From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-01-07 19:39:34 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: how can I get my ferret to eat food
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
We use two tricks that are shaped around ferret behavior to get ferrets to go back to
normal food after having sick time food.
The first is that we make the sick time food more monotonous and we use variations that
are not among the individual's favorites more and more.
The other is that we use the ferret love of having secrets and stashes. Now, that means
being sneaky because the ferret NEVER can see, hear, or smell you doing this (so also use
a scoop to place the food instead of your hands). Provide hidden regular food (in a box
the ferret can easily enter, in a deep enough paper bag, etc. The ferret also can
absolutely NOT know when you check on this. Have someone else have snuggling time
with the ferret in a different room when you check. Expect the ferret to eat quietly. At
first look for the little pieces that can be left over, then look for the total volume to
decrease.
If the ferret knows that you know before the ferret is ready to have you know it will all
come apart. Usually they are happy just being secret for a few days if they are then
praised to the skies once the eat more loudly, but we have had some who wanted to be
secret for as long as a week, so be observant and be an sneaky as a ferret.
This combination has never failed for us but it absolutely has to be done right with the
ferret thinking it is secret until the ferret starts giving hints such as louder eating.
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