus some cartilage pieces I put in for Mika, she loves em!). That was the largest meal eaten so far. So I guess the duck and chicken are Mika and Bear's favorite! I am leaving this afternoon, but I will be in contact with my bf throughout the weekend. I will definitely check the forum. I will be back home on Sunday evening. Have a great weekend!
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Post by mjbez on May 7, 2012 0:17:57 GMT -5
I got back home this evening. This weekend Kyra didn't eat well. Bear ate well and his energy was reportedly very good. Mika also ate well. When I got home I was worried because my bf told me that Kyra wasn't eating well. I took the food that was in their cage and re-moistened it (it wasn't ready to throw out yet, but was a little tacky from sitting out). As soon as Kyra saw me she was almost bursting through the cage to get to me. I gave her a cuddle and put her with the food...... and she ate. Is it possible she wasn't eating well because I wasn't home? She hasn't done that before (although i wasn't switching their foods any other time i left.) My bf fed them what I do, but I don't think he coaxed Kyra as much as I do (especially with the duck) However, I don't do that with her chunks and chicken soupie but she barely ate that while I was away too! I sit on the floor with the ferrets when I feed them their evening meal of duck and chicken soup.... is that spoiling them? I mixed one oz duck to 2 oz chicken soup this evening and even Kyra ate. I sat with them as usual (to get Kyra started I sometimes need to hold her to it) and they all ate. Bear ate like a pig! haha! I would say that he ate 2.5oz at least. My bf thought maybe sitting and coaxing was spoiling them a little too much. I definately don't want to get them into bad habits (of eating only when being pampered!) because if I go away I need them to still eat! Especially if I were to go on a week vacation! I hope this problem was a one time thing, because Kyra isnt taking the switch as easily... any suggestions? ps. I used to sit with them for their 2 meals, I no longer sit in the Am.... I just don't have time. Yet they still eat (I usually take Kyra to the food though, so I can watch how much she eats) and then I sit with them for their evening meal. I enjoy the time with them while they eat
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Post by katt on May 8, 2012 4:21:02 GMT -5
It sounds to me like she was stressed about you being gone. While the switch does involve a certain amount of handfeeding it would be a good idea for you to try to hand feed less and less. Wean them off of it. Instead of spending their eating time with them, spend some time one on one or with the group just holding and massaging and loving and playing. Then give them their food and leave for work or school. It's not a good idea to have any pet reliant on handfeeding. This can cause serious problems if you ever have to leave or worse, rehome them. They need to be able to eat on their own. The occasional hand feeding is one thing, but too often leads to dependence. So along with the switch, as things are changing for them already, work on trying to hand feed them less and less so they can become more independent where food is concerned. That being said, some hand feeding is necessary for the switch so I'm not saying don't do it when Needed, but do try to move away from it.
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Post by mjbez on May 9, 2012 19:05:01 GMT -5
I have been cutting back on the hand feeding. For their "regular" foods (the ones they are getting used to) I only feed it in cage now. So that way they are getting used to not eating with me beside them. I did feed a chicken wing (smashed and cut into 1 inch pieces approximately) and Kyra grabbed a big piece right away and started eating away! She ate the whole piece, bone and all like a trooper! Mika just wanted to horde it all last night, but today, she was eating some of what was left over in the cage. I worked with Bear, trying to get him to bite into it and he chewed a very small amount but just had no interest. Kyra and Mika seem to be eating well. Bear seems to eat a lot more in the evenings... which is the duck and chicken. He doesn't seem to like to eat the chunky chicken soupie as much(chunks of pork and beef). I think I may switch the meals so he has the chunky soupie overnight. The duck is always gone by next meal. Chunky chicken not so much. I have bought a few turkey wings (both sections are included, so I will hopefully feed the tips with bone in) and I will be introducing that this evening or tomorrow. I want to feed duck first to make sure Kyra eats some... as she is still not real fussy for it. She will eat some on her own now though, which is a huge improvement! I also have cut back on the soupie in the pork and beef chunks to one cube (which is an oz) instead of 2 oz in the chunks. It is more chunky than soupie now, and I do not add much water at all... maybe 1/2 tbsp. Just enought to keep it moist for a few hours. I have noticed that the ferrets will continue to eat the chunky soup for many hours after it has been out... like sometimes when I get home it has been out for 10hours! And they still eat it.... it doesn't smell bad so I am sure that it is ok. Also, I have gone from slivers to small fingernail sized pieces. The only one I worry about with this is Bear... he eats some but he seems so lazy to chew! I will continue working with Bear so that he eats more pieces. Do you think that I should add chunks of meat (like chicken) to the duck and chicken soupie mix? So that they are eating chunks with every meal? I would like to keep Bear up with the girls, as they have been doing well lately!
