To the anon poster:
 
I start out my babies on chicken or turkey Beechnut Baby Food and I use Just
Born for puppies (it has higher fat than the kitten formula) - I don't
really use a lot of Just Born because they are still nursing off Mom.  When
I can see that they can handle that ok without getting tummy aches, then I
pulverize some Marshall Premium Ferret Diet (which is soft and easy to mash
up anyway, is very high in protein and fat and is recommended by Judi Bell
for breeding/nursing jills and weaning kits) and I mix that into the baby
food/Just Born mixture.
 
Halo's babies will be 4 weeks old on Monday, and she has just started to do
the cutest thing.  She takes pieces of food and chews them up and brings
them into the nesting box, so I think it's time to introduce some baby food
and see how they do.
 
As the babies get a little bigger, I blend pulverized Marshall's and
pulverized Totally Ferret in with the baby food - when they are big enough
to attempt dry food, I use the Marshall's because it is softer and easier
for them to chew.
 
I let Mom decide when she's had enough of nursing - I don't do anything to
stop them from nursing, I let them decide for themselves.  I don't let the
babies go until about 10 weeks of age anyway, so Mom and babies have plenty
of time to decide on their own when to stop nursing completely.
 
As they get bigger, I begin blending dry Totally Ferret with the Marshalls
food, and when they can eat that ok, then I give them the standard food mix.
 
Debbie Riccio
WNYFLFA
Rochester, NY
[Posted in FML issue 1575]