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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2012 23:18:18 GMT -5
The meal mom had out for them was whatever Sunday AM was in the menu...boneless chicken, I believe, maybe with some CGH in it too - I don't remember exactly. Second meal was small smashed bone-in pieces with a few larger bone-in pieces. Marley & Freya ate most of the boneless, Soxx wouldn't eat with them. Later he went back and finished what they left & then when I put out the second meal I let him eat his share alone and he ate a bunch. I am worried they might be a little dehydrated...2 out of 4 water bowls were empty and out of the remaining 2, one had food in it (gross) and the other looked scummy. It's been pretty warm here lately although Mom says she's had the A/C running most of the time. I gently pinched Marley's scruff and it seemed a little slow going back down (took a few seconds, though I didn't time it). Freya's was a little quicker to go down. Soxx is sleeping so I didn't check him. I filled water bowls up and showed them to Marley and Freya, who were rather disinterested. I have to say I am rather disappointed in my mom right now, between the filthy cage (litterboxes weren't cleaned once while I was gone...she "didnt have the time"), the poop caked to the floor around the room (at least I know they got out to play), and the empty/low water bowls. Apparently if I ever have to leave for a period of time again, directions will have to be more specific and include checking water bowls. I don't have anyone else to ferret-sit I don't know if she was hungry or if it was just stress chewing, but Freya TRASHED her derby eggs in the 6 days I was gone. Went from no damage, to huuuge holes in the crochet part. I tossed them and gave her 2 new ones...she likes to alternate between the two ;D Energy levels seem a little down but if they hadn't been eating well yesterday/this morning then I'm not too surprised. They certainly perked up when I got home & were happy to see me!! Appetites were good for me tonight. I am home all day tomorrow so I will monitor them closely. I don't know *anything* about subq fluids, so that's not an option. Should I feed a meal of soups to help them get some liquids in?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2012 10:22:17 GMT -5
Scruffs are going down faster this morning. I've kept things niiiice and cool in my room. When I woke up, the plate was licked clean. I think they missed their mommy ;D This morning's meal brought a little bit of the small pieces of smashed bone-in as well as liver and beef lung. They ate almost all of it As I said...I think they missed me
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Post by Sherry on Jul 4, 2012 13:15:34 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't get this before! Problems would have been a combination of depression and temper tantrums(Freya with the eggs). Now that you're home things will get back to normal And I'd not be too hard on your mom- they DID get out to play, and they DID get fed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2012 13:46:28 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't get this before! Problems would have been a combination of depression and temper tantrums(Freya with the eggs). Now that you're home things will get back to normal That's good that things will get back to normal. I can't afford to go through Derby Eggs that quickly ;D I feel badly for leaving them, and I know how close Freya is to me...she always snuggles and gives kisses. I was still surprised to see how trashed her eggs were though!!! Im glad no blockages resulted -- that's how big the holes were And I'd not be too hard on your mom- they DID get out to play, and they DID get fed. Exactly, and they weren't completely out of water. So I am doing my best to just let it go and if I am ever in this situation again I will leave more specific directions They do seem to be drinking quite a bit today. I rotated toys too and Marley was extremely happy to see 2 of his preciouses return ;D Also changed all of the bedding in their cage including hammocks and other bedding. Gotta figure out how to thoroughly wash that pirate ship bed thing (a marshall's item)... Anyway, tomorrow I plan on going to the store to get some goodies for them. CGH and pork and see if they have chicken wings that include the tips and not just drumettes. If I remember to, I'm also going to go to a store that sells locally raised/butchered, grass-fed lamb/goat offals...see if I can find anything interesting. What cut of pork is best? Whatever's cheapest, or a particular section?
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Post by Sherry on Jul 4, 2012 15:16:15 GMT -5
I get the cheapest I can ;D sometimes you can get great deals on "last day" sales. They get more variety in cut that way. I also talk to clients and friends and tell them when they clean out the freezer to save me the slightly freezer burned meat. I cut the burn part off and feed the rest! Not a part of their regular diet and no more than once or twice a week for a meal(nutritional value is decreased) but it does give them cuts I wouldn't normally buy for them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2012 16:21:12 GMT -5
Spoiled fuzzies are d*mn SPOILED ;D I summoned the energy to go to the local store "We Are All What We Eat" (WAAWWE because I'm lazy), the place with the local/naturally fed/humanely killed&butchered animals and offals section. Well Im pretty sure I made the store person's day. I was perusing their organ meat section that was out in the store and she asked if I had any questions (with my basket already containing heart, liver, tongue, and kidney)...I asked if I could see the offals section in their back freezer, her jaw just about hit the floor ;D (here I am, I look about 18, well-dressed cos I just got outta work...probably one of the last people youd expect to hear that phrase from.) THEN after she got over that shock I told her it was for my ferrets ;D She loved it!! Said it was the first time she'd heard that one -- that people get stuff for their dogs all the time but not ferrets lol. So anyway she brought me a bunch of stuff out and told me that the next time I come in, I should bring the ferrets with me. I explained how they like to poop where they aren't supposed to and she reassured me it was fine, they have chickens in the store sometimes...lol...so maybe Soxx will come with me next time I'm not sure. She was really enthusiastic and grinning ear-to-ear. Very nice woman. ANYWAY! Here's the haul: (5) lamb hearts (1 package, I think I got a discount for buying so many) - 1.44 lb (1) goat heart - 0.32 lb (1) lamb liver - 0.82 lb (1) Veal Kidney ...1 package, can't tell if its both kidneys or just one - 0.71 lb (2) goat kidneys ...well 2 packages so 4 kidneys all together - 0.53 lb (2) lamb tongues - 0.81 lb And for the mere price of $12.50!!!!!! At the regular store I got them... - chicken wings (I *think* the whole wing, the other packages said drummettes and this one didn't) - chicken thighs - boneless center cut pork chops that was a bit more expensive lol.. spoiled fuzzies are spoiled! how do you think they'll go for the tongue? kind of grosses me out but not as much as the lung did!