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Post by mjbez on May 10, 2012 23:19:30 GMT -5
A quick update: I put turkey chunks (about the size of my middle finger nail) in with the duck and chicken soupie last night... and there was turkey pieces that had been spit out around the dish... I watched Bear eat this morning with the chunky soupie (its really not even soup.. its chunky paste!) and he will spit out the pieces... I tried scruffing and offering and he will take it, but when it hits his mouth his tongue works like crazy to spit it out! This evening I fed a .5oz duck and .5oz chicken to about 1oz of chunk mix of turkey and beef. I cut the pieces smaller. I barely added any water again, so he can't just lazily lick up the soup part. I watched him eat and again he spits some out and eats some. He seems to spit the turkey more than anything... but this is a new meat so I will just keep working with him. Bear's energy has been pretty good and I think he is getting stronger (he can get on some furniture that is new to him!) I added a bit of smashed turkey wing in the cage as well (not mixed with the rest) and offered Kyra a 1inch piece with marrow but little to no bone (I didn't intend for it not to have bone, it was just a mainly meaty piece) and she ate it all up. She is really good with the big pieces... I find it amazing since she was the one who fought the change the most! Kyra's energy seems good. It is hard to measure her energy because she isn't real playful (never has been) but she would rather follow me around.... Mika seems to eat whatever is offered. She eats most chunks but does spit out the occasional piece. She has had fair energy, war dancing around when it is time to come out of the cage. Poops all seem normal... dark brown, small (compared to kibble fed) and well formed. I am feeding pumpkin in a meal a couple times a week (one cube that I made is about 1tbsp.. maybe a touch more) I add one cube for the 3 of them. Is this ok? Should I feed it more? I don't want it too often because it does have some sugars (naturally occuring)... So ya, things are going well.... things definitely do not move to fast at this point! I look forward to soupies being a once in a while thing... not an everyday meal. I want Bear to eat some bones for his teeth! I hate brushing! ;D
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Post by katt on May 11, 2012 4:13:55 GMT -5
Sorry, this week has been a little insane. I've had some frustrating stuff going on at work. I put turkey chunks (about the size of my middle finger nail) in with the duck and chicken soupie last night... and there was turkey pieces that had been spit out around the dish... ;D Rotten brats! Hand feed a few chunks if you need to get them started. Withdraw from hand-feeding a little bit, but a certain amount is needed for the switch. Use your better judgement. I watched Bear eat this morning with the chunky soupie (its really not even soup.. its chunky paste!) and he will spit out the pieces... I tried scruffing and offering and he will take it, but when it hits his mouth his tongue works like crazy to spit it out! This evening I fed a .5oz duck and .5oz chicken to about 1oz of chunk mix of turkey and beef. I cut the pieces smaller. I barely added any water again, so he can't just lazily lick up the soup part. I watched him eat and again he spits some out and eats some. He seems to spit the turkey more than anything... but this is a new meat so I will just keep working with him. Bear's energy has been pretty good and I think he is getting stronger (he can get on some furniture that is new to him!)lol This is normal. Each new step, each new meat, each new texture is its own mini-switch in a way. Keep the pieces smaller for now until he will eat them more consistently, then increase them. I added a bit of smashed turkey wing in the cage as well (not mixed with the rest) and offered Kyra a 1inch piece with marrow but little to no bone (I didn't intend for it not to have bone, it was just a mainly meaty piece) and she ate it all up. She is really good with the big pieces... I find it amazing since she was the one who fought the change the most! Kyra's energy seems good. It is hard to measure her energy because she isn't real playful (never has been) but she would rather follow me around....Some ferrets prefer actual meat to soupies. I actually had a pair of babies I worked with who took to meat rather quickly, and after the fact had to be taught to accept soupies. ;D A little backwards but soupies are important too in case you ever have a sickie on your hands. Mika seems to eat whatever is offered. She eats most chunks but does spit out the occasional piece. She has had fair energy, war dancing around when it is time to come out of the cage. Good! Poops all seem normal... dark brown, small (compared to kibble fed) and well formed.They are smaller because they are absorbing more of what they are eating. This is perfectly normal. One of the many benefits of raw. I am feeding pumpkin in a meal a couple times a week (one cube that I made is about 1tbsp.. maybe a touch more) I add one cube for the 3 of them. Is this ok? Should I feed it more? I don't want it too often because it does have some sugars (naturally occurring)...One cube of pumpkin? I'd generally shoot for 1 tsp per ferret. For Koda I often will add a large amount of pumpkin (a few teaspoons) daily just because it helps a lot when his IBD flares up. Feel it out. If their poops are okay, add less. If they have soft poops add more calcium (bone) first before pumpkin, but add a little more pumpkin as well. It's good to have a little regular fiber in their diet. So ya, things are going well.... things definitely do not move to fast at this point! I look forward to soupies being a once in a while thing... not an everyday meal. I want Bear to eat some bones for his teeth! I hate brushing! ;DThey'll get there. They are already making great progress. Keep it up! Keep offering chunks and bones as much as you can for the other 2 to eat, and maybe work with Bear a little more individually to get him caught up. Keep with the smaller chunks in the soup like I said, and then slowly work on increasing them in size and number until he will eat them. What did he think of the bones?
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Post by mjbez on May 13, 2012 18:40:59 GMT -5
Sorry, this week has been a little insane. I've had some frustrating stuff going on at work. That is just fine, I completely understand! I hope everything settles for youI put turkey chunks (about the size of my middle finger nail) in with the duck and chicken soupie last night... and there was turkey pieces that had been spit out around the dish... ;D Rotten brats! Hand feed a few chunks if you need to get them started. Withdraw from hand-feeding a little bit, but a certain amount is needed for the switch. Use your better judgement. I went back a step and made some pieces smaller. However, since then I have changed the "formula" of what I am feeding. Rather than doing equal soup to chunks (sometimes even more soup than chunks) I have only been adding 1oz of soupie to the chunks (usually a couple oz of chunks) This has been preventing Bear from just licking the soupie. He has since been doing well with the chunks. I have been increasing the size. I just fed them and I put about middle finger nail sized pork and chicken. I watched Bear and he is chewing the pieces Tonight with the pork and chicken soupie I cut up one chicken wing as well. I offered Bear some cartilage from the ends of the bone (with some bone attached as well) and he chewed them up! It seemed to take some effort (as expected) but he seemed to really enjoy it! I watched Bear eat this morning with the chunky soupie (its really not even soup.. its chunky paste!) and he will spit out the pieces... I tried scruffing and offering and he will take it, but when it hits his mouth his tongue works like crazy to spit it out! This evening I fed a .5oz duck and .5oz chicken to about 1oz of chunk mix of turkey and beef. I cut the pieces smaller. I barely added any water again, so he can't just lazily lick up the soup part. I watched him eat and again he spits some out and eats some. He seems to spit the turkey more than anything... but this is a new meat so I will just keep working with him. Bear's energy has been pretty good and I think he is getting