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Post by Sherry on Jul 5, 2012 18:31:57 GMT -5
Sounds like a great person to get to know! Def bring Soxx, and get good and friendly with her. She *might* cut you some deals
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Post by Sherry on Jul 5, 2012 18:39:34 GMT -5
As for the tongue- I imagine they will! It's very chewy like gizzards. You may wind up mixing it with what they are familiar with since lamb is stronger in flavour though. Try it straight first and see what they do. Pop a piece in their mouths if they just sit looking at it!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2012 9:58:17 GMT -5
today is ferret food prep day! i am proud to announce that this morning brought REAL chunks! No more of those darn chunkettes -- my hands are rejoicing (no more scissor blisters I hope). I also didn't smash any of the bones from the wings (they are having chicken wings this morning)...drummettes are unsmashed, the middle section I separated in half so those two bones are not connected, then I cut each tip in half. Marley and Soxx look like they are going to town, Freya was disinterested.
A question. The sell-by date on the chicken wings was July 10th -- I bought them Thursday. When I opened them last night, I thought they smelled a little funky, and were a little slimy. I made my mom sniff them (teehee) and she said she didn't think they were bad, but were getting close. I have my doubts, but they aren't the "natural" ones I usually buy, they're store brand. Mom thinks that's what made the difference. I kept two out for this morning and stuck the rest in the freezer until I cut them up today, and then they will be frozen til served. I put them to the ferret test this morning -- and so far the kids seem to be eating them okay. What're your thoughts? If they'll eat them -- still good? (though now (update!) they've all left the cage and nobody ate much, but they could just nto be hungry...i did leave them with quite a bit of chicken in the cage overnight)
Will post a menu in a little bit. Gotta get one sorted out first ;D (And wtf marley stop putting your food in the water bowl!!!)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2012 10:28:13 GMT -5
9 bone in 3 muscle (incl's 2 oz heart per ferret) 1 muscle & organ (tongue & kidney) 2 oz liver
Saturday AM chicken wings Saturday PM lamb tongue & kidney (and/or pork chops if that fails)
Sunday AM lamb heart (2oz per ferret) Sunday PM chicken wings
Monday AM pork chops Monday PM CGH bone-in
Tuesday AM CGH bone-in Tuesday PM chicken wings
Wednesday AM CGH boneless Wednesday PM CGH bone-in
Thursday AM liver (2oz per ferret) Thursday PM chicken wings
Friday AM CGH bone-in Friday PM chicken wings
*** Chicken wings to be replaced with CGH bone-in if I think they are too far gone to use..my jury is out..wondering what you think?
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Post by Sherry on Jul 7, 2012 10:40:25 GMT -5
Menu is looking good! For the kidney they should be getting about 2oz of that each as well. You've got 4 proteins there, which is fine. You can always mix and match as you are able to find more. As they get practice with eating bone you can add variety as(and if) you come across it, such as turkey neck. Same goes for muscle meats. If you do want to throw in a meal or two of the commercial raw at some point it would replace a bone in meal. And if it's only a meal or two then you don't need to alter the liver/organ amounts. Feed this menu for a week, and let me know how they've taken to it!
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Post by Sherry on Jul 7, 2012 10:42:15 GMT -5
Forgot! If they are eating the wings, then they're fine. So no worries. If you were to put them in, the fuzz sniff 'em and walk away THEN it's likely too far gone. My guys will eat borderline meats with no problem. About the only time you have to be concerned is if you have one that's quite ill, as they may not be able to handle the bacterial load as well at that time. But then- they'd not be likely to eat it anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2012 10:44:37 GMT -5
Okay! I totally forgot about the duck necks I have in the freezer, if the wings get icky further in the week I'll thaw out some duck necks for them. Also..ox tail...think they'd eat it? I can get some at the same store I got the other goodies from Oh..and another problem has come up...they have started to drag their meat out of the cage...and under my bed
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Post by Sherry on Jul 7, 2012 10:53:21 GMT -5
I totally forgot about the duck necks I have in the freezer, If you can get these regularly that would be a fantastic addition to the diet. Just replace one of the wing meals. ox tail...think they'd eat it? Some find the bone too dense, but others do well with it. At their stage of the switch I'm willing to be they could chew the meat off, but likely won't be able to make much of a dent in the bone itself. You can always try it though and see how they take to it. At the very least it would be good stimulation for them! they have started to drag their meat out of the cage...and under my bed I think you need to a) get them going with a feeding den or hooking the meat up in the cage, or b) start closing the cage when they are out ;D This is one of the drawbacks to raw feeding until they learn where they can stash and where they can't!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2012 11:38:29 GMT -5
I can get the duck necks online at haretoday. I have like...8 or 10 left right now? Whenever I go back to WAAWEA I'll hit up some ox tail I'll be hitting up a feeding den when I can get to the store and procure some den materials...the containers I bought are too big (Make excellent toyboxes though) For now...I will have to try hooking meat up in the cage...I hate closing their cage while they are out because that's often when they'll go back in the cage and eat During the week it'll be easy enough to just feed them IN the cage w/doors closed but weekend is going to prove difficult because they are mostly free-run in my room all day.
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