stronger (he can get on some furniture that is new to him!)lol This is normal. Each new step, each new meat, each new texture is its own mini-switch in a way. Keep the pieces smaller for now until he will eat them more consistently, then increase them. I added a bit of smashed turkey wing in the cage as well (not mixed with the rest) and offered Kyra a 1inch piece with marrow but little to no bone (I didn't intend for it not to have bone, it was just a mainly meaty piece) and she ate it all up. She is really good with the big pieces... I find it amazing since she was the one who fought the change the most! Kyra's energy seems good. It is hard to measure her energy because she isn't real playful (never has been) but she would rather follow me around....Some ferrets prefer actual meat to soupies. I actually had a pair of babies I worked with who took to meat rather quickly, and after the fact had to be taught to accept soupies. ;D A little backwards but soupies are important too in case you ever have a sickie on your hands. Mika seems to eat whatever is offered. She eats most chunks but does spit out the occasional piece. She has had fair energy, war dancing around when it is time to come out of the cage. Good! Poops all seem normal... dark brown, small (compared to kibble fed) and well formed.They are smaller because they are absorbing more of what they are eating. This is perfectly normal. One of the many benefits of raw. I am feeding pumpkin in a meal a couple times a week (one cube that I made is about 1tbsp.. maybe a touch more) I add one cube for the 3 of them. Is this ok? Should I feed it more? I don't want it too often because it does have some sugars (naturally occurring)...One cube of pumpkin? I'd generally shoot for 1 tsp per ferret. For Koda I often will add a large amount of pumpkin (a few teaspoons) daily just because it helps a lot when his IBD flares up. Feel it out. If their poops are okay, add less. If they have soft poops add more calcium (bone) first before pumpkin, but add a little more pumpkin as well. It's good to have a little regular fiber in their diet. So ya, things are going well.... things definitely do not move to fast at this point! I look forward to soupies being a once in a while thing... not an everyday meal. I want Bear to eat some bones for his teeth! I hate brushing! ;DThey'll get there. They are already making great progress. Keep it up! Keep offering chunks and bones as much as you can for the other 2 to eat, and maybe work with Bear a little more individually to get him caught up. Keep with the smaller chunks in the soup like I said, and then slowly work on increasing them in size and number until he will eat them. What did he think of the bones? I have been adding less soupie to the meals. I also no longer add water to the soupie... it is more like paste. I will keep soupie as part of their diet but this way they are not able to pick and choose what they eat. I am also not feeding multiple different meat chunks at a time. This is the menu I have made for the last few days (and for the next couple) Notice how I have increased duck to chicken ratio Kyra is doing well with it
Friday the 11th PM- Pork chunks and chicken soupie Saturday the 12th AM- 2 oz duck and 1oz chicken soupie Saturday the 12th PM- Turkey wing (cut up) Sunday the 13th AM- Beef chunks and 1 oz chicken soupie Sunday the 13th PM- Pork chunks, one cut up chicken wing and 1 oz soupie Monday the 14th AM- 2oz duck and 1oz chicken soupie Monday the 14th PM- Chicken wings (3) * I will feel this out and make sure Bear eats. If needed I will add a bit of soupie.. but I think he may be able to do it! Tuesday the 15th AM- Beef chunks and 1oz soupie Tuesday the 15th PM- chicken heart, pork liver (and maybe soupie) this will depend if they will eat heart and liver without. I thought I should start this step, since they are eating less soupie now.How does this sound for the last couple and next few days? I think they have liked the variety (even though the soupie doesn't vary). I look forward to trying the heart and liver! Any suggestions? I was gonna mince it together for the first time eating. Is that a good idea? I was thinking 1oz liver and 2-3 hearts.
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Post by katt on May 13, 2012 21:26:21 GMT -5
So far they are off to an amazing start! I know I keep saying this, but Keep it up! Here's the general guideline to follow: 10-15% EDIBLE bone (the pieces they leave behind do not count), 10% organ (at least half liver, and the other half should preferably be a variety of other organs), 75-80% muscle meat INCLUDING heart and gizzards. I typically shoot for about 10% of the total diet being heart. SO say you feed 2 meals a day, that's 14 meals a week. In any given week, they should get roughly 1.5 meals of organ and 1.5 meals of heart. A good way to do this is to give one meal organs, one meal hearts, and one meal organs and hearts. The rest of the week they can get their meats and bones. Right now they are still in the beginning stages, so it's not a huge concern, but they ARE low on organs, hearts, and bones. Obviously the organs and hearts you're getting started with so that is good. If they won't eat it plain, mix a little bit into a soup they like (i.e. chicken) and gradually increase the organ/heart and decrease the chicken until they will eat only heart/organ puree. Then add chunks in and increase the chunks while decreasing the soupies. Treat it like a mini-switch. That's really what each new meat is, a new mini-switch in the bigger picture. As for bones, they're really ahead of the game in that most ferrets at this stage aren't eating any bones yet. That being said they are still working up to it so they aren't quite getting the full calcium. Though the commercial raw should have some in it. They are fine short term, and the plan is to add more bones eventually. However, you may still want to consider supplementing with a little bonemeal a few times a week.
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Post by katt on May 16, 2012 4:17:29 GMT -5
Just poking in for an update.
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Post by mjbez on May 16, 2012 20:16:33 GMT -5
Good evening! I have a very good update! I fed liver and heart last night. I thought.. well they probably aren't going to like this much so I only started with 1oz liver and 4 chicken hearts. I figured I would start out with only a little in case I needed to add chicken. I showed them... not much interest. I showed them my bloody hands (from cutting that gooey bloody liver ) and they licked it off. Bear decided he wanted to try some and he seemed to like it. Kyra also tried a little. Mika, not at first. I put the liver and hearts in the cage and within about an hour it was all gone! Bear went in and made a piggy of himself! lol. I added 2 more oz of liver and 4 more hearts. I put the 3 in the cage for the night and watched Kyra and Mika eat some. They all seemed to eat a really good amount. There was a bit leftover the next morning but I fed a large amount to what they usually eat. But no chicken and I didn't even puree it! It was small pinky nail sized pieces. What troopers! Ps: I am glad I'd read what the poops look like after and organ meal.... cause they are.... different! Black and soft (not much form) but it wasn't diarrhea. I also fed chicken wings again today and they did a really good job on them. They are all eating bone. Mika and Kyra better than Bear but he is catching on well! I have been following a temp menu. I am just making sure that I am alternating the meats well and I am introducing more bone. I am so proud of my fuzzies! I notice that it seems like my 3 ferrets don't eat as much as I would have expected. I read about 8oz for 3 in a day. But I know mine don't eat that much. They will eat about 3oz a meal... is that normal? Today with the wings I put in 3 wings (the section that has the 2 narrow bones.. i think that is the tip) and about 2 were gone. I cut them up so I can't tell exactly how much has been eaten but very close to 2 wings... for 3 ferrets. I will feed them pork and chicken tonight and 2oz pork (sometimes a little more) and just over an oz of chicken soupie is enough for them. There is almost always some chunks left over. (not much because I have adjusted the amount I feed) Their weights seem good. Bear and Mika came down from their highest weight but still weigh more than before the switch. I think that is normal because they just recently lost their winter fur as well. What do you think? Also... I am still on the search for bone meal. The places that usually carry it that I know of have been out for like 6 months! They seem unable to get it in. I will be checking more places this weekend. Another random piece of excitement.... I plan on getting a FN 182 this weekend! I have a nice big cage (4 level) but it is awful to clean! I really want the FN and have been eying it for some time
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Post by katt on May 17, 2012 4:48:13 GMT -5
Yaaaay! Congrats on the new cage! And the heart and organs! They are doing really well. Pretty much all that's left now is getting their variety and balance just right. As for their eating amounts I have to admit that it drives me a little nuts how everyone here uses weights. ;D Obviously there has to be some standard of measurement but even cups and tablespoons would be better in my PERSONAL opinion. I never weigh my food so to be honest when you say 3oz, it doesn't mean much to me. Not to mention different meats have different densities. And eachferret is totally diffferent. One ferret might eat 4oz a day and one might eat 2 and that may even be about the same size. Just like humans, ferrets have different metabolic rates, activity levels, etc, so they are going to eat different amounts. Keep in mind as well that in the beginning they usually eat much more than when they were on kibble as their bodies try to stock up and make up for the nutrients they weren't getting. Then thy eventually slow down and eat significantly less than when they were on kibble because their bodies are getting more of the nutrition they need from less food. All of that being said the key things are that they are eating, they're eating properly (variety and balance), they are staying alert and active, pooping/urinating normally, and that they aren't losing any Significsnt weight. If they are staying at weight and acting nice and active and playful, they are probably fine. Just keep en eye out if you are concerned.
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Post by mjbez on May 17, 2012 21:32:55 GMT -5
Ok, I am glad the "weights" don't necessarily matter. I have been eyeballing the amounts most days, but I do weigh once in a while and am surprised they don't eat more. But for example, I'm sure Kyra only eats 1-2oz a day. She is a very small ferret and is built like a greyhound. She has never been pudgy. Their energy levels seem ok. Kyra still acts like a maniac when she is allowed some play time in the bedroom (typically I do not let them in there because they hide in the closets and it is carpeted...) She went in there to play some "war dance attack" with my boyfriend. She got so crazy she did a flying squirrel off of the bed! (We call Kyra our flying squirrel because she is a jumper! She can jump a long distance off of things like my couch in order to get on the coffee table.. it scares the poop out of me!) Thank goodness my boyfriend caught her because she could have gotten hurt! Crazy thing has no fear Mika and Bear are still playful, Bear more so. But I would not say there has been any dramatic changes in their energy. They seem "normal" to me. One good thing that has come from this change... Mika used to always make this sound... like she was doing a gag, cough thing... almost the sound they make if they swallow a bone and choke it back up to chew some more. I had taken her to the vet a couple of times because I was concerned about a blockage or something. She used to do it many times a day! She would also make a grunting wheeze when she got excited (and was trying to play bite) Now.... it has stopped! Except one day when I fed bones... she did it a few times... and eventually threw up a little and I gave her pumpkin and she was fine. She is a bit of a piggy when she eats... I think it must have been bone. Sorry for the random stories, lol. I thought the Kyra story is scary but funny... she is soooo hilarious when she acts like her maniac self. She is usually so docile and sweet... then in my room is a crazy little thing Mika not making the cough sound has been such a relief for me... I was so concerned and was always told there was nothing wrong. I will be feeding the heart and liver again this weekend. I am going to add in kidney as well. The ratio should be about 1/2 heart to 1/4liver and 1/4 kidney right? I will be buying another organ soon as well. Need to use up a bit more of their food before adding too much more. Little beasts almost took over my freezer! ;D I have a temp menu that I have been following (continued from before) I realize it is still not enough bone but I am still trying to increase meat chunk size etc... I left off last time on tuesday evening... Tues 15th PM - heart and liver Wed 16th AM- 3 chicken wings (about 2 eaten) Wed 16th PM- pork chunks in 1oz chicken soup Thurs 17th AM- commercial duck (2 medallions) and 1oz chicken soup Thurs 17th PM- beef chunks and chicken soup Fri 18th AM- chicken wings Fri 18th PM- heart, liver and spleen That is as far as I have worked so far... I will get more planned tomorrow. I will be feeding a turkey wing at some point on the weekend. I also have been super nerdy and have "worked out" a menu for when they are ready for the full switch! (I realize that it may not be worked out because it needs to be approved to be balanced). I found the hardest part getting in different meats when chicken is the main bone-in meal! I have had trouble finding things such as pork rib ends... but I will find them.. I am stubborn like that!
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Post by katt on May 21, 2012 4:57:58 GMT -5
Other good bone in meats are game hen, duck, turkey necks (esp smashed up), whole prey (not sure how you feel about that). Also, check the ingredients of the commercial raw as many of those contain bone. Organ should be 10% of their diet (half liver) and heart usually comes out to about 10% also. So yes, if you were to put that all together for a week it would be half heart, 1/4 liver, 1/4 other organs, and all together would make about 20% of the diet. What's your final menu? Let's see it! No reason we can't start adjusting it not while we work on getting them up to it. How are they taking the duck? Ready to try a other meat? You have a good variety started so you pick - try another protein if you can get some.
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Post by mjbez on May 21, 2012 16:19:47 GMT -5
They are liking the duck. Yes, that commercial raw has organs and bone in it. They are eating chicken, turkey (not their favorite) pork and beef as well. I will get the same commercial raw brand of lamb soon (freezer should be able to hold it.) I cannot find duck that is reasonably priced in stores... Same with game hen. I am using about all of the proteins that I plan on using. (with the exception of quails as a once in a while protein (fairly price... 9 bucks for 6little birds, and any other meats I may find as a treat.. like frog legs... also pricey) I will look for turkey necks, but I have not come across them yet. Turkey seems to be limited to what I can get (whole.. which is out of the question, wings, legs, and ground) I will keep my eyes peeled (may check back at the butcher). I plan on stocking up some more meats this week. (looking for chicken necks/ turkey necks too) I fed them chicken back (and a foot) yesterday. I smashed both and split the foot there was quite a bit of waste (mainly the foot) but I did watch them eat (Bear more hesitantly. The girls really seem to like bones) I fed them beef today with no soup and the girls ate.. but I'm still waiting on Bear.... I think I will add a touch of soup to it for him soon... He just doesn't wanna touch it!)
here is my "final menu" ( I realize its not final yet...) *Monday Am- soupie with turkey chunks (and bone supplement or eggshell added) *Monday Pm- chicken wing *Tuesday Am- commercial raw (duck or lamb) Tuesday Pm- heart *Wednesday Am- pork rib ends (if i can find) if not... turkey necks *Wednesday Pm- turkey wing Thursday Am- beef Thursday Pm- organ (50% liver/50%other) *Friday Am- commercial raw Friday Pm- pork *Saturday Am- chicken necks or backs Saturday Pm-beef Sunday Am- 50% heart 25% liver 25% other organ *Sunday Pm- chicken wings + one foot
* = bone in meal Eventually, when I get a treat like quail or frog legs, I will sub it in for a chicken wing day or even a beef day.
Ingredients for Nature's Variety Commercial Raw Duck (95% meat) Duck (including Raw Ground Duck Bone), Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Raw Ground Lamb Bone, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (a natural source of B vitamins), Pumpkinseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Apples, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Sea Salt, Cod Liver Oil, Dried Kelp, Dried Apples, Fruit Pectin, Carrots, Spinach, Natural Taurine, Mixed Tocopherols, Natural Vitamin E, Inulin, Blueberries, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Clove, Rosemary Extract.
Ingredients for Nature's Variety Commercial Raw Lamb (95% meat) Lamb, Lamb Liver, Raw Ground Lamb Bone, Lamb Heart, Lamb Kidney, Apples, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Ground Flaxseeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Dried Kelp, Dried Apples, Fruit Pectin, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Salmon Oil, Olive Oil, Blueberries, Alfalfa Sprouts, Persimmons, Inulin, Rosemary, Sage, Clove.
I know that this food has some fruit and veggies... however, I feel it is low enough and I am only going to feed it 2x a week. It allows me a protein source that I don't really have access to in a grocery store.
Also! I did get the FN 182 this weekend! I love the cage, the large door access if great! Bear is very awkward with the ramps... falls off fairly often but he is a special little guy that needs time to learn (I am sure he is a WB ferret) ;D Such a special boy.
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